Diocesan strategy
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Walking together in faith
Our diocesan strategy, "Walking together in faith", is our vision plan for our churches across Europe. Each congregation is encouraged to think about its work, mission and shared life in their local community, and to reflect on this 5-point strategy:
To build up the body of Christ
‘For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 12:12)
We are all one in the body of Christ, each with a part to play in God’s ministry and mission. Being a Christian should affect our family life and all our relationships. It should affect our priorities and how we use our available resources of time, talent and money. It will change and shape our attitude to work and leisure, and also to the big issues of justice and peace that affect our world. We are called to live for the values and aspirations of God’s kingdom, to teach, baptise and nurture new believers, to support each other and seek to reconcile our divisions.
To share in the evangelisation of Europe
He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
All Christians are called to proclaim and share the Gospel with the world, and look to follow Christ in their daily lives. Ours is the privilege of pointing others to the glory of God in Christ. Most of us only know Jesus because someone took the trouble to bear witness to God's love revealed in Him. There is no greater honour than bearing this Good News to another, no greater privilege than seeing others respond to the Good News, and no greater challenge than to be captivated by the urgency of this vocation.
To strive for a just and sustainable world
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24)
Justice has long been important in Christian faith – it is a recurring theme in the Old Testament and Christ was scathing towards those who abused their power. We seek to respond to need in our communities by loving service, and to transform unjust structures of society. In this Diocese, we have a particular care for refugees and migrants coming to Europe. We also strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. Environmental issues are a particular focus and we have a comprehensive environmental policy we are committed to realising as a Diocese, as chaplaincies & communities, and as individuals.
To work for reconciliation
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. (Ephesians 2:14)
Challenging violence of every kind in our world, pursuing peace and working to facilitate reconciliation are all important aspects of the Church’s mission. The Diocese maintains a wide range of ecumenical partnerships and links to governmental, NGO and charitable organisations. Our aim as a Diocese and as individual chaplaincies is to work for reconciliation in a variety of situations, at a local level and more widely across Europe.
To resource ministry
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?’(Luke 14:28)
In order to pursue the mission of the Church in each of the other four points of the strategy, we need to properly resource ministry in the Diocese in Europe. People, time, money and many other considerations have to be thought out for a sustainable approach to ministry which can be the foundation of future growth.