Mission Accompaniers supporting parishes across the Diocese gathered at All Saints in Worcester earlier this week for a day of learning, biblical reflection and to celebrate some of the things which have been achieved so far through the initiative.
Any parish can apply to work with a Mission Accompanier free of charge. Each Accompanier works alongside a small group of clergy and laity in the parish, church or benefice to help understand and work towards what health and sustainability might look like in that particular context, setting or tradition.
To date 55 of our churches are working with 23 Mission Accompaniers. At their training day, the Accompaniers reflected on the individuality of each church’s culture, which has meant that every journey with a church is different. Although change can take time, many of the parishes they are working with have already established new forms of worship and reached out to the community in different ways. The Mission Accompaniers felt that that although God’s plans and a church’s vision can often feel overwhelming, through trusting in the process, amazing things can be achieved.
Early feedback from churches working with a Mission Accompanier suggest that the clergy and lay leaders are feeling more positive as a result. Over a third of those churches have already started at least one new worshipping community and another 28% have plans to start one soon. There has also been in increase in community interaction for some of the churches with nine of the churches already growing numerically.
Bishop Martin addressed the Mission Accompaniers, stressing the value of someone coming alongside parishes in this way. There was also a discussion about how people travel on a faith journey and the steps needed for people to continue to grow in faith, and the Mission Accompaniers spent time praying for the parishes in which they work and our diocese as a whole.
If your parish would like to have a Mission Accompanier, you can find out how to apply on this page of the diocesan website.
