Introduction The resources in this toolkit are designed for use with congregations/local churches.

1. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Introduction • The resources in this toolkit are designed for use with congregations/local churches. • There are 50,798 congregations across CWM’s 31 member churches and each of them is quite unique in its life and witness, and in its context. • It is therefore quite likely that the resources in this toolkit will need fine-tuning for your context and so they are provided in a format to enable you to do that. • Each part of the process comes in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, which you can use to introduce it to your congregation and/or the group of people within the congregation charged with leading the process. The resources are also downloadable as PDF files that can be printed out locally.

2. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Introduction (continued) • Each stage will involve further work researching, reflecting and discussing aspects of your local church’s life and witness. • In many ways the whole process is about asking questions and discovering where they lead you. In this respect it is a journey that is intended to enrich and renew the congregation as you discover new things about yourselves, your context and your faith. • Expect it to take several weeks, even months to complete. This is not a race, nor simply another task to complete. It is an investment in developing the life of the congregation.

3. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Introduction (continued) • The more people who are involved the better. They can be organised into smaller groups so that everyone’s voice can be heard, including the young people and the children. You might even want to involve some people from outside the church. If we are to develop as life-affirming communities, going beyond ourselves, then it is important for us to hear and understand how other people see us. • As you go about this you may find yourselves developing other resources to support the process – Bible studies, prayers, sermons, liturgies, songs, drama, banners, other tools and adaptions of the resources here, and so on. Please share this with us so that we can make them more widely available to inspire and encourage others. Send your resources, ideas and examples to: mission.enabling@cwmission.org.

4. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit • This is where it all begins and is the most critical part of the process. • It hinges on two important questions – Who are we? And, what is happening around us? (Reading the signs of the times). • Because it is so important it is worth taking time over this part of the process. • There are various ways to ask the ‘who are we?’ question. You could design and get people to complete a questionnaire, or you could design a more inter-active process. For example, you could determine what are the questions that need to be asked through a ‘brainstorming’ exercise and then using different coloured post-it notes for different questions (or different groups of questions) get people to complete their answers and stick them to a wall; and then ask a couple of volunteers to group the answers and so build up a picture of the membership that way.

5. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit (continued) • There is so much to explore and reflect on with this question that the exercise could be broken down into several parts and spread over several sessions. For example, where do the members live could be plotted on a map, with people marking their own location so that everyone can see the spread. From this it will be clear who lives within the immediate neighbourhood of the church and who doesn’t – what are the implications of this? Are we a neighbourhood church or a gathered community? Depending how far people are spread it might not even be clear whether the church can be described as urban, suburban or rural – is this given by the location of the building or the people? So even something that might seem simple can turn into a significant discussion that challenges some of our assumptions and stories we tell about ourselves.

6. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit (continued) • ‘How have we changed through time?’ involves two parts. The first part paves the way for the second and at first seems simple – are we growing or declining? The significant bit is in the follow-up question – what causes such change? This provides an opportunity for people to offer their own reflections on why and how change is impacting the church. Make sure everyone’s voice is heard. Understanding and appreciating each other’s views is an important element in a community seeking to live Jesus’ promise of life in all its fullness. • The SWOT analysis provides a framework to capture what people believe are the most critical elements of this discussion.

7. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit (continued) • Getting to know our community and context takes us beyond ourselves to the places where mission happens. • Mapping our neighbourhood may seem a simple exercise, but even if we live in the immediate vicinity of the church building we may not know everything about that community. Take time to explore the area and talk to other local people and build up your own map of the area. What stands out for you? Who else is there? What are people’s concerns? What is in the news? Where do the poor people live? Where do the rich people live? Where do people work? Shop? Have fun? Keep asking questions and mark the answers on your map? How is Jesus promise of fullness of life for all creation manifest in this community? Where and how is it lacking?

8. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit (continued) • Different people will see things differently, so again this exercise could be assigned to groups. A senior’s view of the neighbourhood will look very different to a child's view. Try to capture as many different perspectives as you can. • Now, going a bit deeper, reflect on what you have learnt using the SPECS analysis and explore the Social, Political, Economic, Cultural and Spiritual dimensions of the local community. • What does this tell you about the local community? In what ways is the local community similar to and different from your local church? What are the implications of this? • Based on what you have discovered list the concerns (the hopes and fears) of the local community or conduct another SWOT analysis on the local community and draft the emerging story of the community as you are seeing and experiencing it.

9. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit (continued) • So we have got know ourselves and our community a bit better. The next stage of the process involves reflecting on what we have learnt in the light of our faith. • Identify some passages in the Bible where similar stories are told or issues addressed. Where does the Bible speak to our life as a congregation? Where does the Bible speak to the hopes and fears of this local community? This could be set as a homework exercise giving people time to identify passages that speak to an item from each aspect that stands out for them. They could then share the issues, the passages, and their reflections or the connections they are making. List them and give people an opportunity to reflect on what they are hearing from one another.

10. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Audit (continued) • Now we come to the final session of this phase. We have built up a picture of ourselves and our community and we have reflected on how God might be speaking to us through what we have learnt. In the light of all this what are the things that God might be calling us to do at this time? Begin to list your conclusions from your mission audit. Write everything down. This is not a list of priorities, or actions, or your mission plan. It is simply your conclusions at this stage, which will need to be further refined in the next stage of the process. • It has taken a while to get here, so take time to celebrate what you have learnt so far. You are no doubt a diverse and talented congregation located in an equally diverse and possibly challenging context, but you have much to give thanks for.

11. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Planning • Now the fun begins. How can we turn all that we have learnt into a meaningful plan to develop the life and witness of the congregation? • The main challenge is to keep focused and to be clear about what you are trying to achieve; how you will do it; how you will know that you have accomplished it; and why you think that these actions will produce the outcomes that you are looking for. The mission planning tool is intended to help you with this as it requires you to state all these things.

12. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Planning (continued) • Sometimes in our church work we focus too much on the activity and not enough on the outcome. Yet it is the outcome that is all important, and because not everything we do is successful it is important that we have ways to evaluate why things are working or not working. If they are working it is important to know why, so that we can build on their success. If they are not working, we should try and learn from the experience. Often it is not the activity itself where any problems lie, but in our assumptions about why doing something will produce a particular result. That is why, in this model, there is space to record our assumptions.

13. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Planning (continued) • The place to begin though is our overall goal – this will help us to focus on where we are heading long-term. So, for example, it might describe the sort of church we would like to become. Based on your work so far there will be pointers to this, but listen to all the stakeholders both within and outside the church and consider what is God calling you to become as a community of God’s people at this time? • What would this look like (indicators)? And how will you know (means of verification)? What is the rationale for this goal (assumptions)? • The ‘purpose’ is possibly a bit easier. What realistically might the congregation look like in five years time if you actively work towards this goal? Your goal indicators might help you here – what would a realistic milestone on this journey look like? How will you know that you have achieved it (indicators / means of verification). And why do you think that this is possible over the next five years (assumptions)?

14. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Planning (continued) • ‘Outputs’ or strategic objectives describe the changes you are looking for to bring the purpose about. Assuming your vision is to develop as a life-affirming community, you might, amongst other things, be looking to develop a spirituality of engagement, that is reflected in your worship, and in the nurture and support of your members. This could be expressed as ‘relevant and engaging worship’ and ’50% plus of members active in discipleship programme’. Again the indicators, means of verification and assumptions need to demonstrate how you will measure this and why/how you think this will contribute to your purpose and goal. • The ‘activities’ describe the actions that you plan to take to bring all this about. What will you need to do to ensure that worship is relevant and engaging? Why do you think this will work?

15. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Mission Planning (continued) • Again let everyone’s voice be heard. If you have been working with several groups earlier in the process let them continue with this and see what emerges. • Ultimately though a small group will need to bring the whole exercise together and propose something to the church as a whole to agree on. • This might take time. As you move from vision, through purpose, outputs and activities you will almost certainly find yourself wanting to revise aspects of the ‘higher’ outcomes as you wrestle with what is achievable and how you might bring such change about. • This is no problem. With wide-ranging involvement in this process, supported by and reflected in your worship and your engagement with the local community as you seek their views on the church and its place in the community you are already well on your way to becoming a life-affirming community. Your mission plan should build on this and help you to go further based on what you have learnt so far.

16. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Capacity Audit • Ideally this is done alongside the mission audit as you explore ‘who are we?’. • However, it is not just about the people. It is also about your buildings (their condition, how they are used, etc.), your location, the equipment you have, the church finances, and so on. • You can usefully do a SWOT analysis on all these different aspects to clarify your actual and potential capacity. • Similarly, thinking about what you are already doing identify all your existing church activities and who is involved. Highlight any patterns (e.g. same people doing everything, or lots of activities for older people and nothing for young people, or any particular groups in the church who appear to be involved in very little or for whom there are no activities). Reflect on these patterns and why they might exist. Consult widely. What do the people themselves say/feel about this?

17. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Capacity Audit (continued) • What other activities (organised by other groups) are happening on your church premises? Who is organising them? Are church members involved? If so, how and why? To what extent do these activities reflect the ministry and mission of the congregation? • Thinking of all the above activities (church and local community) how important are they? Using post-it notes (or some other way) get people to identify the three most important activities and three least important activities. What does this say to you as a church community? • List members’ active involvement in other organisations. What does this say about your local church? Why are people involved or not involved in the local community? • Reflecting on all the above how are your capacities as a congregation contributing to God’s mission in your place? Identify and list such capacities.

18. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Capacity Audit (continued) • Drawing on stories and passages in the Bible what does your faith say about your capacities? Highlight what needs to be shared with the congregation. • In the light of all this how might you build on and develop your capacities? List some ideas for wider discussion.

19. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Capacity Development Planning • This is much like mission planning – indeed it begins with your mission plan. • Given what you are trying to do, what capacities do you already possess to achieve this? And what do you need to develop? And how will you ensure that the capacities that you currently have and need will be maintained? • Using the mission planning tool work this into your mission plan. • Consider all the outcomes from the capacity audit. Are there some things that need to end or change – how are you going to do this? How are you going to create space for your new priorities? • Is there potential to build on your members’ existing engagement with other community organisations? And/or other community organisations use of your buildings?

20. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Capacity Development Planning (continued) • Can any of the capacities you need for your mission plan be found in the local community? For example, is there a local music teacher who might be interested and willing to develop a youth choir or church band? • Making links like this you are already developing as a life-affirming community as you move beyond yourselves and engage more widely and actively with the local community.

21. PROCESS GUIDE NOTES Developing and Sustaining Change • This is all about the ongoing life of the congregation. Whatever your mission plan looks like it needs to be nurtured and sustained by lively and engaging worship, stimulating Bible studies, continuing active engagement with your members and the local community (keeping the conversation going) and celebration of every achievement along the way. • Because every congregation and context differs we cannot tell you how to do this, but we really want to share examples of what you and others are doing so that we can all help each other develop as life-affirming communities. • Please send examples of the resources and activities that you develop to support this process to mission.enabling@cwmission.org • You can also discuss your experience with others on CWM’s Facebook page …. https://www.facebook.com/cwmission • We look forward to hearing from you.