The working group is responsible for the development and monitoring of delivery of diocesan mission policy and action. Within this remit, it has a special concern for issues of evangelism, spiritual formation and church growth. The group considers diocesan mission policy and action in the context of ecumenical partnerships with other Christian churches, the religious and cultural diversity of our local communities, and the wider setting of world church and development and development issues. The group meets four times a year and is accountable to the Bishop’s Council.

The main focus of the group’s work is support for parishes and deaneries, recognising that this can often be strengthened by developing working relationships with mission agencies, and with our ecumenical partners, other Christian churches, and other faith communities.
The work of the group is underpinned by a theological understanding of mission as an outgoing sharing in the reconciling and renewing activity of God in the world which springs from the mission of Jesus and transforms the Church in the power of the Spirit (Jn 20.21.-22)

Membership

Chair - appointed by the Bishop – Ven. Michael Ipgrave

3 elected within each Episcopal Area.

Up to 5 co-opted

Total 15

The members will be expected to bring both knowledge and experience of the areas of work to ensure informed discussion. It is proposed that the membership is a mix of laity and clergy with the co-options to fill identifiable skills paying heed to the diocesan equal opportunities policy.

The quorum for decision making is initially set at 50%.

Definitions of terms

Mission is the church’s sharing in God’s loving and saving activity in the world, leading to the transformation of individuals and communities. In contemporary Anglican theology, it is understood to be characterised by five marks:

• proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom
• teaching, baptising and nurturing new believers
• responding to human need by loving service
• seeking to transform unjust structures of society
• striving to safeguard the integrity of creation.

Evangelism is the enablement of a personal awakening of faith in Jesus Christ through sharing that faith person to person by the spoken word and other means within the community.

Spiritual formation is the process of reflection and deepening faith which serves the outworking of the five marks of mission in the church.

Church Growth is the transformation of the church through openness to its community which enables the five marks of mission to be realised.

The Sub Groups

Four resource subgroups, accountable to the Mission Group, assist the involvement of parishes and deaneries in:

• Evangelism
• Ecumenical Relations
• Inter Faith Relations
• World Mission and Development

An appropriately qualified member of the Mission Group is assigned to each resource subgroup as a link person.

In addition, the Mission Group may establish ad hoc subgroups to address particular projects as necessary.

The Group’s work

• With the Canon Missioner to draw up, monitor and review annually a three-year work plan for submission to and approval by the Bishop’s Council.
• To support and monitor the work of the Canon Missioner by receiving progress reports on a regular basis and advising on proposals for new developments.
• To encourage theological reflection on mission issues, and to disseminate good practice by appropriate means (e.g. highlighting developments to publicise, organising seminars, publishing occasional papers).
• To support the work of the resource subgroups.
• To monitor and review the development of new and existing mission work within the diocese.
• To work in partnership with the diocesan Working Groups on Social Responsibility and Regeneration and on Children and Young People, the Advisory Committee on Ministry and Training, and other diocesan boards and committees where appropriate.
• To  maintain contact with the Archbishop’s Council Mission and Public Affairs Division and Council for Christian Unity, and to monitor mission issues and reports passed to the diocese for consideration by the Church nationally.
• To report regularly to the Bishop’s Council to the Deaneries and parishes through the Diocesan annual review.

The Advisers

Canon Michael Hart - Canon Missioner (Trinity House)
Siriol Davies - Inter Faith Links Officer  (part time)
(c/o Trinity House)
John Richardson - Ecumenical Relations Officer (part time)
(c/o Trinity House)

Work Plan

Diocesan Mission Group

Summary of Work Plan 2006-2008

It is not the Church of God that has a mission, but the God of mission who has a church. The Mission Group seeks to be a resource to parishes and communities in the diocese in responding to the challenge to join in God’s mission transforming individual lives, local communities and the world.

The Group has identified the following priorities:

• Developing one or more deployable mission teams to renew or strengthen local parishes in their mission
• Examining the specific factors in Southwark which enable or inhibit the numerical and spiritual growth of parish churches
• Having an oversight of ‘fresh expressions’ of church across the diocese, and the relationship of these to traditional patterns of parish life
• Reviewing the practice of church planting across the diocese, in light of the guidelines adopted by Diocesan Synod
• Exploring ways in which pastoral reorganisation can develop the missionary potential of churches
• Formulating an understanding of spiritual formation which will equip Christian communities in the diocese to engage in mission

The Group is resourced by four specialist subgroups:

Evangelism – enabling a personal awakening of faith in Jesus Christ through sharing that faith person to person by the spoken word and by other means within the community
Ecumenical relations – promoting co-operative links with our ecumenical partners and with other Christian churches
Inter faith relations – exploring Christian engagement with communities of other world faiths to develop understanding and trust
World Mission and Development – strengthening awareness of membership of the world church, and of the links between mission and development.

The Group offers support and encouragement to full- and part-time diocesan advisers working in this area – currently:

Canon Missioner (Canon Michael Hart)

Ecumenical Relations Officer (Mr John Richardson)

Inter Faith Links Co-ordinator (Ms Siriol Davies)

Spiritual Formation Officer (Chris Chapman)

Olympics Officer (Rev Nigel Stone)

The Group works in the following ways:

• developing practical initiatives to encourage or strengthen parish involvement
• sharing good mission practice across the diocese
• gathering, maintaining and disseminating information to resource parishes
• acting as a focal point to respond to new initiatives from outside the Diocese
• promoting theological reflection on underlying issues.

The full Mission Group Work Plan was agreed by Bishop’s Council 31st May 2006.

Contact Details

Groups Support Officer
Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW
020 7939 9412

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