Hounslow Deanery

Parish Churches serving communities across north-west London

Author Archives: Martine Oborne

19 Nov

Counter-Extremism Training

Sophie Lawrence, Counter-Extremism adviser for the Borough of Hounslow, is offering training for deanery clergy and key volunteers (for example in community-facing projects). She describes the training this way:

Understanding the developing threat of extremism should be a priority for all who work with the community and understanding how to report a concern is paramount.

Counter Extremism Awareness training refers to the national and local extremist threat picture and the local resources available to you for support.

We touch on extremist groups who have been active in recent history to groups active in the present day and look at groups that are becoming a growing concern. We consider the impact of Prevent and the shift in extremist threat in the wake of Brexit. We look at the warnings signs that could suggest someone is being radicalised, which is becoming more and more challenging to tackle due to the use of online propaganda and social media as a recruitment method.

There will be plenty of time for discussion as this is a very significant and sensitive topic which has seen copious amounts of mixed media coverage this year with the government review of the Prevent Strategy and the Counter Extremism Strategy.”

Sophie Lawrence

If you’re interested in this training, please do drop Kat, Deanery Secretary, a line using the form below. We can then liaise over timings.

17 Jan

Good News for All Creation – Joint Synod

Resourcing the local church to take action…

7.30pm Tuesday February 6th 2018 – All Souls Church, TW1 1PBHounslow, Hampton & Spelthorne Deanery Synods are delighted to host a joint open meeting to hear from A Rocha. The Christian charity works for the protection and restoration of the natural world as a response to the biblical mandate to care for the earth, and to demonstration the Christian hope for God’s world.

A Rocha’s new CEO Andy Atkins will be speaking about their work: practical involvement in conservation through projects and research; campaigning on biodiversity & also engaging with churches, schools, communities and individuals.

Helen Stephens (until recently Hounslow Deanery Secretary) will also be speaking. She is A Rocha’s new Church Relations Manager and works with local churches particularly as they work towards the Eco Church awards.

The evening will feature time for questions, discussion and the sharing of resources and good practice. We will finish by 9pm.

This Synod meeting is open to all interested church members, not simply Synod Representatives.

Please note that parking is limited around the church. Do aim to come by public transport (St Margarets Station & the H37 bus) or leave extra time to park.

Find out more about A Rocha at arocha.org.uk and download a pdf to pass on to others.

19 Jun

A statement on the attack outside the Muslim Welfare Centre, Finsbury Park – on behalf of the Deanery of Hounslow (CofE):

My Friends

Last week we had the pleasure of meeting as fellow faith community leaders from across the Borough of Hounslow.

We committed ourselves, once again, to building healthy relationships of mutual respect and appreciation between communities and individuals of different faiths and cultures. We found ourselves in agreement across faiths about the importance of countering extremism, speaking out against hatred, building mutual understanding and remaining open and welcoming worshiping communities.

In that context it was especially heartbreaking to read with growing horror, early reports this morning of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park.

On behalf of Church of England parishes across the Borough, I join the Rt Revd Adrian Newman, Bishop of Stepney, in condemning the horrific attack.

As Bishop Adrian said: “An attack on any faith is an attack on us all. As a Church, we stand together with Finsbury Park Mosque, in the wake of this morning’s appalling news. It sadly comes after a weekend, in memory of Jo Cox MP, that celebrated all that brings us together, and I know that the Mosque, hand-in-hand with other local faith and community groups, was at the heart of events in the Finsbury Park area. We will offer up our churches to help our friends at the Mosque in any way we can. We will not be cowed by those who seek to terrorise our communities.”

I will be supporting my clergy colleagues as we reach out in friendship to local Muslim centres of worship and express our solidarity and support.

Our heartfelt prayer continues to be that people of every race, culture and creed should have the freedom to worship and live as members of local communities here without fear of threat or prejudice. We will continue to do all we can to foster a society where this is the experience of every person.

RSF signature

Rev Richard Frank
Hounslow Area Dean
19th June 2017

02 Dec

Older People and the Church – Sian Brookes (AgeUK) at Deanery Synod – Nov 2016


Presentation

Look at Sian’s powerpoint presentation (n pdf format) here.

The video she recommended can be viewed below:


Resources

Local groups

National groups

Reports & Blogs


Article

Read the blog by Sian Brookes and Bishop Graham Tomlin here.

12 Jun

London Diocesan Board for Schools – Deanery representative director

Jan Trellick has been our Deanery representative on the board of directors for Hounslow Deanery Synod for the last six years. New elections are due by the end of the year, so with Jan stepping downb, we will appoint someone to succeed her at our November meeting.

Please read this description of the role of the board and its members and then be in touch with the me if you would like to be considered or to find out more.

06 Dec

Resources from the November Synod

Many thanks to our speakers for the sessions at our November Synod who were able to provide notes or slides from their input.

You can download them via the links below:


Beyond Email

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Joined Up Communications

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Web Church

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09 Nov

Deanery Synod Workshops

Our Connect Deanery Synod evening (Monday 10th November 2014) will offer six short workshops for participants to choose between:

 

The Church Website – creating, shaping and promoting your church’s online presence

This workshop, let by John Graham, will focus on the visual design aspects of a church website, what it might or should contain and how it can connect with those on the outside of church life considering coming along.

How to walk the talk. The power of joined up communications

Stuart Smith helps us think about how we communicate our church’s message, vision and values to our community and neighbours. He’ll be taking us beyond ‘the website’ to the whole of a church’s image and (you might even say) “brand”.

Beyond Email

A ‘why’ and ‘how’ guide to online collaboration aimed at members of a church team e.g. PCC, Finance. John Farr will take you through some of the opportunities that exist and the rewards gained from sharing information securely online and cover some of the technologies available.

 Administrating a WordPress Site

WordPress is one of the most popular website ‘engines’ on the internet, making possible everything from simple one-page sites to those run by multinational corporations. Many churches use it, partly because it can be made very simple for non-Geeks to edit and create pages for their site. If you already run a site and would like a guided tour of some of the tips and tricks, or have been considering setting one up, Ant Kelly is your man!

 

Social Media for Clergy and Church Leaders

Rev Richard Moy

 The Internet for non-Internet Users

Don’t know your facebook from your instagram, your wordpress from your blogger? For those who either don’t use a computer or simply don’t get what the ‘fuss’ is all about, Richard Frank will give a guided tour of the internet and especially the ways in which churches can or have used it for good.