Download the current Newcastle Diocesan Handbook for Clergy here.
This issue revised in December 2021 is consistent with the latest clergy terms and conditions of service.
The Diocesan Handbook for Parishes, with more parochial-related matters, can be found below.
2. CLERGY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
Academic work: further
Clergy Childcare Vouchers
Clergy Discipline Measure 2003: General Information
Clergy Discipline Measure 2003: After a complaint has been made - what happens?
Common Tenure: Frequently asked questions
Expenses: Parochial Working
Ministerial Development Review
People System - holds people data for stipendiary clergy and other ministers
Personal Support
Professional Conduct: 2015 Guidelines
Sabbatical Guidance Notes
Tax: income
3. WIDER MINISTERIAL MATTERS
Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) resources
Archives - Diocesan
Bishops' Mission Orders
Churchwardens
Copyright: Common Worship
Copyright: frequently asked questions
Data Protection: a guide for parishesDignity at work
Ecumenical Matters
General Synod - an introduction
Parish Records: Care of - "Keep or Bin" publication
Reader Ministry
Retired Clergy: Ministry and Pastoral Care
Vacancy in a Parish
4. CHURCH BUILDINGS
Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC)
Go to the DAC pages for information on:
- The Faculty system (or Faculty Jurisdiction)
- List A (formerly the 'De Minimis' and 'Minor Works' list of items not requiring a Faculty)
- List B (items which can be authorised by the Archdeacon)
- Guidance on trees
- Guidance on bells
- Guidance on organs
Other advice:
- Guidance on Carpets(PDF)
- Health and Safety in Churches
- Churchyard Memorials and the Care and Maintenance of Churches (PDF)
5. REFERENCE MATERIAL/DOWNLOADS
Canons of the Church of England
Church Representation Rules
PCC Accountability Guide
The Diocesan Handbook for Parishes
ACADEMIC WORK: further
There is in the Diocese a tradition of encouraging ministers lay and ordained to pursue further theological and related studies at appropriate times in their ministry, and sometimes a modest amount of financial support can be provided. Academic work of this sort is increasingly costly. Further funding will always be necessary, and sources of funding must be clearly identifiable and available before such courses commence.
As such work naturally impinges on time available for other ministerial responsibilities, the Bishop has to be consulted and asked for permission. In the first instance, please contact the CMF Adviser, at least six months before any course is due to start.
ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING (APCM) RESOURCES
You can download all necessary documents, notices, forms and information from the Parish Resources - www.parishresources.org.uk/pccs/apcms
BISHOPS' MISSION ORDERS
This is a new opportunity in the Church of England created by the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007 and the Code of Practice with it.
The Measure allows Bishops to issue a Bishop's Mission Order (BMO) where a church planting initiative would cross parish boundaries or involve collaboration between parishes. The Code of Practice can be found here and skeleton Orders can be found here.
CHARITIES ACT 1993 and the PCC: a guide to the SORP 2005 revisions
Provides essential and up-to-date guidance for all PCCs in the preparation and scrutiny of their annual financial statements and reports. (Available as a large download from here)
CHURCH BUILDINGS: useful websites
Churchcare
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishop's Council.
CLERICAL COVER / EXCHANGE
An incumbent/priest in charge should never leave his/her parish (even for a few days) without arranging emergency pastoral cover with a neighbouring cleric. The churchwardens and Area Dean should be informed of the arrangement.
In every case in which temporary charge of the parish is being handed over to a clergy person from outside the Diocese, permission from the Bishop must be sought.
Any clergy person interested in arranging an exchange with a cleric who ministers in a Province of the Anglican Communion outside the British Isles should consult Bishops House on the requirements of the Overseas Clergy Measure. Early consultation is advised, as the legal requirements of the Measure can take some time to comply with. A letter of commendation from the visiting clerics Bishop will always be required.
CONFIRMATION
Requests for confirmation services are made by parish priests to their Area Dean in the summer of the preceding year. Area Deans forward the requests to the Bishop, and a programme is published in the autumn.
Where numbers of confirmation candidates are low, every effort should be made to arrange for combined services with neighboring parishes.
Adult and young confirmation candidates should receive careful preparation, as a good grounding for on-going discipleship. If a parish priest considers a candidate under the age of ten to be suitable for confirmation, they should make a request (giving their reasons for such) to the Bishop.
For information relating to collections taken at Confirmation services click here.
The Confirmation Form to be completed and returned to Bishop's House can be found here.
DBS (formerly CRB) APPLICATIONS: for disclosures
Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau or CRB) applications for all volunteers in parishes in Newcastle Diocese are administered through Church House. Contact the DBS administrator by email or call 0191 270 4100.
All licensed Clergy, Church Army Officers and Readers must have DBS disclosures, and these are administered through Bishop's House.
Note that the former Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has also been merged into the Disclosure and Barring Service.
ECUMENICAL MATTERS
The role of Diocesan Ecumenical Officer is currently vacant.
A range of useful information and links can be found on the Ecumenism page on this website.
EXPENSES: Parochial Working
A range of CofE documents can be found here.
See also our Diocesan Leaflet.
HEALING: Ministry of
Christian Healing is God meeting you at your point of need (Bishop Morris Maddocks)
Christ is our Healer and through his Holy Spirit the Church offers this ministry in his name. Christs healing is offered through: the Holy Communion, Healing Services, individual ministry with healing prayer. All these may include the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, confession and forgiveness.
The Diocesan Healing Advisor and his Team are available to assist parishes in the development of the Healing Ministry, and in the setting up and training of local healing teams. The Bishops Advisor for the Ministry of Healing is: vacant
The following links will take you to the latest 'House Vacancy Accommodation Guide for Parishes'. The Houses & Glebe Handbook is currently under review and a new version will be available soon.
MARRIAGE OF FOREIGN NATIONALS
With effect from 2nd March 2015, the Immigration Act 2014 stipulates that where one or both of the parties to an intended marriage is a non-European economic Area (EEA) national the parties will each have to obtain a superintendent registrars certificate (SRC) to authorise the marriage (unless an Archbishops special licence has been granted).
It will cease to be lawful for the marriage of a non-EEA national to be solemnized after the publication of banns of matrimony or on the authority of a common licence. This replaces the provisions implemented in 2011: download the guidance issued by the Church of England's Legal Office in December 2014. The UK Borders Agency has also issued guidance which can be found here. It includes the advice: "If a member of the clergy feels that they are being pressurised to perform a marriage they are not content with by either the couple or a third party facilitator they should inform UKBA of this but should also consider informing the police."
MARRIAGE IN CHURCH AFTER DIVORCE
Advice to clergy from the House of Bishops and a leaflet for enquirers can be found here. The decision whether or not to conduct such a marriage rests with the officiating minister, but the Bishop is available to offer advice if it is requested. Advice should be sought by following the process outlined in para 4.7 of the House of Bishops' Advice above.
So that accurate records can be kept, a quarterly return should be made to the Diocesan Bishop indicating the number of further marriages conducted and the number of applications refused.
MINISTERIAL DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
MDRs are a requirement for all clergy licensed under Common Tenure, and we see this process as being integral to the care and support of clergy in our Diocese, providing an opportunity to reflect on ministerial and safeguarding practice as well as future development, in order to encourage, support and challenge in the outworking of both personal discipleship and ministry under God. Those who still minister under Freehold will be invited to engage with the MDR process, and are encouraged to do so.
The new MDR process operates on a three-year cycle:
Year A: An MDR meeting with either Bishop Helen-Ann or Bishop Mark – with a focus on mission, and your personal wellbeing, and that of your family, where appropriate. Year B: An MDR meeting with your Archdeacon – with a focus on leadership, organisation and administration, and on church growth and ministry beyond the church.
Year C: An MDR meeting with your Area Dean – which is intended to be less formal than the other two years, a peer review with simpler paperwork.
If you are beginning the cycle in years A or B, you will be contacted by a Bishop’s PA or Archdeacon’s PA to arrange a date to meet, and they will send you the appropriate paperwork for your review. You will be expected to answer some preparatory questions, and return the form in advance of the review meeting. After the MDR meeting with a Bishop or Archdeacon you will receive a summary of your meeting, which will include goals you have agreed for the coming year. During the course of the year, Area Deans will be in touch with those entering the cycle in Year C to arrange a meeting. Following the meeting with your Area Dean, you will be responsible for writing a short summary to be sent to the Bishop.
PASTORAL COUNSELLING NETWORK
A confidential Counselling Service can be accessed by clergy, clergy husbands, clergy wives and their families in Newcastle Diocese. Counselling offers people a safe space in which to reflect, without rush, on issues that are concerning them. This will involve working with a professionally trained counsellor over a number of sessions in complete privacy. The Network Counsellors are able to include the religious and spiritual dimension in the counselling process if the client wishes. If you would like to speak to someone, or to make a referral, contact: WHO
PERSONAL SUPPORT
Information on support is available here.
RETIRED CLERGY: Ministry and Pastoral Care
Retired Clergy need to obtain from the Bishop a Permission to Officiate in the Diocese (PTO) if they wish to exercise their ordained ministry. Retired Clergy are a valuable resource to the Diocese in their willingness to offer priestly ministry in their home and neighbouring parishes.
For retired clergy in Northumberland Archdeaconry, please contact The Ven Dr Audrey Elkington audelk86@gmail.com. For retired clergy in Lindisfarne Archdeaconry, please contact Katherine Govier in the interim: k.govier@newcastle.anglican.org.
The pastoral responsibility of all clergy is of course the responsibility of the Bishop and the Area Dean. However, there is also a retired priest in every Deanery who is asked by the Bishop and Bishop's Adviser to keep in touch, informally, with the retired clergy in their Deanery. Their responsibilities are to ensure matters of concern are passed on to the Bishop/ Archdeacons/Area Deans. Please contact the Bishops Adviser for details of the deanery representatives.
The payments for agreed services conducted by retired former stipendiary clergy except for services in the parish where they reside are:
Sunday and Weekday Services
Single service 30
Two or more services on the same day 60 in total.
Fees last updated: 5 February 2019
Download further information from Parish Fees page.
VACANCY IN A PARISH
The Area Dean is in overall charge of a parish during a vacancy, but there will be a number of extra duties for Churchwardens. These include maintaining services, pastoral care, covering emergencies and the security of the vicarage. "