CAPTION: Next Steps is the Diocese of Exeter's framework to help mission communities plan for the future in a sustainable way
Valuable Feedback Helps Shape Diocese of Exeter’s Next Steps
Feedback about how the Diocese of Exeter can help Devon’s church communities plan for the future in a sustainable way is being used to help shape the next stage of the Next Steps project.
Next Steps is part of the diocese’s vision to grow in prayer, make new disciples and serve the people of Devon with joy.
Around 500 people from Devon’s four archdeaconries took part in the Diocese of Exeter’s Next Steps listening events during the autumn of 2021.
“Next Steps offers us renewed vision and focus as we seek to follow God’s will in the life of our churches and communities and proclaim the good news afresh for this generation.” Rev’d Prebendary James Grier, Diocese of Exeter Mission Enabler
Mission communities are being invited to consider where they are now and which direction they want to go in
The aim is to help parishes to flourish and develop as part of healthy mission communities at a time when church attendance is falling and many churches are facing financial difficulties.
The Bishop of Exeter, the Right Rev’d Robert Atwell, said “Every parish is unique and special, but churches thrive when they work in partnership with each other in Mission Communities.
“That is why our strategy has always been to support our mission communities develop and flourish, because healthy churches grow.”
At the listening events, which took place in person and online, people who attended were asked what excited them about the Next Steps.
58% said they were looking forward to moving forward, 20% said they were excited about working together, 11% said the process and 11% said they were not excited.
When asked what they thought was missing from the Next Steps, 31% of people said guidance, 25% said acknowledging reality, 21% said equipping for mission and ministry and 12% said being outward looking.
This feedback was used by the senior staff of the Diocese to plan the next stage of Next Steps.
Next Steps is about planning how best to walk forward together
The Archdeacon of Exeter, Andrew Beane, said “It was incredible to see such positive engagement from lay and ordained colleagues from across the Diocese.
“There was a tangible sense of going on the Next Steps journey at the consultations and we were encouraged by the general sense of excitement.
“It was also helpful when people shared areas they thought were missing from Next Steps and we hope we have addressed these as we move forward together.”
Put simply, Next Steps offers an array of tools, ideas and forums for discussion for mission communities to use to develop a realistic and sustainable way forward from the pandemic and into the future.
“We are all on the same journey, with a shared vision, but different mission communities will take different routes,” Archdeacon Andrew said.
The focus of Next Steps is in the areas of mission and ministry, resources and finance, buildings and governance.
The Diocese is now developing tools to help Mission Communities identify where to put their efforts and resources in the short term and how best to plan for the long-term.
These include the £200,000 Diocesan Mission and Growth Fund, the Mission Community Health Check tool. Growing the Rural Church resources including Lightening the Load, the book How Village Churches Thrive (edited by the Bishop of Exeter, with chapters contributed by Growing the Rural Church and coming out in June), Love Your Church fundraising resources and Generosity resources.
The Rev’d Prebendary James Grier, Mission Enabler for the diocese, said “We are at a hugely significant moment in the life of the church in Devon. The challenges of declining numbers and resources in many of our churches have been intensified by Covid, yet goodwill towards the church and recognition of what we have to offer communities is higher than ever.
“We may feel like we are on the back foot, but God certainly isn’t. He is able to work for good in all things and do more than we can ask or imagine (and I can imagine a lot!).
“Next Steps offers us renewed vision and focus as we seek to follow God’s will in the life of our churches and communities and proclaim the good news afresh for this generation.”
The Mission Community Health Check has been piloted this term and will be available as a resource for mission communities to use from this autumn to help them in their planning.
The other resources are already available and the Archdeacons will be outlining more details about the Next Steps at their visitations to churches after Easter.
