Walking Together in Mission

With congregations and ministries spread throughout NSW and ACT, we recognise we have a diverse range of groups that will need different levels and types of support to best live out their God-given mission and ministry.

Such support will involve us as a District walking together to:

a) listen to congregations and ministries – leading to tailor-made actions

b) build relationships with and between congregations and ministries

c) research appropriate human, financial and educational resources

d) work with congregations/ministries with an individual or team

e) encourage, support and develop networking and communication across the District.

Congregations and ministries – although all walking together in mission – will not all be at the same point. Some are ripe for renewal and growth, are starting to catch a new vision or will have a limited future.

As congregations and ministries are approaching and going through transition, we will support them by:

a) identifying common journeys and transitions

b) providing facilitation and/or strategic planning support to open a conversation about the vision and mission of congregations and ministries that are struggling

c) assisting congregations with participating in renewing and planting initiatives and training

d) assisting congregations to end well, including helping them repot, leave a legacy, join another congregation, and explore how to continue word and sacrament ministry.

The District consists of diverse congregations and ministries, and we recognise that one model of ministry for all is neither appropriate nor feasible in the NSW and ACT District.

As a District walking together in mission, we will encourage, support and help congregations and ministries to develop alternative models of ministry that best serve the regions of the NSW and ACT District, which take into account their geographical context and the resources (including people) that are available.

The exploration will include:

a) recruiting a team to explore options

b) exploring what other churches are doing and learning from them

c) exploring training and resources required to implement each model

d) presenting possible models to DCC for implementation.

The District has an active strategy around renewing and planting. Congregations self-identify as a sending church to plant new churches or partner to a sending church. There are resources and training for both around congregational renewal, i.e. how to become healthy, mission-shaped and multiplying. Renewing and planting is a DCC agenda item.

Renewing and planting congregations will include:

a) communicating with pastors and congregational leaders

b) long-term planning: continuing the Sydney Committee and then progressing into other regions

c) structural framework for placing people and resources

d) articulating and communicating about what a healthy, mission-shaped and multiplying congregation is

e) identifying sending, partner or not-ready communities

f) identifying and working with relevant traineeship programs in missional leadership and practice

g) communication strategy

h) resourcing and implementation for planting and renewing – what are the projects?

So that we can walk together in mission well, networking and connections between District congregations and ministries are essential and, therefore, is an important priority.

We are putting resources of time, money and people into encouraging, supporting and developing networking and connections throughout NSW and the ACT.

Leadership in the NSW and ACT District involves:

a) the bishop having a key leadership role in the District

b) a philosophy of servant leadership – serve others first

c) seeing the bigger picture – having a vision – and bringing others along

d) modelling the District mission, vision and values – walking the talk

e) a teams approach

f) a permission-giving approach to empower and release people to act to achieve their God-given mission

g) mentoring future leaders and leading the leaders.

The bishop will need teams around him to implement the LCA NSW and ACT vision of walking together in mission.