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	Going for Growth Report 2006 Diocesan strategy Purpose driven clusters Church life and mission audit Mutual ministry Deanery partnerships Thinking out of the Box Head room posts The components of growth These are all words or phrases which have entered our vocabulary in 2005. Whether we like it or not God's church in this country is under the threat. Why is it under threat? And how do we respond? There is not one answer, no silver bullet which will solve all our problems. The average Church of England diocese in 1994 had a usual Sunday attendance of about 20,000 adults and 4,500 children and would pay about 240 clergy. Only ten years later the average diocese had a Sunday attendance of only 17,000 adult left to pay the bills and 3,200 children. The average number of clergy has reduced to 200. It's odd! The way life is we only realise that things need fixing when the wheels start to fall off. Complacency is our main enemy! Remember Marks and Spencer's � thought they had it right didn't they. Top of the tree for so long they forgot why they were there; to serve their customers. Their competitors ate into their customer base as people thought that M&S were no longer relevant, boring, out of touch. Well they were ok for the basics which everyone needs now and again, socks, knickers and the like. Can you see where this analogy is going? People need clothes but folk were, and are getting their clothes from elsewhere. It's the same with spirituality. People are searching and in the main are either finding their needs unfulfilled or going for a 'pick and mixed' approach of 'new age' spirituality. Just like M&S and the socks; people use us for the basics, Baptism, Weddings and Funerals but in the main we never see them again. We seemed to have 'bucked the trend' here at St Aldhelm's and have seen growth in virtually every area of church life. But how have we done it? Is it anything to do with us? Will it continue? St Aldhelm's is quietly building itself a reputation both here in Bedminster and in the Bristol area for being a church which is trying to reach folk in innovative ways. We live in a post-modern world and some say that the decline of the church in inevitable, but the truth is that decline is neither universal nor irreversible. Bob Jackson author of The Road to Growth says this, 'We in the church have a chance of shaping our own future. Whether the church dies of grows will be determined by the way in which we face out contemporary challenges.' He goes on to say that that numbers in church do matter, growth is often a sign of quality not an alternative to it. It suggests that people are finding a Christian faith and a place in the Christian community. It is their transformation we seek, rather than our growth, but the two are part of the same process. Also the members involved in the life of the Church determine the capacity of the church to do good in the world � to be an agent of the kingdom of heaven. A growing, confident, secure community is likely to have the vision, the opportunity and the human resources to be salt in society and make the world a better place. The church's message will only gain respect and credence in society if it is seen to come from a growing church. Against the background of decline the instinct of the media is to mock and belittle. Against a background of growth the spokespeople for the church have a chance of a fairer hearing. Bishop Mike has said that we can no longer rely upon the limitless supply of clergy. There have been substantial cuts here in our diocese and there is no guarantee that there will not be more. It is only in England and Wales that the Anglican Church has the system of the better off parishes subsidising those that would not normally be able to afford clergy. So in most parts of the Anglican Communion if you can't afford a priest then you don't get one; and if you haven't got one then the chances are the church will close or merge. Bishop Mike has introduced a programme for growth across the Diocese of Bristol. It's purpose 'Creating communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre'. Each parish has been asked to have a plan for growth. It will take courage as we will have to admit our shortcomings, stop that which is not fruitful. To do things not in our own strength, but that of the Holy Spirit. 'neither the one who plants or the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.' 1Cor 3:7 You might think that it is money or the lack of it that is the driving force behind the Bishop's initiative. It is not! If we return to the analogy of M&S our purpose is to bring people into the Kingdom. How do we do it? The Bishop suggests our plan for growth contains the following: Growing in Commitment � Loving God more o Prayer o Worship � Loving each other more o Extending pastoral care o Practising generosity and sacrifice � Personal development o Being a lifelong learning community o Discovering and using our gifts � Getting our of our comfort zones, both personally and corporately Growing in Influence � Thinking incarnationally o Engaging with culture � Speaking prophetically o Promoting kingdom values in our world � Living with integrity o Standing up and being counted; giving an example and making a difference Growing in Partnership Working with others when and where we can � Within the Church o Locally o Globally o Ecumenically � Beyond the Church o With those who share our aspirations o In and through our boards and councils o Less church organisations, more Christians in organisations Growing in Numbers � Bringing others onto relationship with Christ and His people � Connecting with the un-churched � Re-connecting with the de-churched � Turning contacts into disciples o Encouraging belonging and believing � Creating a mixed economy church o Growing existing communities and creating new ones "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. It grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord". Acts 9:31 I would like to finish with a quote from Derek Tidball who was principle of the London Bible College. 'The growth of the church is about much more that numbers. But the New Testament repeatedly refers to a growth in numbers as a sign of the progress of the gospel. So, what are we so apologetic about? Too often we are told we are called to faithfulness not success. But we are called to be stewards, and stewards are not being faithful if they let their Master's assets decline. If Christ is truly Lord and the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work we shall have a passion to make disciples and see people converted.'
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