An article for September editions of parish magazines, from the Archdeacon of Dudley, Nikki Groarke.
September often feels more like the start of a new year than January does! Many of us feel rested after a summer break, with fresh energy for the new term. It’s often a really good time to check in with our priorities as a parish, making sure we are clear on our sense of direction, united in our aims.
The vision of the diocese as a whole is to grow as Kingdom People, sharing the good news of Jesus’ love in Worcestershire and Dudley. As the body of Christ, we join together to worship God, make disciples, share hope, and transform communities as we live out values of love, compassion, justice and freedom to bring about the kingdom of God on earth.
We are really clear about these purposes, and our priorities for the coming years. I hope you all remember that we aim to:
- Double the number of children and young people worshipping in our churches.
- Create 100 new worshipping communities offering a range of ways for people to come to faith and worship God.
- Invest in the renewal of around a dozen churches to ensure that each major area of population has at least one church with 150 people attending weekly, enabling them to support other local churches.
- Underpin these by investing in our clergy and lay leaders, providing training and development opportunities to enable them to grow and feel supported and equipped for mission.
Bishop John has been wholeheartedly behind this vision, and in setting us on a direction of travel, he leaves a legacy for his successor to build upon. In setting out the Statement of Needs for the next Bishop of Worcester, we have been really clear that we seek a bishop who will be excited to join in the adventure with us, inhabiting the role in their own unique way of course, but ready to come alongside us as we grow as Kingdom People together, bringing our long-term plans to fruition.
So as the new term begins, it might be good to review these priorities in your parish. How are you planning to engage with more children, young people and their families, for example? Is there a New Worshipping Community you could begin to explore with Kim, our NWC Enabler’s help, so that others can find a way to worship God? If you have been working with a Mission Accompanier, how is your Health and Sustainability Plan developing? How is your congregation sharing hope, making disciples and transforming your community? These are all good questions to ask, and I look forward to hearing some of the encouraging stories emerging as your plans take effect over the coming months. May God bless you as you grow together.
