Mission in the Diocese
The Council for Mission holds together initiatives that speak of God's Mission across the Diocese. These include social issues such as Faith in Community, Industrial Mission, Fairtrade, Asylum Seekers, Inter-Faith, Adoption, Environment; and mission issues for a Mission Shaped Church, including Fresh Expressions and Mission Fund Projects. The Council also oversees concerns for World Development, , Ecumenical Sharing and links with Lesotho and North Elbia.
Across the Anglican Church, the Five Marks of Mission sum up, in a widely accepted form, the range of our concerns, to:
- Proclaim the good news of the Kingdom
- Teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- Respond to human need by loving service
- Seek to transform the unjust structures of society
- Safeguard the integrity of creation, sustaining and renewing the earth
The Council for Mission is responsible to the Diocesan Synod for encouraging and co-ordinating this range of adctivity across the Diocese, at every level of church life, and within the communities to which we belong.
Members of the Council oversee, guide and promote the work of various Task Groups. As all are engaged in mission in some form, we are committed to being part of the Diocesan Development Programme for 'Growing the Kingdom'. This calls for us to be 'focusing on mission' across our lives, through worship, work and relationships etc, above all to be reflecting our Lord’s call and example.
Growing the Kingdom
Jesus taught that ‘the Kingdom of God is near’. Christians believe this kingdom can be recognised and expressed in our life together, through relationships, and within neighbourhoods. Within the Diocese of Durham, Growing the Kingdom is the name given to a framework for encouraging the development of the vision and values of the kingdom through our churches. It is about recognising, releasing, nurturing and shaping our common life in Christ, so that we can better reflect the love and purposes of God.
To this end we have developed a short, six session course which is suitable for use during Lent, Advent or at other times of the year. .jpg)
The course has a participants booklet and leader's guide together with a DVD with Bishop Tom laying the foundations for understanding each of the five elements of the Diocesan Development Plan.
Suitable for small groups, it will encourage imaginative conversations, prayers and ‘dreaming dreams’ for Growing the Kingdom through the local church and community.
Session one takes a broad look at the overall theme of Growing the Kingdom, followed by sessions on Focusing on Mission, Learning Discipleship, Developing Leadership, and Acting Collaboratively. The fifth element: Restoring the Sacred Centre is about worship and is seen as an underlying theme throughout the course, reflecting the way in which it underpins every aspect of our lives as Christians. There is also an optional sixth session called 'What next?'
Each week the material includes an introduction and icebreaker, a core unit for Bible focused study and discussion, together with questions to encourage reflection on how we can apply what we have learned in our daily lives.
Each session also includes ideas for related film clips and stories, plus suggestions for worship, and ends with a time of prayerful reflection.
To find out more including how to order the course materials, please Email: Pamela.Wilson@durham.anglican.org
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