venturing in mission
- We commit ourselves to building:
- A Venturing Church
- A Catholic Church with a local focus
- A Worshipping Church
- A Serving Church
- An Evangelising Church
- A Cooperating Church
- A Collaborating Church
In 2005 the diocese of St Davids committed itself to Venturing in Mission. In 2006, services were held across the three archdeaconries in which parishes presented to the Bishop their own plans for venturing.
Before these services a great deal of thinking, praying and reflecting had taken place. The Bishop’s Staff had asked themselves what would stimulate growth and enable churches to ask the right kinds of questions about their own life and communities? The differences of culture, language and geography meant that no single template was appropriate, no ‘one size fits all’ approach. But rather under 5 headings, churches could address some fundamental issues about their priorities and hopes.
The Diocesan dvd production team, pictured during a break at Pennant Melangell church in ther Berwyn mountains
Each church or parish has completed a Venturing in Mission Action Plan. The 5 headings are not prioritised nor necessarily in sequence but describe areas of significance:
- Worship
- Service
- Evangelism
- Collaboration
- Co-operation
New initiatives are emerging that have given impetus and confidence to congregations. Sometimes these have been accompanied by new teams and different ways of working together to further God’s Kingdom.
The diocese received a further boost when it launched in 2007 a DVD entitled ‘Breaking New Ground’. Drawing on words from the Venturing in Mission Prayer, the product was designed to give parishes concrete examples of what others had tried to do and give permission to try some new things themselves.
The Venturing in Mission prayer takes us to the heart of what we believe God is calling us to do and to become. We know that plans and initiatives will always depend on the quality of Christian living and discipleship in the diocese. And so we pray:
God our Father, always behind us,
God the Son always alongside us,
God the Holy Spirit, always ahead of us,
Calm our fears and renew our faith,
So that with you we may venture
To break new ground, take risks
And further your mission in this diocese,
to your honour and glory