I’ve written previously
that over the last year I’ve been involved in a diocesan initiative called Missional Leadership for Growth. The
intention is that all the clergy of our Diocese of Durham should take the
course - not only to try to enable clergy in “Missional Leadership” but also
with the idea that we should then infect our churches. And hopefully that will
lead to growth in our congregations - not just so that we can survive, but so
that we can flourish as followers of Christ, be deepened in our faith and be
able to share that faith with those around us.
So far I’ve had a whole
day meeting with members of my “cohort” (we’re divided up in groups and I’m in
Cohort 3 out of probably 6 or 7); and then two residential courses, each of
five days. Next there’s a day meeting in February - but not only for the
clergy… We’ll each be going with three or four parishioners with whom it’s
hoped we’ll continue to think about what mission means. In fact not only think, but also do something about it.
Our little group in this
parish has been rather late getting off the ground, but we have been talking
more widely about what “mission” means for us - especially in our PCC
(Parochial Church Council). And we are starting to plan, building on our hopes
for a Mission Project linked to the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost
(10-20 May) when our Archbishops ask us to engage in prayer on the theme, “Thy
Kingdom Come.”
There’s more planning to
do. But what we do recognise now is that if we are going to reach out to others
with the Good News of Christ and the message of his Kingdom, then we need to
start by looking at ourselves. And that means to ask what are we doing about our own discipleship? Not to beat ourselves
up about our failings, but to see how we can grow as followers of Jesus. As our
Bishop of Durham says, disciples are lovers of Jesus - and need to know they
are loved by Jesus. What does that mean for us? - for me?
Lent is a good time to
explore these questions. There are a number of ways we can do that - in
particular through our Lent Course (see page 3 of our Parish Magazine) and by special opportunities
for prayer. Join us!
Martin Jackson
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