As many will be aware, we have been doing quite a lot of work over the past year or so, occasioned by the departure of St Mary’s, to define our Mission in Sanderstead and to start to determine how we should be organised and resourced for that.  In this kind of endeavour, an external perspective is invaluable. It is sometimes very hard to see from the inside what is all too clear to an objective outside observer!

To provide that perspective, Bishop Jonathan has commissioned a review by senior clergy from outside the diocese, to help us perceive the best way forward.

The key paragraph of the terms of reference for the review is as follows:

“The review will include looking at the formal structures, the effectiveness of (the Team’s) current operation, areas of good practice to celebrate, consideration of areas of good practice from other places or other models that could contribute to flourishing, constraints on mission and ways to overcome them. In particular, the review should consider the long-term viability of the current three church structure of the Team, taking into account the diverse needs of the local communities within the parish.”

Over the next few months Ven Paul Bryer, Archdeacon of Dorking, and Rev Robert Jenkins, Assistant Archdeacon of Surrey, will be undertaking this task. We are very grateful to Paul and Robert for giving up their time to help us in this way.

An initial meeting with the PCC has been arranged for 22^nd August.

Canon Martin Greenfield

Team Rector