TOWARDS A VISION
Members from each parish got together between September 2014 and January 2015 to revisit the Vision for the Mission Community over the next 5 years.
The Vision of the Mission Community celebrated in 2011 had been:
- We will work together to increase our knowledge and understanding of the teachings of Jesus Christ through Prayer, reading the Bible and other Spiritual works.
- We will offer Christian Hospitality to all so that we have opportunities to get to know each other and in practical ways show that we are followers of Jesus Christ. By our example we may assist regular members and visitors to have a greater understanding and belief in the message of Christ.
- We will reach out to all identified groups in our Mission Community through our religious and social gatherings. Our groups include: children, young people and their families, single adults, the elderly, the bereaved and villagers including other denominations.
The new group discussed what was special about their churches, what they were good at and what they enjoyed doing, and what they felt was the essential nature of “church” in their different places. They discussed the priorities for mission communities set out in the document “Towards a Diocesan Mission Action Plan”. Finally they looked at their own priorities for the future before distilling a final list of areas which form the Vision for the Mission Community. From this ‘plan for the future’ will grow a Mission Action Plan as we seek to find out what God is doing in the Mission Community and as we seek to join in.
Bishop Robert, Bishop of Exeter, has indicated his priorities for his ministry as:
- Growing in prayer
- Making new disciples
- Serving the people of Devon with joy
We hope to engage fully in his vision.
The Vision headings, in no particular priority order, are:
- SPIRITUALITY
- worship
- prayer, prayer groups
- retreats, quiet days & pilgrimages
- DISCIPLESHIP
- education incl. Lent course, Bible study
- courses incl. consideration of Pilgrim, Table Talk and Alpha-type courses
- vocations incl. building on baptism ministry, serving, Eucharistic ministry
- SOCIAL
- hospitality
- being a mission community
- supporting each other’s patronal festivals
- PASTORAL
- pastoral care
- home communion
- welcome
- OUTREACH (being part of and serving the community)
- mission
- hospitality
- stewardship and giving of money, time and talents
- communication
- CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS
- Messy Church
- Sunday Club
- Baptism and Confirmation
- Safeguarding (incl. Vulnerable Adults)
- FABRIC
- buildings
- property
- churchyards
- comfort
- personnel, including succession planning