MAPPING
Mission Action Planning:
not just another thing to do ..... but a way of life
"The October 2007 Diocesan Conference was for me one of the most exciting days of my three-and-a-half years in Monmouth," says Revd John Leach, Parish Devlopment Advsior.
MAPs being gathered in deanery boxes at the Diocesan Conference When I was asked to put together some material for Mission Action Planning I have to admit to a certain degree of cynicism. Working with my son Paul and Janet Bone, I believe we put together a good paper and DVD package, but would it work? And would anyone be willing to give it a go? As I listened to the three parish presentations and browsed the displays I felt that it had all been worthwhile. And from anecdotal evidence talking to people from the Diocese I sense that those who had seriously engaged with the material, often with some initial reluctance, had found new purpose and new excitement growing in their parishes.
As I write, I'm busy reading and responding to the MAPs which were handed in at the conference, but I found the overall statistics tremendously encouraging: 53 parishes, or 39% have produced MAP documents, and 20 parishes have not been able to complete the MAPping process, mainly due to clergy illness or vacancies. That still leaves 61 parishes who made no submission, but I know that at least some of them are engaging with the process and are well on the way. We do seem as a Diocese to be taking this process seriously, and all the evidence is that we will see results from it.
So what kinds of things are we planning to do, and why? That ‘... in order that ...’ clause on the forms is important, as it helps us to be purposeful and strategic rather than just tinkering. Here are a few random highlights.
Two parishes have recently united, in order to turn two small and struggling congregations into a more visible part of the Body of Christ and to put effort into working together rather than the burden of maintaining two buildings. Where buildings are welcoming and helpful, several parishes are planning ways in which they may be used more fully by the local community. For some this will involve re-ordering, or the provision of new equipment. Even where parishes were not actually planning to unite, there was a great desire to work more closely with other parishes in the Deanery, and to strengthen world-wide links.
Many churches spoke of changing their worship-style to be more contemporary and more likely to connect with their communities. Some aim to form music groups to supplement the existing choir-and-organ-based style, and many are experimenting with All-age Worship, After-school clubs, Youthwork and the like. One parish plans an annual Primary School Leavers’ Service, and several celebrate an All Souls Service for the bereaved. There seems to be a genuine desire to shift the focus from ‘the way we like it and have always done it’ to new styles which are visitor-friendly and outward-looking. These kinds of ‘Fresh Expressions’ of church are more radical in some places than in others, but the common thread is a desire to do new things alongside existing activities which still work.
In order to resource new directions in worship, many parishes were working hard to make ‘every member ministry’ a reality, thus breaking down our inherited clergy-dependence. Clergy are seeing themselves more and more as mentors and coaches rather than Jacks and Jills of all trades. Along with this came a significant emphasis on faith renewal, the teaching ministry, and a desire to deepen people’s relationship with God through retreats, quiet days, courses such as Emmaus, and parish missions. Several MAPs mentioned the healing ministry as something they were wanting to begin or improve.
One of the most significant and exciting trends is the growing desire for deeper community involvement. Many of the MAPs spoke of plans for educational, political and pastoral work in the community. The desire to move out of the safety of the Church ‘ghetto’ and to influence the life of the town, village or city for the good is a thread which runs through virtually all of the MAPs, and this is of course the whole reason for our existence. One parish has been heavily involved in the plans for the building of a replacement primary school, and has won much good will from the village. There were a couple of plans for church planting into new areas where the existing church has little penetration or influence.
So where do we go from here? The next stage is obviously to work at turning our plans into reality, but the next milestone will be in a year’s time when we look backward as well as forward to assess how well we have done, what we have achieved and what have been our sticking points. This in turn will need to realistic plans for the following year. And of course the ultimate aim, as in the MAPping strapline, is that it moves from being a special effort and becomes a way of life. Never again will our motto be ‘As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be’. Instead we’ll be constantly moving, adapting to circumstances and following the leading of the Spirit. And of course as we do that we’ll begin to grow, numerically and in influence. As God blesses us, more and more will we become a blessing to others.
Revd John Leach, Parish Development Adviser