IN the shadow of a large banner reading 'Speaking the truth in love' at the Corrin Hall in Peel, Diocese of Sodor and Man synod members debated the Bishop's proposals for the future of the church in the Isle of Man.
At a plenary session after Saturday morning's group discussion delegates offered observations and voted on each of the 16 proposals.
The need for the church to develop to meet changing needs was broadly accepted and much anticipated controversy ov
er proposals for rural deaneries, mission partnerships, chaplaincies and parishes failed to emerge.
Introducing the meeting, Bishop Robert Paterson told delegates: 'This is the start of a process that could take three or four years.'
A proposal to create four mission partnerships by 2010 instead of the existing rural deaneries received broad approval with delegates believing this made more sense to the secular public.
The proposal is to create a northern partnership consisting of Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride, Jurby, Lezayre and Maughold, which would be partnered with Dhoon, Ramsey North and South and Sulby, serving a population of about 13,000.
The eastern mission partnership would consist of Braddan, the five Douglas parishes (All Saints, St George, St Matthew, St Ninian and St Thomas), Laxey and Lonan, and Onchan, serving a population of 41,500. Parish boundaries would be reviewed at a later date.
A southern mission partnership would be formed containing Arbory, Castletown, Malew, Rushen and Santon, serving a population of 14,750.
The western mission partnership would consist of Baldwin, Foxdale, German (including the cathedral), Marown, Michael, Patrick, Dalby and St John's, with a population of 10,500.
Each mission partnership should be overseen by a mission council nominated by the Partnership congregations and serving for four years.
The post of the rural dean would be abolished.
Bishop Robert said the 'arcane title Rural Deanery' was not helpful and his recommendations should shift the emphasis away from geographical areas to the concept of mission partnerships.
On the subject of chaplaincies and parishes over the next three years, proposals to bring groups of smaller parishes into single parish units also received broad approval.
This would mean, for example, Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride and Jurby being served by one stipendiary priest. A decision would be made as to which of the three parsonages in the group should then be retained.
The eastern partnership would be served by six stipendiary priests plus two unsalaried priests and seven readers.
In the south, one stipendiary priest would serve Arbory, Castletown and Malew, another would have responsibility for Ballasalla, St Mark's and Santon and another Rushen.
Finally, the western partnership would be served by one stipendiary for Marown Foxdale and Baldwin, another for German, St John's, Kirk Michael, Patrick and Dalby.
An audit of use of church buildings will give rise to a written report to be completed by April 2010. The report will detail current use, possible additional uses and shared use. Consideration will also be given to the historic value of each building.
Saturday also saw the creation of six honorary canons, including one Methodist, one Roman Catholic and two lay people, who will join the Greater Chapter.
The Reverend Norma Cole, the Reverend David Greenwood, the Reverend Peter Robinson, the Reverend David Shirtliff, Judith Ley and Helen Parry were installed by Bishop Robert after the meeting of the Diocesan Synod.
Bishop Robert said it was 'an exciting moment in the story of the Cathedral', which would benefit from greater ecumenical involvement and the new and varied gifts brought together by this talented group of lay and ordained people.
Each honorary canon will be asked to accept an area of responsibility for the Island-wide life and mission of the Cathedral.
The appointments are for five years.
