Area Deans exercise leadership and influence, initiative and pastoral care. The Area Dean shares in the Bishop's oversight of the Church:
The following duties are carried out by Area Deans as defined by Canon, custom and practice.
Area Deans share the oversight of the Bishop at a Deanery level and represent parishes to diocese and diocese to parishes.
The Area Dean presides at meetings of the Deanery Synod (and Deanery Standing Committee) if he or she desires, but if he or she so elects the joint chairman presides. The Area Dean should ensure that the Standing Committee adequately prepares for each meeting of the Synod and progresses work between meetings.
The Chapter is a place for fellowship, study, sharing of information and discussion of pastoral, parochial and evangelistic concerns. The Area Dean chairs and leads the Chapter, seeking to facilitate clergy in mutual encouragement and support, theological reflection and spirituality. The planning of the Chapter requires thought and creativity.
The Area Dean is an ex officio member of the Area Council, and speaks on behalf of the deanery in that context. Area Deans are also members of the Area Staff Meeting, where much of the preliminary policy work of the Area is done.
Technically, the Area Dean is sequestrator during vacancies, and is in charge of a parish (with churchwardens) during vacancies. The Area Dean attends meetings in parishes within the deanery held under Section 12 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure.
The Area Dean is responsible for preparing and checking service sheets, the rehearsal, the logistics of the service, except where these tasks are carried out by the Bishop's Chaplain, and for the welcome to the new incumbent at the parish reception.
Area Deans may carry out triennial visitations on behalf of the Archdeacon.
The Area Dean is responsible for:
The Area Dean should immediately inform the Bishop of the death, birth of a child, serious illness, financial difficulty and other emergencies or unsatisfactory circumstances affecting the clergy. Area Deans should also report instances which come to their knowledge of clergy and Readers officiating without the licence or permission of the Bishop on more than two consecutive Sundays. Matters which concern the fabric of the church building should be referred to the Archdeacon.
The Area Dean's role is that of first point of contact for pastoral care to clergy within the deanery, exercised through:
The Area Dean is responsible for local liaison with ministers and congregations of other denominations within the deanery and may be convenor of Borough Deans' meetings.
The Area Deans should seek to maintain contact with the Mayor and local authority members and officers for the Boroughs within the Deanery. The Area Dean also has a role, along with other denominational leaders and representatives of faith groups in relation to the Major Incident Plan.
