FRESHFORD WITH LIMPLEY STOKE AND HINTON CHARTERHOUSECHURCH DEVELOPMENT PLANJANUARY 2011 TO DECEMBER 20131 About this planThe people of God have always been journeying and so it is for the church of Freshford, with Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse. This development plan sets out the discernment by people drawn from each village about how God is calling people in this part of Somerset and Wiltshireto be the Church.The discernment was a process in 2010 involving the Easter People course in Lent, an evening about what it means to be Church in May, a visioning workshop in September and an action planning workshop in November.Central to moving forward as the people of God is defining and enacting the mutual yet distinct roles for laity and clergy. Drawing on Luke 13:18-21 and Matthew 5:13-16 the plan is based on Jesus’ teaching that lay people are called to be salt and light, seed and yeast in the world and that the role of the incumbent is to enable the laity in this. The Church collectively and individually is called to be distinctive and to preserve the truth about God show the love of God so it is seen in the world live sacrificially so the Kingdom of God may grow abundantly be well and thoroughly mixed into society and bring to bear Christianinfluence so as to transform society Hans Ruedi Weber captured this by writing ‘The laity are not the helpers of the clergy so the clergy can do their job but the clergy are the helpers of the whole people of God so that the laity can be the church.’2 Development areas for ministry and missionThe discernment process revealed the following ideas for development areas for ministry and mission over the next three years Enhance prayer and spirituality Grow knowledge of faith and confidence for mission Develop the range of styles of worship Grow relationships with children and young families Serve older people in our communities Grow relationships with teenagers Develop international links Develop flexible spaces in our buildings Taking forward these development areas is an opportunity for us to show through collective action, as the body of Christ, God’s love, and to foster the practice of Christian values across local communities. The development plan also has implications for each member of the Church in how we each exercise our witness and discipleship in that everyone needs to ask themselves how is God calling me to serve as part of the body of Christ.3 Ministry and mission as the body of Christ Set out below are activities for 2011/12 in relation to each development area3.1 Enhance prayer and spirituality so that people experience the power of prayer and grow in their relationship with God4 Initial Groups Prayer & SpiritualityTeaching and LearningWorship SupportFamilies and Young PeopleCommunity SupportInternational linksChurch Committees as existing 5 Making this happen This plan will only have life if people take it forward enthusiastically and as a part of their gifting and vocation. Taking forward the plan involves establishing a number of teams to make things happen on the ground and in practice. Each team will need someone to co-ordinate activities together with a number of people who will offer tangible, practical support either regularly or occasionally according to their circumstances. A way will also need to be found to ensure that the work of these teams is encouraged and steered and co-ordinated so as not to clash the one with the other. A way will also need to be found to keep the PCC abreast of progress, without adding to the number of PCC meetings or lengthening their duration. Such arrangements must also both release and enable lay people to be the Church and not tie people and the Rector up in a further plethora of meetings.Action: 1 The PCC is asked to o Receive and endorse this plan o Encourage members of the Church to contribute to its implementationo Note that the Rector will seek out people to co-ordinate the teams o Note that co-ordinators will gather committed people together in January 2011 to begin to take forward the work 2 Share copies of the plan widely – Rector 3 Reflect on our God given gifts, talents and calling and to follow such by helping implement the plan as the body of Christ – all in the parish 4 Ask Steve Annandale, Church Development Consultant, School of Formation, diocese Bath & Wells to make proposals as to arrangements for co-ordinating and overseeing the implementation of the plan - Rector Steve Annandale. Church Development Consultant. School of Formation. November 2010DEVELOPMENT PLANReturn to Church page
FRESHFORD WITH LIMPLEY STOKE AND HINTON CHARTERHOUSE
CHURCH DEVELOPMENT PLAN
JANUARY 2011 TO DECEMBER 2013
1 About this plan
The people of God have always been journeying and so it is for the church of
Freshford, with Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse. This development
plan sets out the discernment by people drawn from each village about how
God is calling people in this part of Somerset and Wiltshireto be the Church.
The discernment was a process in 2010 involving the Easter People course in
Lent, an evening about what it means to be Church in May, a visioning
workshop in September and an action planning workshop in November.
Central to moving forward as the people of God is defining and enacting the
mutual yet distinct roles for laity and clergy. Drawing on Luke 13:18-21 and
Matthew 5:13-16 the plan is based on Jesus’ teaching that lay people are
called to be salt and light, seed and yeast in the world and that the role of the
incumbent is to enable the laity in this.
The Church collectively and individually is called to be distinctive and to
preserve the truth about God show the love of God so it is seen in the world
live sacrificially so the Kingdom of God may grow abundantly be well and
thoroughly mixed into society and bring to bear Christianinfluence so as to transform society
Hans Ruedi Weber captured this by writing ‘The laity are not the helpers of
the clergy so the clergy can do their job but the clergy are the helpers of the
whole people of God so that the laity can be the church.’
2 Development areas for ministry and mission
The discernment process revealed the following ideas for development areas
for ministry and mission over the next three years
Enhance prayer and spirituality
Grow knowledge of faith and confidence for mission
Develop the range of styles of worship
Grow relationships with children and young families
Serve older people in our communities
Grow relationships with teenagers
Develop international links
Develop flexible spaces in our buildings
Taking forward these development areas is an opportunity for us to show
through collective action, as the body of Christ, God’s love, and to foster the
practice of Christian values across local communities. The development plan
also has implications for each member of the Church in how we each exercise
our witness and discipleship in that everyone needs to ask themselves how is
God calling me to serve as part of the body of Christ.
3 Ministry and mission as the body of Christ
Set out below are activities for 2011/12 in relation to each development area
3.1 Enhance prayer and spirituality so that people experience the power of
prayer and grow in their relationship with God
4 Initial Groups
Prayer & Spirituality
Teaching and Learning
Worship Support
Families and Young People
Community Support
International links
Church Committees as existing 5 Making this happen
This plan will only have life if people take it forward enthusiastically and as a
part of their gifting and vocation.
Taking forward the plan involves establishing a number of teams to make
things happen on the ground and in practice.
Each team will need someone to co-ordinate activities together with a number
of people who will offer tangible, practical support either regularly or
occasionally according to their circumstances.
A way will also need to be found to ensure that the work of these teams is
encouraged and steered and co-ordinated so as not to clash the one with the
other. A way will also need to be found to keep the PCC abreast of progress,
without adding to the number of PCC meetings or lengthening their duration.
Such arrangements must also both release and enable lay people to be the
Church and not tie people and the Rector up in a further plethora of meetings.
Action:
1 The PCC is asked to
o Receive and endorse this plan
o Encourage members of the Church to contribute to its implementation
o Note that the Rector will seek out people to co-ordinate the teams
o Note that co-ordinators will gather committed people together in January
2011 to begin to take forward the work
2 Share copies of the plan widely – Rector
3 Reflect on our God given gifts, talents and calling and to follow such by
helping implement the plan as the body of Christ – all in the parish
4 Ask Steve Annandale, Church Development Consultant, School of
Formation, diocese Bath & Wells to make proposals as to arrangements for
co-ordinating and overseeing the implementation of the plan - Rector
Steve Annandale. Church Development Consultant.
School of Formation.
November 2010
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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