The Brentwood Diocesan Pastoral Council is one of only a few throughout England and Wales.

It is a consultative body created by the Bishop in October 1987 consisting mainly of lay representatives, the Deans and Heads of Commissions (approximately 140 people).

The three main groups are the Parish representatives, the Deanery Liaison group and the newly formed Pastoral Support Team.

The constitutional functions of the council are:

• to support pastoral development and promote co-operation at all levels
• to provide practical advice to the Bishop and undertake specific work at his request including implementing the Diocesan Pastoral Vision
• to facilitate communication and act as a forum for discussion and sharing
• to act as a reference point for other dioceses, churches and religious groups

• supporting existing Parish and Deanery Pastoral Councils (currently 80 in all) and helping create new councils where old ones have failed or have never existed
• providing twice yearly plenaries for the full council membership. At the request of the Bishop, recent plenaries have focussed on specific areas of the Vision – most recently communication and coping with change
• providing training courses covering assertiveness and influencing skills, communication skills, advocacy, mediator skills and chairing meetings effectively
• working with the Diocesan Committee for Planning and Development by providing updated feedback and information about what is happening across the diocese
• setting up the Pastoral Support Team
• working with the Churches Together in Essex and East London groups.