1. THE PAST

2. Decline in 1990’s
-25% of Adults
-60% of children and young people

3. Healthy Churches Exercise
The 7 marks of a healthy church:
Energised by faith
Outward-looking focus
Seeks to find out what God wants
Faces the cost of change and growth
Operates as a community
Makes room for all
Does a few things and does them well.

4. From Survival to Revival
6 leaflets:
Mission; Ministry; Worship; Giving;
Youth; Discipleship.
Parochial objectives.
Annual celebrations.
emphasis on Ministry; Youth; Rural.
Overall theme: GROWTH

5. THE PRESENT

6. STRENGTHS Senior Staff Team Developing Vision
Lay ministry and training
Motivated clergy
Family feel
Appraisal scheme
Diocesan officers
Hospitality
Environment: beauty and diversity
Rydal Hall
Church Schools

7. WEAKNESSES Financial Situation and implications for ministry
Lack of confidence
Entrenched attitudes
Isolation
Critical mass

8. OPPORTUNITIES Green shoots Ecumenism Young Diocese project
Ministry Teams
Mission Units
Archdeacon Role
Marketing Diocese
Goodwill
Giving for life & Parish Offer Scheme
Buildings Audit
Untapped talent

9. THREATS Finance (if no improvement) Clergy stress Defensive
parochialism
Buildings (number; suitability; cost)
Age profile
Second homes

10. THE FUTURE

11. CONTINUITY
Growth:
Maturity
Evangelism
Social Action
Numbers

12. CHANGE
Focus on DISCIPLESHIP
Advance ECUMENICALLY
3. Provide STRATEGY

13. 1. DISCIPLESHIP Key to: Fellowship and belonging
Collaborative ministry
Generous giving
Faith sharing
Community service
Deepening spirituality
Attractive lifestyle
Vocational response

14. 2. ECUMENISM Church Leaders meeting Cumbria an ‘Ecumenical Area’
Resource-sharing (eg buildings; the Way; social responsibility)
Ministerial appointments
Witness to the world

15. 3. STRATEGY PROCESS PURPOSE
Senior Staff: Vision discussion (Nov. 2009)
Mission: by God’s grace, to grow his Kingdom in Cumbria.
Bishop’s Council: Vision discussion and initial thoughts re strategy (Jan 2010)
Senior Staff: Strategy and role of Staff members (Feb. 2010)
Diocesan Synod: ‘Way Forward’ discussion (March 2010)
PURPOSE
How we can get from where we are – to where God wants us to be