“Better at being Church in every community” A Strategy for Ministry maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Convictions God is for All Church is by All maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

We believe that… God is speaking to us through our current situation… …so we must respond confidently to his prompting God loves everyone in our communities… …so our ministry must serve traditional and fresh expressions of church God wants us to be fulfilled in ministry… …so we must tackle the causes of overload maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

We imagine a future where: every member is active in ministry our ministry… …provides a full expression of church in every place …equips and inspires us to reach out beyond our current congregations. …is truly collaborative - lay and ordained …embodies real partnership between denominations maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

St Jude House Church St Olaf University Network Church St Ninian St John Revd Lesley leads the Mission Community and is vicar of St Ninian’s St Oswald Network Youth Church Jo leads Network Youth Church across the Deanery Revd Sue (NSM) leads St Oswald’s, called out from her local church for ordination Bob, paid 2 days a week as Mission Community administrator Bill, Reader, leads St Olaf’s, ministers at the OpShop Revd Simon, leads student church at the University Campus and is vicar of St John’s Rita and Jim, authorised lay ministers jointly lead their housechurch The Flockton Mission Community St Paul Revd Stan (NSM) leads St Paul’s URC church Messy Church in school Revd Jan, House for Duty Priest, leads St Jude’s St Luke Occasional Offices only “knitting church” OpShop church

Vision: building blocks local congregations –“traditional” churches and fresh expressions –each with a recognised leader(s), often non- stipendiary Mission Communities –bigger than current benefices: containing several congregations –Ecumenical ministry –each normally overseen by a Stipendiary Ordained Minister maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Ministers leading Mission Communities ecumenical emphasis of role… –more episcopal: oversight of the Mission Community as a whole –helping church members identify skills and gifts –establishing a leadership team –maintaining and developing the leadership team maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Hallmarks missionary mindset (DNA), while recognising the continuing importance of pastoral ministry a commitment to the five marks of discipleship a willingness to take risks genuinely ecumenical ministry and ways of working maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Norms a local leadership team every member ministry commitment to training and discerning vocations an organic Mission Action Plan at least one fresh expression of church ecumenical integration realistic and generous contribution towards costs administrative support creative, efficient and effective use of buildings maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Implications 165 Stipendiary URC, CofE and Methodist Ministers Stipendiary URC, CofE and Methodist Ministers 140 stipendiary clergy in “traditional” local ministry, most leading benefices or circuits 20 ministers in training (curates) 5 ministers in pioneering work stipendiary clergy in “traditional” but “evolved” local ministry, 50 of whom leading Mission Communities 20 ministers in training (curates) ministers in pioneering work

Implications ordained non- stipendiary ministers 270 CofE parishes (120 benefices) 15 Methodist circuits 17 URC congregations ecumenical Mission Clusters 150 ordained non-stipendiary ministers: in diverse roles including leading churches and pioneering work

Structural Implications ecumenical leadership of mission Communities integrated, ecumenical decision-making structures that enable mission respecting denominational traditions requires goodwill and flexibility to make it work Ideally no more than one layer between a Mission Community and the Diocese may mean merging layers, eg: –Deanery and Archdeaconry –Mission Community and Benefice maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Making the Change Change to be gradual – to 2020 & beyond - but status quo is not an option Very significant change in: church DNA: increasingly missional, increasingly outward-looking ministry numbers: calling out ministers role of stipendiary ordained ministers pioneering ministries structures maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

Making the Change Requires willingness to… give up some of what we hold dear corporately, and as individuals, embracing an increasingly missional mindset fund new expressions of mission/church accept new understandings of ministry learn new skills and ways of ministering work together flexibly; avoiding being rule-bound

What Happens Next? prayerful reflection, clarification and discussion over the coming weeks feedback to Bishop Robert before late September discussion and decision at October Synod parallel discussions in URC and methodist synods maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships

“Better at being Church in every community” A Strategy for Ministry maturity in faith – prayer and worship – community service – evangelism – quality of relationships