Pastoral Plan - Foreword

Your first response to this Diocesan Pastoral Plan may be that it is rather long! Yet more paper! I had to decide whether simply to produce yet another short document which repeated everything said in my previous documents, or to take seriously and to 'harvest' many of the thoughts and ideas which emerged from the two phases of `Forward and Outward Together.'

I have chosen the second option. It is important that you know you have been listened to, and heard. This document is largely the fruit of all the discussions among priests and people in our parishes and deaneries, and at diocesan gatherings. I hope many of you will recognise your own suggestions, perhaps even your own words. I have focused mainly on those thoughts most frequently echoed in parish and deanery reports. I am very grateful for all the time and thought that so many people across the diocese have given to this process over the last 18 months. For some of you, it has been worrying, disturbing, and perhaps even painful, as you have become more aware of the serious challenges we face in the years ahead, but I am sure it will bear fruit for us all. Your second response may be to worry that too much is being asked of priests and people who are already overburdened. This plan is not intended to add to your worries or burdens: many people are far too busy as it is. We cannot do everything at once. Many of the ideas in this plan are already in operation; there is plenty of good practice across our diocese.