It was agreed at the Bishop’s Council in May that we would move from 4 archdeacons to 3. This is to continue to ensure that as much of our financial resource as possible is deployed into frontline ministry. Each of the 3 archdeacons to take on a substantive additional responsibility:
- Archdeacon of Liverpool to have oversight of sector ministers
- Archdeacon of Knowsley & Sefton to absorb Ormskirk Deanery
- Archdeacon of St Helens & Warrington to absorb Wigan Deanery
That said, the current demands on archdeacons, including our work on Fit for Mission, are considerable. As a result, Bishop’s Council agreed that we should appoint 3 Associate Archdeacons – 1 per archdeaconry – for up to a maximum of 3 years. The role of Associate Archdeacon is broadly as follows:
Associate Archdeacons will be:
- Parish-based
- Expected to give on average 2 days a week to the Associate Archdeacon responsibilities
- Accountable to their respective Archdeacon
- Working to a role description as agreed between them and their respective Archdeacon – most likely taking functional archidiaconal responsibility for a particular deanery
Associate Archdeacons will not be:
- Expected to attend diocesan meetings
- Appointed on a permanent basis – it will be for a maximum of 3 years
More generally
- The parish (or deanery) will be compensated for the time the Associate Archdeacon is away from specific parish duties
- There will be an honorarium for the Associate Archdeacons in addition to their usual stipend whilst they are in this role
- Each Associate Archdeacon will be appointed by the relevant Archdeacon and the Bishop of Liverpool, through a process of search and expressions of interest.
The role is open to all those who are Incumbents currently serving in the Diocese of Liverpool.