Planning for growth in the URC

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Planning for growth in the URC
Presentation for Synod meetings
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What is Vision2020?

• A 10-year plan for mission for the whole URC
  local, Synod, denominational.
• Growth takes many forms but this is a plan to
  address our numerical decline.
• Aimed to support current mission planning in
  local churches and Synods.
• Now it is only a consultation
• it is not due to begin until at least December
  2010.

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A story to celebrate

• Insert a story of a church in your Synod that
  has seen some sort of success especially if it
  involves numerical growth!
• Key success factors?

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Timetable

• May/June 2009 consultation with local churches.
• Autumn 2009 discussions at Synod meeting.
• Winter 2009/10 discussions at Mission Committee
  and Mission Council.
• July 2010 decision at General Assembly.
• Autumn/Winter 2010 Vision2020 begins.

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Vision2020 key ideas
1. Statements of our mission and purpose What
are our mission priorities for the next 10 years
and how will we know if we are on the right
track? 2. Local mission pledge How can
churches locally work towards these priorities? 3
. Link with Synod strategy How can the Synods
strategy and Vision2020 support each other?
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1. Statements of mission purpose

• What kind of church will we be in 10
• years time?
• Our 10 mission statements priorities
• for the future.
• How will we know if we are on the right
• track?

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1 Identity
IN TEN YEARS TIME every local church will be
able to say who they are, what they do and why
they do it.
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1 Identity

• We will know if we are on the right track
• by
• The number of local churches with a mission
  plan or similar strategy document.
• 2. The number of churches having a welcome pack.
• 3. The number of churches having an Open Day.

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2 Spirituality and prayer
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will have grown in our
practice of prayer and spirituality, nurturing
strength for our witness in complex times, and
developing our discernment of where God is and
what God is calling us to do.
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2 Spirituality and prayer

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches who have committed to
  taking part in initiatives to engage more deeply
  with prayer.
• 2. The number of churches embarking on new ways
  of exploring mission and
• spirituality.

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3 Christian ecumenical partnerships
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be more confident
in our identity, valuing the treasures of our
tradition, discerning when to seek ecumenical
partnerships, and when and how to seek the
further unity of the church.
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3 Christian ecumenical partnerships

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches in Local Ecumenical
  Partnerships.
• The number of churches involved in working with
  ecumenical partners.

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4. Community partnerships

• IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be a church that is
  more active in the life of local neighbourhoods.

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4. Community partnerships

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches running some form of
  community project.
• 2. The number of churches that work in
  partnership with local agencies, including people
  of other faiths.
• 3. The number of church members volunteering in
  other community-based activities.

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5. Diversity
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be a diverse church
that does more to welcome and include all people
equally.
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5. Diversity

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches that have regular training
  to consider inclusiveness in the congregation and
  act on it.
• 2. The number of churches that regularly monitor
  their membership and eldership to ensure
  inclusiveness.

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5. Diversity
3. Representation of black and minority ethnic
groups on all key councils, committees and task
groups at local, Synod and General Assembly
levels. 4. Appropriate numbers of black and
minority ethnic ministers, church-related
community workers, staff and candidates.
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6. Evangelism
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be more confident to
engage in evangelism, proclaiming the good news
of the kingdom of God with friends, families and
strangers, through story and action.
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6. Evangelism

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches taking up the opportunity
  of the Vision4Life or God is Still Speaking
  projects for congregational development.
• 2. The number of churches drawing on Synod
  (staff) resources for evangelism for training and
  networking.

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6. Evangelism
3. The number of congregations planning and
carrying out activities whose primary function is
to share the gospel.
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7. Church growth
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be a growing church
with an increasing membership.
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7. Church growth

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of new members in a congregation.
• 2. Growth in URC membership by 2020.
• 3. The number of churches exploring Fresh
  Expressions or new ways of being church.

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8. Global partnerships
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be a church that is
an active partner in Gods global mission with
other churches around the world.
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8. Global partnerships

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches with direct links with a
  church overseas.
• 2. The number of Synods linked to a Council for
  World Mission member church or other global
  partner.
• 3. The number of churches sharing
• in Commitment for Life.

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9. Justice
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be a church that
keeps faith with the poor and challenges
injustice.
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9. Justice

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of churches that actively participate
  in at least one Joint Public Issues Team campaign
  each year.
• 2. The number of churches engaged
• ecumenically in action against poverty and
  social exclusion in their local communities.

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9. Justice
3. The number of practitioners and campaigners
in local churches involved in a network around
these issues. 4. The number of Synods that have
endorsed and are monitoring the implementation of
the revised ethical investment policy of the
URC.
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10. The integrity of creation
IN TEN YEARS TIME we will be a denomination
where each congregation has taken significant
steps to safeguard the integrity of creation, to
sustain and renew the life of the earth.
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10. The integrity of creation

• We will know if we are on the right track by
• The number of local churches who have undertaken
  an environmental audit and are implementing some
  form of resulting action plan.
• 2. The churches that in worship, bible study and
  prayer give voice to the God whose life and love
  is expressed in all creation.

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10. The integrity of creation
3. The number of congregations that are engaged
with people in their local communities and
globally over issues of environmental care,
sharing concerns, contributing the insights of
the Christian faith, co-operating with others in
finding more sustainable patterns of life
together.
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Discussion Question 1

• Are the 10 mission statements the
• right priorities for the URC in the years
  ahead?

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2. Local Mission Pledge idea

• Each church makes a pledge to achieve its own
  mission goals.
• Part of a covenant with other churches in the
  Synod.
• Basis for indicating the kind of support Synod
  and Church House can give.
• No penalty for not pledging or not achieving
  your pledge.
• Collected annually or biannually.

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Discussion Question 2 and 3

• Would churches in your Synod find
• making a mission pledge helpful with
• the right kind of support and
• guidance?
• How might Local Mission Pledges help
• the Synod with its mission planning
• and enabling?

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3. Synod Mission Strategies

• Many Synods already have mission
• strategies of different kinds, some are in the
• process of developing them. These might
• respond to the regional context, priorities and
  resources.
• 2. help to guide Synod structures and financial
  and staff resources.
• 3. provide a framework for the Challenge to the
  Church process.

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Discussion Question 4
How do you see Vision2020 enabling or enhancing
your Synod mission planning process/strategy?
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Mission Values and Spirituality

• Our mission planning must be rooted in
• seeking and listening to God and fresh
• discernment of the Holy Spirit at work.
• It must be founded upon the best insights and
• principles of our faith tradition.

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Mission Values and Spirituality

• We offer a Mission Creed as a source of
• reflection and inspiration.
• This and other Vision2020 resources are
• available on the URC website
• www.urc.org.uk

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Summary of Questions

• Are the 10 mission statements the right
  priorities for the URC in the years ahead?
• 2. Would churches in your Synod find making a
  mission pledge helpful with the right kind of
  support and guidance?
• 3. How might Local Mission Pledges help the Synod
  with its mission planning and enabling?
• 4. How do you see Vision2020 enabling or
  enhancing your Synod mission planning
  process/strategy?

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Have you got the vision?
Carry the flame
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