The Diocese in Europe is to revise its plans to enhance and extend the pastoral ministry of Archdeacons which would have included replacing seven part-time positions with four full-time, in key locations across the continent.

Plans have been under development for the past seven years. An essential step was first to seek new legislation to allow central funding from the Church Commissioners. The legal changes involved an Act of Parliament which was supported by General Synod. The Diocese in Europe Measure was given Royal Assent during the Summer and brought the Diocese in Europe more in line with the other 43 dioceses in England.

The Archbishop’s Council, the executive committee which agrees funding distribution, has agreed their allocation for the next three years and the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell, says he is “disappointed and frustrated” to learn that Europe will be given support of only £84,000 a year until 2016. “Although the help is gratefully received and will be well used by the Diocese, which has the fastest growing numbers of churches and members in the Church of England, we had hoped for enough to fund Archdeacons in full-time ministry. Nonetheless it is good that at last we have a foot on the funding ladder and can make our case for central church help in the future”.

Bishops’ Council which meets in late October will consider the practical implications of this funding decision as will the full Diocesan Synod at its annual meeting in June 2014. “For the moment”, says Bishop Geoffrey, “we will continue with our pattern of seven Archdeacons, some of whom are currently serving in an ‘Acting’ role, while we consider how best to manage the Diocese for growth.”

The original plans envisaged relieving the existing Archdeacons of their dual role of serving as priests in a church situation as well as their wider pastoral oversight and mission leadership duties. The Diocese, which has almost 300 congregations in more than 40 countries across Europe, is also entering a time of transition as Bishop Geoffrey retires in early November and it is likely to be some months before his successor is appointed.