Turning over the soil before seeds are planted is a vital step in the journey of growth. As we seek to grow our churches in depth, breadth and number through our Diocesan Transformation vision, we recognise the need for good preparation and planning, and this is the focus of our Growing Mission stream of work.
Given the Transformation vision is not prescriptive in how mission will outwork, Growing Mission supports local planning and development at parish and deanery level, helping to raise missional aspirations and encourage local vision. The team works closely with Area Deans, Lay Chairs and wider deanery leadership to enable Local Transformation Planning in deaneries, and with PCCs to shape vision for parishes and benefices.
Our deaneries and parishes are each unique in context, focus and opportunity, not to mention the specific challenges that each is facing. Local Transformation Planning will therefore need to be fitting in each case, facilitated by the Growing Mission team but held locally to ensure local vision and local need remain paramount.
One key thread in Growing Mission is our Vacancy Audit Programme (VAP), which supports churches as they come into vacancy to reflect on their current position, identifying strengths and areas for development.
Another strand of Growing Mission is enabling Interim Change Ministry in our Diocese, where Interim Change Ministers (ICMs) are licensed to a parish or benefice to support and lead the congregation through a change journey, providing guidance, wisdom and oversight. ICMs play a key role in creating an environment ready for new mission and new leadership, helping parishes to prepare the ground for the growth to come.
Connect with the Growing Mission team here.