Growth Planning Framework 1
Welcome We all want to grow our churches. To grow in Christ and to grow for Christ. Growth in all its ways encourages us and equips us for the future. This is the dream. This is the vision. This is the realisation of Christ s command in Matthew 28. Most parishes like you engaged well with the first version of the Growth Planning Framework, finding it affirming and challenging, enabling you to honestly and prayerfully reflect on key aspects of your church s life. What is going well, where you wanted to make changes. So much of this is the same. We ve simply strengthened some areas and merged others. But we have largely followed the same 8 section format which makes it easier for a small group or committee to reflect. These sections loosely link to a new church member s journey from belonging to believing to serving and advancing God s kingdom. They are supported by the need to hold it together with excellent administration and pastoral care. Get the best from your growth planning framework. Growth doesn t happen overnight and this is not an easy panacea. Think like that and you will quickly discourage yourselves. We have carefully designed this to be a two year cycle which is best discussed by a small group overseen and reviewed by the PCC. You need to include as many people as possible in your church without getting bogged down in meetings and discussions. So give permission and freedom for a small group to journey with this framework and help steer your church to growth. You have up to six months to complete this initial part of the process. Please ensure your responses are received before 31st March as they will form part of the Archdeacons Visitations. 2
Using the Framework a step by step guide If you are new to this document it may look intimidating. Don t panic. We ve designed this to make it easier for you to reflect on growth. Parishes like yours have successfully done this so simply follow these suggested steps. First get a small group together This can be a leadership team, standing committee, shared ministry team or simply people you feel have something to offer. It will work best if you find people who represent all parts of your church life not just from one congregation. They should have your PCC/DCC s blessing and authority. Second hold a meeting to work through the 8 sections of the framework This meeting should take no more than two hours. We have found the most helpful way for this meeting to work is for each member to read the whole Framework through before you work through each section in turn. Every section is laid out with an introduction, Starter for 10, individual questions and a summary form. Don t dive into the detail. Get an idea of the whole document and how it hangs together first. Don t be too ambitious. Set SMART targets and make sure you can do what you say you will. (see box) Being SMART You need to avoid the risk of becoming too ambitious or general. A statement like Get lots more families into church sounds more like a hope than an action. If you want more families then how will you do it? A new service? A different pattern of services? Becoming a Child Friendly Church? To help achieve this you might like to think of taking SMART actions. These are: Specific - something that you can definitely say you have or haven t done. Ie starting a new service. Measurable - something you can clearly record the success of ie numbers coming to a service. Achieveable - something that is realistic rather than a pipe dream. Relevant - something that is related to the section you re looking at. Timed - something you have put a deadline on. If you follow some SMART actions then you are more likely to push yourself to make it happen. 3
Starter for 10 questions Before the meeting each member should answer the starter for 10 questions. Do this instinctively to get a feel for the relative strengths and weaknesses of your church in that area. When you meet you can use your scores to start a discussion. Find out what everyone has scored and then try to come to a single score that all can agree with. Not the average score, but one that recognises and reconciles any difference of opinion. Try to get a sense of agreement. Individual questions Once you have agreed your starter for ten scores then as a group answer the individual questions for each section by: Ticking yes/no to each question. Look at each question in turn and decide. Do you have any problem areas important enough for special action over the next year? Could any of your strengths be built on? Record in the action box a single specific SMART action you can take. Decide if you need to carry out a more wide ranging review of this area. (If you do we recommend that it is one of your 8 actions) Summary Form Having completed and agreed scores, questions and actions for each section then complete the summary form by transferring: The Starter for 10 questions to the statement table. The agreed actions to the key action table. Any review areas to the Areas for Wider Review table. 4
A two year cycle We re aiming that you do this over a two year cycle. Once you have your 8 actions then your group can monitor progress. You will need to keep your PCC involved. Every year you should send a progress report to your PCC. Fully review your progress after 20 months. Think about what you have learnt, what you would do differently. Then you will be ready to start the next two year cycle. Please return your completed Visitation Summary Form to: Warren Hartley Administrative Officer St James House 20 St James Road Liverpool L1 7BY If there is anything you would like clarified or have any further questions, please don t hesitate to contact Warren on 0151 705 2148 or e-mail warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org. An electronic version of the Visititation Summary Form is available upon request. GROWTH PLANNING FRAMEWORK TIMETABLE: Sep 2013 Mar 2014 Sep 2014 Mar 2015 Growth Planning Framework 2 Booklets sent out We need your Visitation Summary Forms returned for the Archdeacons visitations We will send you a Summary Form asking for an update on progress We need your final Visitation Summary Forms back Sep 2015 We begin Growth Planning Framework 3 5
1. A place of welcome and belonging Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) It is often said that people who attend a service of worship will decide within minutes whether or not they will come back. It is also clear that for many people church is a pretty alien concept. And even if people stick with it, it can take many months, or even years, for people to come to faith in Christ. Therefore we have to work hard to welcome people and help them feel that they belong, that they matter and if they weren t there they would be significantly missed. This is much more than a handshake on the door or a quick hello at the end of the service before we go off and talk to our mates. And it s not just the responsibility of the sidespeople and welcome team. We all have to try and make sure that people leave church feeling welcomed and valued and that they want to come back. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: We give a really warm welcome to our church and people want to come back. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of Welcome and Belonging? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 6 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Does our welcome and hospitality help people quickly feel comfortable and settled in our church? 2. Do we have an attractive welcome pack/welcome literature? 3. Are we good at spotting new people? 4. Does everyone in our church play their part in welcoming people and help them belong? 5. Do newer people quickly find their way around our church and our various activities? 6. Does our church feel like a loving and supportive family? 7. Is our church a place where our church members bring their friends along? 8. In general do people look out for people in our church and do we notice if people stop coming? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to make our church a place of greater welcome and belonging? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide ranging review of the way in which we welcome and help people feel they belong? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 7
2. A place where all can worship When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him... They said to each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us? (Luke 24:30,32) To worship is to change. Worship opens our eyes and our hearts to the kind of encounter with God that changes our perspective then changes our lives. Parish worship, then, needs to offer all in our community an easy, open and accessible route to such an encounter. Its first concern is for transformation and its focus therefore should always be more mission shaped than simply church shaped. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: The worship in our church is attractive, inspiring and inclusive. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of Worship? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 8 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Do we have a varied diet of worship that includes everyone and takes place at the most appropriate times? 2. Is our church child friendly with appropriate safeguarding procedures in place? 3. Is our liturgy accessible and easy to follow? 4. Is our preaching biblical, helpful and applied to people s daily lives? 5. Do we involve a variety of people in the organisation and conducting of services (eg welcomers, sidespeople, readers and leaders of intercessions)? 6. Does our worship draw in and engage the outsider, and particularly those who may have never worshipped in a church before? 7. Is our church known and noticed for its inclusiveness? 8. In general, is our regular worship effective at drawing people into the presence of God? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to create a place where all can worship? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of our worship? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 9
3. A place of prayer and Bible study While we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word. (Acts 6:4) As is the business of tailors to make clothes and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray. (Martin Luther). Prayer is indeed our calling, the heartbeat of the church. And with prayer we must also read our Bibles if we are to be formed with the mind of Christ. Just as no athlete acquires their skill without training and discipline so we cannot hope to mature in faith without learning the twin disciplines of prayer and Bible reading. To grow up and out requires us to put down deep spiritual roots. Our church must attend to the creative ways in which people can learn to pray and to read scripture. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: As a church we believe that all Christians should pray and read their Bibles faithfully and we do all we can to help them. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of prayer and Bible study? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 10 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Is a daily office said, and is it open to all? 2. Do we guide and equip people to pray and to mature in their spiritual lives (e.g. a school of prayer, spiritual direction, a church prayer diary, guided retreats)? 3. Do we create opportunities for people to pray together and to pray for other people (e.g. prayer triplets, meetings or breakfasts; bringing prayer requests to church, forms of prayer ministry)? 4. Do we help people to read and reflect upon the Bible (e.g. Bible study notes, sermon notes, audio or podcast, small groups, courses)? 5. In our worship together is the Bible read well, are the intercessions well prepared and people trained to share in these ministries? 6. In general, do we challenge and encourage people to make regular time for personal prayer and Bible reading? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to make more opportunites for prayer and bible study? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of prayer and bible study within our church? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 11
4. A place of nurture, discipleship and vocation Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19) Christian growth and maturity don t just happen. Nurture and discipleship are core challenges for any church in any generation. Many new people now come to church with little or no Christian understanding so we have to work particularly hard to help people come to and make sense of their faith and how it impacts on their daily lives. Similarly Christianity isn t just about church. Our day to day life and witness is central to our vocation and it isn t necessarily that easy to be a Christian just now. A standard complaint about church is that it may be a great help and encouragement on a Sunday while I m there, but less good about helping me through the rest of the week when I am not. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: Our church enables people from across our parish/parishes to explore their journey of faith and come to know, love and serve Jesus Christ. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of nurture, discipleship and vocation? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 12 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Do we run regular Christian basics courses? 2. Do we help prepare people well for baptism and confirmation? 3. Do we have effective ways, including small groups, of helping people mature in their faith and their walk with God? 4. Do we have appropriate ways of helping children and young people grow in and express their faith? 5. Do we help people to talk about their faith? 6. Do we help people see their daily living as part of their vocation? 7. Within this do we actively seek to identify and encourage people who God may be calling into ordained ministry? 8. In general do we have a flow of people coming to faith in our church? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to help people mature in their faith and sense of vocation? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of the way in which we help people move on in their Christian faith? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 13
5. A place of leadership, empowerment and release It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. (Cols 1:28-29) The body is one of the ways in which Paul describes our relationship to one another as Christians, emphasising that all parts functioning together make up the Body of Christ. A well led church is one in which everyone is able to discover and recognise their God-given gifts and have opportunities to exercise those gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ. As such the leadership of the church needs to be clear about where under God they believe the church is heading, confident in their ability to exercise their leadership and collaborative so that each person can be fully empowered to exercise their ministry in the fullness of Christ. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: Our church is well led enabling people to have a go as they identify and grow their God-given gifts and talents. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of leadership, empowerment and release? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 14 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Are we confident that we are receiving and supporting good clear leadership (clergy and lay) within our church? 2. Does our church demonstrate a good balance between maintenance and mission? 3. Are we consciously developing our current leadership and a new generation of leaders within our church, especially in the light of the Growth Agenda? 4. Are we committed in principle and practice to growing collaborative/shared ministry and leadership? 5. Do we have more people in leadership positions than 12 months ago? 6. Does our church welcome and embrace change? 7. Is our church intentional in setting clear goals for development and change? 8. In general, do people feel they have a place within church life and are given opportunities to try things out? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to help develop and empower people in leadership? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of the way in which we empower and release people in leadership? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 15
6. A place of service and sending You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8b) As Jesus ascended to heaven he promised his disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. Their witness would begin where they were, in Jerusalem and would ripple out through Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Our mission begins in our local community - but it cannot finish there. The Gospel challenges us to go beyond the walls of our church and the boundaries of our community. We can t be vague about this. Partnerships with other churches and mission agencies help us keep the big picture in mind, the church in all the world. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: Our church makes a difference to our local community and at least one other community beyond. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of service and sending? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 16 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Does our community know that we are here; do we have a good reputation as a faith community or do we need to build bridges to our community? 2. Do we talk to other faith and community groups and are we actively involved in local initiatives that make our community a better place to be? 3. Are we sufficiently and creatively involved with our local school(s), church and non church schools, lay and ordained involvement? 4. Do we actively support any Christian agencies working in the UK? 5. Do we actively engage with mission partners outside of the UK? 6. Do we celebrate and affirm the vocation of our church members to their workplace, their home and voluntary work? 7. In general, do we challenge and equip people to be witnesses to Jesus where God has called them to be and to bring the Gospel to those who have never heard it before? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to help people make more of a difference in our own community or further afield? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of the way in which we help people engage with the world beyond the walls of the church? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 17
7. A base for evangelism, outreach and numerical growth Praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47) Just as growth in nature is a sign of health and vitality, so we welcome every sign of spiritual and numerical growth in the life of the Church. Church growth however comes out of intentional aims and actions that focus beyond the horizon of where we are now. It sets its sights on the inclusion and favour of all in the community, and seeks to build a church that reflects and celebrates growth as one of its core values. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: Our church is committed to numerical growth. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of evangelism, outreach and numerical growth? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 18 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Do we make the most of our major festivals, school services, civic services etc? 2. Do we build good, supportive and on going relationships with baptism families, couples coming for marriage, and those we connect with through bereavement? 3. Are there any particular generations currently missing from our church, and are we addressing this? 4. Are there particular parts of the parish which are largely untouched by the current ministry of our church? 5. Do we have any specific plans to connect with and reach out to people as yet untouched by our church? 6. Do we have plans to start a new service, a fresh expression, or a new church plant within the next 2 years? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to grow our church? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of the way in which we help people to share their Christian faith? In general have we identified and started to address our biggest obstacles to growth? 19
8. A place of good administration and pastoral care We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8) The gift of administration found elsewhere in Paul (1 Cor 12:28) and good pastoral care are both essential if the gifts of God in Paul s list in Romans are to be released. If we don t get our administration right, if we organise ourselves it can significantly undermine our mission and ministry. Good pastoral care allows the gifts God gives to be identified, valued and developed and prevents too few people trying to do too much. Starter for 10 On a score of 1 10 (1 completely disagree; 10 fully agree) how do you rate the following statement: Our church is well organised, things run smoothly and people are well cared for. J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 Completely Disagree Fully Agree Do you need further help in the area of administration and pastoral care? If so email warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org 20 www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf
Questions 1. Do people feel well informed about what is going on? 2. Are the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities appropriately spread out among different people or is the vicar and/or the usual suspects expected to do everything? 3. Are there things we can stop doing? 4. Are we good at identifying people who may be isolated or overlooked in church? 5. Do we offer effective and supportive pastoral care for those going through difficulties? 6. Are we providing adequate care and opportunity for the older members of our church? 7. Do we have a trained and appropriately checked (DBS) pastoral visiting team? 8. In general are we equipped to enable differently-abled people to fully engage in our worship and church activities? Actions What is the one thing we could do over the next 12 months to enhance our administration and pastoral care? Has our discussion suggested a need for a more wide-ranging review of our pastoral care and administration? Having discussed this area do we need to revise our Starter for 10 score? 21
Visitation Summary Form Parish Name: Parish Number: Deanery: Statement Score 1. We give a really warm welcome to our church and people want to come back. J 2. The worship in our church is attractive, inspiring and inclusive J 3. As a church we believe that all Christians should pray and read their Bibles faithfully and we do all we can to help them. 4. Our church enables people from across our parish/parishes to explore their journey of faith and come to know, love and serve Jesus Christ. 5. Our church is well led enabling people to have a go as they identify and grow their God-given gifts and talents. 6. Our church makes a difference to our local community and at least one other community beyond. J J J J 7. Our church is committed to numerical growth. J 8. Our church is well organised, things run smoothly and people are well cared for. J Visitation Summary Form page 1
Key actions Please copy down here the key actions you identified under the different sections in the Growth Planning Framework 2. You will probably have 1 action per section. You may have 1 or 2 in some and none in others. We strongly suggest, however, that you do not have more than 8 in all and that if you have put down an area for wider review then you treat that as one of your key actions. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Areas for wider review Please copy down here any areas for wider review you identified under the different headings in the Growth Planning Framework 2. 1. 2. Please either photocopy and return the Visitation Summary Form to Warren Hartley at: St James House, 20 St James Road, Liverpool L1 7BY by 31st March or complete an electronic copy (available on request from warren.hartley@liverpool.anglican.org). Visitation Summary Form page 2
For more copies of the booklet and form please visit: www.liverpool.anglican.org/gpf Find out more about The Growth Agenda: www.liverpool.anglican.org/growthagenda 24