St. Oswald s Anglican Church Glen Iris MISSION ACTION PLAN October 2013
Mission Action Plan Process St.Oswald s established a Mission Action Plan (MAP) Working Party as a sub-committee of the Vestry to plan and develop the MAP, commencing in mid-2012. The guiding document on the process was the document provided by the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne entitled Mission Action Plans A Way Forward through Process, Vision and To assist the process, the Vestry appointed a consultant John Olsen to collaborate with the Working Party to guide the undertaking of the key tasks, which have included: Collection information from our local area on demographics and local trends, activities of local churches and other organizations, etc A series of parish meetings, which are on-going to discuss the strategy overall and specific issues plus a parish survey by face to face or telephone interviews The identification of five key goals The development and early activities associated with each of the five goals On-going review and development of the plan. John Olsen s contribution to the process from September 2012 through to February 2013 included: Participation in a series of MAP Working Party meetings The leadership of a well attended and very successful parish meeting to discuss our vision, mission and parish values The preparation of a comprehensive report entitled St.Oswald s Anglican Church, Glen Iris Towards a Mission Action Plan which captured all the information gathered and decisions made through that period. Vision, Mission and Values Our vision, mission and values were captured through a parish consultation exercise which was based around three key ideas being: Our values Our Dreams Our Identity
These key ideas were developed and debated and while there were some different opinions, there was a general consensus to the following: Our Values At St.Oswald s Church we are, or would like to be: Joyful Welcoming Positive Friendly Inclusive Christian in spirit Caring (for ourselves and others) Traditional Anglican in liturgy Questioning Innovative Sustainable Of Service Our Dreams Our dreams for St. Oswald s are: A sustainable growing parish appealing to all ages A parish expressing our worship and liturgy in terms of 21st century theology that is wonderful and alive A parish with a balanced approach to spirituality and worship A parish showing leadership in the community and taking risks in outreach and appeal to the wider community of believers and non-believers A parish supporting greater ecumenism and collaboration with other churches Our Identity We are a welcoming, more traditional Anglican parish but with aspirations to: Appeal more broadly to people of all ages Embrace more people from the wider community Emphasize worship over simply secular activities Adopt an enquiring and balanced to 21st century theology Develop a growing, sustainable community of believers for the long term Offer greater service to the wider community
Parish Based on our values, dreams and identity, we then developed five key goals and set out to set clear directions, the strategy, expected outcomes, those responsible and resources required. Details of each of these goals and actions to date are set out as follows: 1. Community Goal Maintain and extend our existing strong sense of community within the parish as a basis for future growth Vestry to appoint a parishioner to be the prime driver to co-ordinate improved community involvement and engagement Two or three parish meetings to be convened over the next 12 months to develop steps to attract/retain members of the parish and to review these steps periodically Newer members of the parish to be encouraged to review these steps periodically. Appropriate training for parishioners taking a key role in this area be sourced and provided. Consideration to be given to the varying steps needed to engage with different age sectors in the community Outcome We have an ongoing programme of community involvement and engagement by the end of 2013 and it be reassessed annually. Responsible body Vestry Resources Minimal. Possible need for external training Two parish meetings held in the last 3-4 months, to address each of the first 4 goals. These meetings were well attended by parishioners. The goals and actions were enthusiastically supported. Further parish meetings are planned. And a parish questionnaire has been developed to be circulated shortly
2. Information and Communication Goal Establish and maintain effective communications with the broader community through electronic and media sources Steps be taken to ensure we have the skills to update and maintain an effective parish data base Arrangements to be made for the development and maintenance of our web site to meet changing community needs We ensure that all parish groups are able to participate in the implementation of a web based information service Procedures to be implemented to attract an optimum level of press interest in key events in the church calendar Outcome As a short term goal we implement an email based system of communication with parishioners where feasible We ensure our web site is current and accurate Attracting and retaining community interest in parish activities is treated as a key goal Responsible body Vestry through parishioner nominated as communications officer Resources Minimal, funding for new website Parish email system set up with new email addresses for parish, vicar, secretary, etc After consultation with various parishes and their website managers, a new website was set up and is being managed very effectively by Tim Andrews, with new materials being added as it is developed. 3. Outreach and renewing our age profile Goal
Establish a strategy to reach out to the community and to reach younger people Survey a wider group of people to determine what initiatives they favour Consider all recipients of Cosa Nostra as well as deliverers a source for survey respondents Conduct a parish meeting on a Sunday between service in the near future to gain more feed back A group of parishioners be set up to develop a strategy to reach new parishioners with a younger overall profile Issues for the group to consider could include :- Responsible body o different services for specific age group o raise profile by holding non-fund raising events o Look at holding a concert as part of St. Oswald s Day celebrations o Pursue improved outreach options o Organise musical events with the ballet school or local schools or music groups o Use the Market Fair for more community involvement o See what ways we can contact with new residents in the area Vestry through outreach strategy group Resources Parishioners with some from the MAP group and some other interested parishioners Timeframe Group be constituted by May 2013 with an interim report by August 2013 The parish and extended community survey form has been developed and is in draft form ready for Vestry review. A parish meeting was held in September to refine the survey questions and target audience. 4. Growing in Faith Goals
Develop leaders from within the church community to foster programmes for spiritual growth according to according to different faith expressions Gradually implement programs for spiritual growth Form small committee responsible for Growth in Faith Committee to consider and implement short term study activities for 2014. Activities to be chosen which support the broader ideas of the plan Communicate the plan to the parish, asking people to consider prayerfully their own calling to expression of faith Invite people to a congregational conversation encouraging them to talk about expressions of faith and the value of difference Identify potential leaders who will take responsibility for initiating programmes Run programmes which will include in house as well as excursions to externally run seminars and retreats Outcome Individual growth in faith demonstrated by quantitative survey responses and qualitative interviews Spiritual vibrancy in the church community and new worshippers being attracted to the church Resources One or two parishioners to work closely with the incumbent on the strategy Some financial assistance may be needed for some parishioners to attend external courses Timeframe Form Growth in Faith committee as soon as possible to develop strategy for study activities for 2014 A Growing in Faith book discussion group has been formed with 4 sessions to be held through October and November 2013 on the theme of A New Kind of Christianity. This will be led by Rev Ken Hewlett. Based on the success of this Growing in Faith activity, a further discussion group is planned for Lent 2014. 5. Purpose, Mission, Goal
To develop a very clear and agreed Mission Action Plan which captures the purpose and vision we have for a developing faith community at St Oswald s Vestry appoint a parishioner to be the prime driver to co-ordinate the development of the Plan The Plan take account of the work on allrelated, individual goals and action plans The Plan to follow the Diocesian format Outcome A Mission Action Plan for St. Oswald s be endorsed by Vestry and the parish at the 2013 AGM Responsible Body Vestry Resources. A prime driver and one or two assistants The MAP Working Party is continuing to hold regular meetings and develop the Mission Action Plan as a live document and also to communicate the outcomes to the Vestry and the parish members at large. Next Steps The next steps are really captured in Goal 5 above, which is to continue the development of the MAP. As the parish is heading into a period of Interregnum, given the imminent retirement of Rev Ken Hewlett, the MAP will be a very useful document to use for the consultation process with Diocese leaders and prospective new vicars. This MAP will be updated as actions are undertaken and goals are reviewed.