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Another year on!

Another year on!. The Past Year. Nationally the church still struggles for a voice in our society. Not helped by recent disagreements and continued bad media coverage, it is still seen as an archaic institution which is out of touch with ordinary people. But, despite the bad press... .

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Another year on!

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  1. Another year on!

  2. The Past Year Nationally the church still struggles for a voice in our society. Not helped by recent disagreements and continued bad media coverage, it is still seen as an archaic institution which is out of touch with ordinary people. But, despite the bad press...

  3. A Christian presence in every community. ...We are still here!...

  4. ...But, we can’t be complacent about church growth!... Since 1968 the number of people attending church on a Sunday has dropped by half to 800,000 people.

  5. Figures taken from CofE Parish Statistics. Inconsistent and perhaps unreliable? Oakworth Parish

  6. Growing churches Could be growing churches Churches which need extra help

  7. What makes churches grow? What is the evidence? What do we know about why some churches grow and some decline?

  8. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership The survey results show a strong correlation between those clergy who prioritise numerical growth and those clergy whose churches grow in number.

  9. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Having a clear mission and purpose Churches that say they have a clear mission and purpose are far more likely to report growth.

  10. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Having a clear mission and purpose Vitality comes with reflection and choice; the particular style is less important than the fact it has been considered and embraced rather than adopted by default. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually

  11. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Having a clear mission and purpose Researchers describe successful churches with a ‘lets give it a go’ mentality. These churches try different initiatives as experiments – if they work they invest in them, if they don’t they drop them. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Being willing to change and adapt

  12. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Having a clear mission and purpose Churches where volunteers are involved in leadership, and where roles are rotated regularly, is likely to be growing – especially where younger members and new members are included in lay leadership and service. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Being willing to change and adapt Good lay leadership

  13. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Actively engaging Children and Teenagers Having a clear mission and purpose Churches which offer programmes for children and teenagers are more likely to grow. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Being willing to change and adapt Good lay leadership

  14. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Actively engaging Children and Teenagers Having a clear mission and purpose Actively engaging with those outside the church • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Looking outwards is central to mission and many growing churches are those which engage with their local community Being willing to change and adapt Good lay leadership

  15. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Actively engaging Children and Teenagers Having a clear mission and purpose Actively engaging with those outside the church The most direct route to growth comes from members inviting and welcoming family, friends and acquaintances. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Good welcoming and follow up for visitors Being willing to change and adapt Good lay leadership

  16. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Actively engaging Children and Teenagers Having a clear mission and purpose Actively engaging with those outside the church Two thirds of churches which said they offered encouragement and support through specific discipleship courses or courses “preparing members to be a Christian witness in their daily lives” showed growth. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Good welcoming and follow up for visitors Being willing to change and adapt Committed to nurturing new and existing Christians Good lay leadership

  17. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Actively engaging Children and Teenagers Having a clear mission and purpose Actively engaging with those outside the church Growth is not mechanical but results from a deep reflection and commitment, a desire to experiment and a desire for renewal. • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Good welcoming and follow up for visitors Being willing to change and adapt Committed to nurturing new and existing Christians Good lay leadership Vision

  18. Factors that are associated with Growth Leadership Actively engaging Children and Teenagers Having a clear mission and purpose Actively engaging with those outside the church • Being ready to self-reflect and learn continually Good welcoming and follow up for visitors Being willing to change and adapt Committed to nurturing new and existing Christians Good lay leadership Vision Which of these are we good at and which do we need to do better?

  19. Factors that are associated with Growth

  20. Factors that are associated with Growth I sowed the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who sows and the one waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

  21. Our church mission statement reflects growth and who we are in Christ, both as individuals and as a church. Known to us through Christ by the reading of the scriptures God

  22. Our mission statement reflects growth and who we are in Christ as individuals and as a church. Knowing Worship Our personal and corporate relationship with God Fellowship Our relationship with others Discipleship Engaging in God’s loving purposes in the world God Showing Sharing

  23. Our Mission is... Knowing, Showing and Sharing God’s Love. How do we do it?

  24. What we already do! In 2013 people still came to us for... 7 Weddings (up from 2012 by 75%) 9 Baptisms 1 Thanksgiving 24 Funerals (up from 2012 by 60%) ...and in 2013 we saw an increase in numbers at ... Friday Film Night Small Steps Christmas Services

  25. What we already do! Some other significant activities in the past year which reach out in our community... Wine Tasting Evening Explorers Holiday Club New Website School Assemblies and Governor Representatives in both Schools Easter & Christmas Crafts Holden Art Club Thanksgiving and Memorial Service EXPLORERS

  26. Some of these things need you to support them by coming along and inviting other people to come too! Wine Tasting Evening Explorers Holiday Club Friday Film Night Easter & Christmas Crafts Holden Art Club Christmas Services Thanksgiving and Memorial Service EXPLORERS

  27. Think about how you started coming to church, did somebody invite you? 2011 Census Data “You have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest.’ But I tell you, take a good look at the fields; the crops are now ripe and ready to be harvested!” John 4:35

  28. Knowing, Showing and Sharing God’s Love.

  29. Knowing, Showing and Sharing God’s Love. Start Course at the Lemon Tree Wednesday 4th June

  30. Knowing, Showing and Sharing God’s Love. This year we will be moving forward with the reordering.... ...to help us do more of what we are already doing!

  31. Knowing, Showing and Sharing God’s Love.

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