WELCOME BACK TO WORKING TOGETHER FOR 2021!

This email is sent, at the request of the Bishop of Salisbury, to all incumbents, ministers and officers in this Diocese. It is your monthly go-to for operational matters, guidance and advice. Many of the links lead to time-limited PDFs that you can download and keep. It's all part of the service!
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Our monthly internal briefing with must-read info, to those working in and for our Diocese. A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!

Safety first
“It’s good that places of worship may remain open in this lockdown, but that does not mean they have to be open if it is not safe to do so.”
That was the message from Bishop Nicholas as we enter a new lockdown with the latest guidance for places of worship remaining very much the same, with a few exceptions around singing and weddings. And with infection rates and deaths rising in our area, many churches are feeling it is not safe to do so. Bishop Nicholas has written to all clergy, licensed lay ministers and churchwardens in the light of the new Tier 5 regulations and the updated Church of England guidance on worship during the pandemic. Read more...

Latest news

"Encouraging a lasting future"
As one of our key partners in this Diocese for supporting ministry and mission, RSCM promotes the study, practice and improvement of music in Christian worship, has produced new resources, and has an announcement to make. Read more...

New Bishop’s Adviser for Associate Ministry
The Revd Julian Poppleton acts as a champion of associate ministry in and beyond the diocese, advising the Bishop, enabling the ministry of our Associate Ministers, contactable as required. Read more...

Did you know that many of the items in Working Together are PDFs? Feel free to download them for your own reference... it's all part of the service.

The Revd Joanna Jepson appointed Alabaré Patron
Alabaré Christian Care & Support is delighted to welcome the Revd Joanna Jepson as its new Patron. Joanna is an Anglican priest, author, broadcaster, coach and Army chaplain. Read more...

From our Diocesan Secretary

David Pain writes:
In her Epiphany message Bishop Karen invites us, like the 3 Wise Men, to avoid returning ‘by the way in which we have come’. As we start 2021 together across the diocese, I wonder what new paths and directions are emerging for you and your church and for us collectively as the diocese? Read more....

Ministry Matters

New Clergy Register
All clergy will soon be receiving the first in a series of communications around the new National Register of Clergy. The introduction of the National Register is the implementation of one of the recommendations in the 2017 Gibb Report into the case of the late Peter Ball, setting out necessary steps to ensure safeguarding in the Church of England is of the highest possible standard. Read more...

Archdeaconry Day
Tuesday 9th February
From Archdeacon Antony:
"Dear Colleagues, Just a reminder of our Archdeaconry Day on 9th February for 2 hours starting at 10.00am. This will take the form of a Zoom Webinar on the topic of 'Generous Giving' and is vital part of our preparation for the Diocesan Stewardship Campaign being planned for later in the year. I appreciate this may seem a world away from the pressing concerns currently occupying your time but I hope we may all find some comfort in coming together and planning for life after Covid."

Hope in Action

Daily hope and encouragement
The DailyHOPE telephone line is designed to help those who are older, vulnerable, isolated or unable to access worship online to engage on the telephone, and continues daily with new content. Read more...

Choosing the world we want
Fairtrade Fortnight is fast approaching and the Fairtrade Foundation is excited to update you on our plans for what will be a very different Fairtrade Fortnight in 2021. Read more...

Rural Hope

Celebrating the Seasons: Spring Webinars
After the success of our Autumn webinar series, Rural Hope is now holding 2 more webinars on the theme of ‘Celebrating the Seasons’, focussing on Lent and Easter, in January and February. Read more...

Keeping us Safe

Renewal of Safeguarding Training
A reminder that dates for the Safeguarding Virtual Leadership Course, run via Zoom, are being delivered by our additional new trainer Jonathan McKinney. If your training needs renewing by 31st March, please book your place now or as soon as possible. Read more and book...

Thank you for keeping us Safe
Many of you will know that Heather Bland, our Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser for the past 7 years, has overseen a sea change in the way we approach Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in this Diocese. There are tributes from the Bishop of Salisbury and colleagues, here.

Other fond farewells and new adventures

Alison Comlay, Office and IT Manager
Few Diocesan staff have seen as many changes, or been so key in moving Church House work forward into the future, as Alison Comlay. Alison joined the DBF as IT Services and Office Manager on 2 October 2000. Read more...

Jane Murrell, Team Administrator (Discipleship)
One of our longest-serving members of staff, when Jane leaves us on the 15th February 2021, it will be almost 23 years to the day since she joined on the 16th Feb 1998, and she will be much missed. Read more...

John Kilbee and Ian Bromilow, Mission & Stewardship Advisors
John and Ian have served the Diocese for 10 years, helping parishes and benefices link their vision to stewardship and finance. Read about John here, and Ian here.

Lisa Cowley, PA to the Bishop of Sherborne
Lisa joined us in December 2019 from Sturminster Newton High School, and helped relocate the Sherborne Office to Stourpaine - no mean feat! A cheerful voice on the phone, she has missed the setting of a school, and joins Bryanston this month (January 2021).

Lockdown Heroes

During this lockdown, people in our Diocese have been doing amazing things and we want to celebrate them. From clergy and teachers to our young people and older congregation members - and everyone in between - we have been living out our values. So we want you to tell us about your Lockdown Heroes, inspirational people who have taken a lead, transforming lives and communities, collaborating with others, visibly living out their Christian faith. Please email us 200-300 words and nice photo(s).

Dates for your Diary

Original photo courtesy Pixabay

Calling The Tribes Together
Wednesday 20th January
Christians in Politics invites us to pray with Christians from across the political spectrum at this significant moment in our nation’s history. Sign up to the 'Calling The Tribes Together' prayer event here.

Vocations Enquiry Morning
Saturday 23rd January
God calls each of us by name, to be the unique person He created us to be and to represent Christ in and to the world. We all have gifts and skills to use in our churches or in our communities to share God’s love with those around us. Is 2021 the year to focus on your calling? Read more and book in...

An Invitation to Hope: Mission through Prayer and Lament
Tuesday 9th February
The Bible Society is running a webinar for Christian leaders, 10.00am to 11.30am, to seek God's guidance on a new wave of mission for these new days. Info and booking here.

County Lines Awareness Raising Sessions
County Lines is one of the most prevalent forms of modern slavery in our country, affecting the lives of young people and the vulnerable across the UK. There are two course dates in February 2021: read more and book in here.

Resources

Bishops offer sermons
The Bishops are offering weekly video reflections in the form of a short homily/ sermon that could be used in a Sunday online service. The videos will be available on request via Dropbox on a Thursday for you to include in any service planning, and then will be published on YouTube for a wider audience on the Sunday afternoon. Churches might also like to consider using the sermons through Lent. The first video, prepared by Bishop Nicholas, will be available next Thursday.

Latest Covid Guidance:
Page here

Quick Reminder of Living in Love and Faith:
Link here

Prayers of Hope for the World
The Lambeth Conference Prayer journey - sharing 'Prayers of Hope for the World' - features prayers from bishops, clergy and laity from around the Anglican Communion. You are invited to join churches and Christians praying together about themes of peace, planet, poverty, pandemic response, politics, justice, poverty and people, ahead of the Conference itself, which has been postponed until 2022.
Read more and subscribe...

Helping churches extend their reach
Mike Chapman, head of a technology development organisation and approved supplier for the Dioceses of Exeter and Truro, asks for feedback to design a service to help churches get their message out more effectively. Read more...

Church Leaders offer for Spring Harvest 2021
The Spring Harvest team extends an offer of 50% off the normal price to church leaders, pastors and ministers. Read more...

Longer reads

Adapting to change
Mike Tufnel from the Lantern Church in Merley gives us perspective on how Church is adapting to current conditions, comparing it to playing chess without your most powerful piece. Not seeing the connection yet? Read more...

What is a Deanery Information Officer for?
Good question. For roughly 30 years, Penny Elliott has been one of a number of people in the Diocese who have the fascinating part-time 'job' of DIOs. What does it involve? What are the perks? Read more...