Transforming Church

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Seven Areas of Transformation

Transforming Worship:

Drawing us into the presence of the Living God

The breadth of styles and traditions in worship across our diocese is something to celebrate. At their best, church services are a rich offering to God, nourishing for regular worshippers and also accessible to newcomers. Every church will benefit by regular reflecting on the quality and content of its worship, so that congregations may grow in faith and in numbers.

Consider the style and range of worship in your church, what is valued by those who attend, and how may it be further enriched and extended.

Some questions to prompt discussion:
How is the liturgy, sung worship, intercession and preaching in your church reviewd to keep it fresh, rooted, inspiring and relevant?
How does your church encourage people to be participants in worship and not simply onlookers?
It is important that children and young people engage in prayer and worship. How does your church help this happen, and how might this area be expanded further?
Which sections of the parish community are best catered for in the worshipping life of your church, and which are notable by their absence? What change or addition to your existing pattern might you consider so as to connect with new people?
How might the prayer life of the church be developed, so as to create a deeper sense of faith and expectancy in the life of the church community?

Transforming Relationships:
Finding healing, encouragement and challenge through our life together

Many people across the diocese don't know where they'd be without the love and support of their church community. Jesus' commandment to 'love one another as I have loved you' is a challenge to which we all aspire, calling us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Consider the reasons why people have made your church their home, and the strengths and weaknesses within your life together.

Some questions to guide your response:
How are the people welcomed into the life of the church and helped to make it their home?
How does your church encourage people to relate to one another openly and generously?
Are there fresh areas which the church could explore to create a deeper sense of Christian community?
What is the level of pastoral care for those going through tough times, and how might this be improved?
Does your church offer a regular ministry of healing and forgiveness?

Transforming Discipleship:
Enabling us to grow as confident followers of Jesus

We are disciples in every part of our life and daily involvements- paid and unpaid, in home and family life, voluntary work and care, and through contributions to church life and to the outreach of the church. For this, we need to be built up to become confident to offer and to take part. Confidence is about knowing how to be involved and believing we can do it. Confidence is also about knowing enough about our Christian faith and our church to be able to act and speak as followers of Jesus.

Consider the different ways your church values discipleship and offers help, encouragement and training (e.g. opportunities for meeting together to discuss issues of faith and life, to study the Bible together, to pray for each other, and to deepen prayer and spirituality). These might be regular or occasional, parochial or shared with other local churches. Some may be diocesan programmes and opportunities. Think about how well this is going.

Some questions to help to develop this further:
Given the many aspects of discipleship, what might be needed to provide support where this is not yet given?
In what ways are those of all ages being equipped to live as Christian disciples on a Monday as well as a Sunday?
Are there ways in which what is offered in public worship, preaching and prayer can encourage people to see their Christian faith at work in their lives and inspire them to tell the story of their discipleship?
How far do the congregation have a generous commitment to Christian giving, and how could this be developed further?

Transforming Leadership
Releasing and harnessing the gifts of all God's people

Christian people are often called to positions of leadership, whether in the church, the workplace or the local community. There has never been a greater need for leaders of integrity and humility, those who can draw out and develop gifts of those they lead. Each church should increasingly become places where such leaders are formed and mentored.

Consider how many members of the congregation are already involved in leadership roles in their families, communities, schools, workplaces and within the church.

Some questions for reflection and action:
How might those who lead within the church be better trained and supported?
What further support might be given for those with leadership responsibilities outside the church?
Have your church members ever taken part in leadership development programme (e.g. a Diocesan course or CPAS' Growing Leaders)?
How might you develop leadership gifts among your children and young people?
How many ordinands has your church sent out int he past 10 years (both stipendiary and self-supporting)? Is this area that might benefit from further thought and action?
How does your church seek to foster leadership vocations among those from ethnic minorities?
How is the church's leadership encouraged and enabled to take time out for personal encouragement and renewal?

Transforming Presence:
Living out God's love in our communities and the wider world

A living church will naturally have an impact on the people in its area and beyond. Every Christian community should speak of God's goodness by its vitality, its attitude to issues in the world, and its commitment to serve others. Churches are widely recognised for their involvement in community service, but there is a need to reflect on how a church's energies can best be channelled to enable them to be effective partners in transforming their local neighbourhoods.

Consider how your church already engages with the wider world, and how it is 'good news' in the local community.

Some questions to help your thinking:
How could your church contribute to improving the quality of life for residents in its local neighbourhood - especially those who are marginalized or disadvantaged?
Is there an enthusiasm within the congregation for any new community initiative?
How would such a ministry be released and resourced? It is also worth asking if any existing initiatives have had their day.
In which community groups or campaigns are your church members present? Which local groups or agencies could work in partnership with the church to serve or change the neighbourhood> How can you bring a Christian understanding to local discussions?
To what wider issue(s) in society does your church give thought, prayer and energy? How seriously have you taken the environmental agenda? How might this be developed further?
How committed is your church to Christian work worldwide, whether via the Malawi link or in other ways, and how might this commitment be strengthened?

Transforming outreach
Leading others to believe in Jesus and belong to his Body

The church has always recognised its calling to reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' in evangelism, but every church needs to seek an approach which is achievable and fruitful, going with its missional grain.

Consider contacts your church already had with those who are not yet Christian disciples (e.g. neighbours, work colleagues, Christmas attenders, local school families, users of community projects, contacts through baptism, weddings and funerals).

Some questions for further thought:
What strategies might be developed to draw those on the fringes into the worshipping life of the church?
Are the members of your church confident to invite friends along? (especially around Christmas or on Back to Church Sunday)?
What changes in the life of the church might give them a greater confidence?
Does your church run a regular Christian basics course? (e.g. a confirmation course, Alpha, Emmaus, Christianity Explored etc)?
Have your church leaders (ordained and lay) attended a Leading your Church into Growth course, or something similar?

Transforming Partnerships:
Working together with people of goodwill to see God's purposes fulfilled

Only a few churches have the number of leaders and helpers required to fulfil all the ministry and mission expected of a parish church. Most churches need to go further in building partnerships so that together the plans and initiatives put together by the Parochial Church Council can be achieved. Developing existing partnerships links and creating new ones can create a pool of volunteers, of expertise and leadership, making sure that there are viable numbers and finance to carry through the plans.

Consider what links you already have, which assist in engaging with others (e.g. local Anglican Churches, other churches, community and regeneration projects, local schools and colleges, hospitals and primary care facilities, residential homes, businesses and factories, neighbourhood organisations or civic bodies, those of other religious faiths).

Some questions to ponder:
How may strengthening these links assist your church and its partners in achieving the plans and goals you have set?
Which local partnerships might be further developed or got off the ground?
Do other church groups make use of your buildings? If so, how might you develop a greater sense of gospel partnership together?
Does your church have resources that might be shared (including people who can help as school governors, trustees, treasurers etc)? Might there be some benefits in your church exploring a mutually enriching partnership with another church elsewhere in the Diocese?
How fit-for- purpose are you church buildings? In what ways might you improve your buildings and what partnerships (e.g. with other local groups and grant-making trusts) might help in this? What is the level of pastoral care for those going through tough times, and how might this be improved?