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This was an article that was published on the Official Church of England Website and Aldridge gets a mention! |
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16 November 2005
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr8605.htmlGeneral Synod Launch: Blueprint for a growing Church |
A new book by church growth specialist Bob Jackson (Archdeacon of Walsall & Growth Officer for the Diocese of Lichfield) shows how the Church can take The Road to Growth.
Packed with the results of three years’ intensive research and consultancy with churches and dioceses, the book offers a blueprint for how the Church can grow nationally. It identifies key action points that can lead to a sustained boost in congregation numbers and a renewed church life for those already in the worshipping community.
Bob Jackson’s research highlighted these eight themes:
- Planting new congregations with fresh formats or targeted at specific groups;
- Less formal worship services with modern music, offered alongside more traditional formats;
- Better provision for children and young people;
- Improving welcome and integration for new comers;
- More focus on small groups and pastoral care;
- Use of evangelism courses as part of a wider mission strategy;
- More lay involvement in leadership;
- Improvements in buildings.
The book – a sequel to the acclaimed 2002 book, Hope for the Church – is part of the Explorations series, a growing library of books which aim to stimulate debate within the church. Jackson examines recent trends in church management, drawing on a rich seam of research on topics including the recruitment age of clergy, the length of vacancies, and the timings of church services. Addressing these with a incisive mix of new approaches to financial and human resource management, he offers what he describes as “a practical tool rather than an academic talking point.” The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, explains: “The Road to Growth confronts us with some truths about ourselves. Sometimes uncomfortable, always provocative, and ultimately helpful, this is a book that helps us imagine a new future.”
The Ven Bob Jackson, Archdeacon of Walsall and Growth Officer for the Diocese of Lichfield, has written his book at an important time for the Church of England. While some observers are predicting further decline, others are pointing to statistics showing growth and the significant expansion of Fresh Expressions projects and other less traditional forms of Church life. This shifting landscape creates an even greater need for quality material to support church leaders, from informing national strategy to encouraging new local initiatives.
The Rt Revd Dominic Walker, Bishop of Monmouth (Church in Wales), describes Bob Jackson’s approach as “straightforward – he studies the evidence, analyses it and then shows what we can do about it. Challenging and inspiring – this should be essential reading for every bishop, priest and lay person who wants the Church to grow.”
The Road to Growth is published by Church House Publishing, priced £12.99, and is available from all Christian bookshops and Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BN, tel. 020-7898 1300, e mail bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk, or on the web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available).
CASE STUDY
Aldridge Parish, Walsall, Lichfield Diocese
The Diocese of Lichfield has created a special church Growth Fund, which has already awarded almost £321,000 this year to 24 different mission based initiatives across the West Midlands. One beneficiary is the Parish of Aldridge, where St Thomas’ Church, situated on the Coppy Hall estate, received a grant towards set up costs for an all-age Sunday afternoon worship event called ‘the hub’. The monthly event represents an evolution of the standard format of all-age worship, and aims to reach into the community with a mix of music-led worship, fellowship and learning activities that change every month. The Rector of Aldridge, Revd Richard Cornfield, says service is “trying to offer a fresh expression of church in a contemporary, fun, new way”.
Growth is evident across the parish’s three churches: “One of the things which has been happening over the past five years or so is that congregations in our parish churches have been growing, particularly with families and young people,” Richard Cornfield continues. “As a church we are convinced that church growth is the only way forward – and to do that we believe we must offer worship that is lively, and connects with people where they are."
In St Mary’s church in the centre of town, we now offer two services on Sundays, along with a midweek service, and a variety of small groups which take place throughout the week. We’ve now got to the stage where there is quite a squash on Sundays.” In fact, St Mary’s has become so successful, the church has had to draw up plans for an extension on their Grade II listed building. The Bishop of Wolverhampton, Rt Revd Michael Bourke, is excited by the vivid signs of growth. “It is a church that really does work in the community and attract people. The new building scheme is a good initiative from every point of view – mission, the church’s work with young people and families, and the social life of the church. The Church is a living, growing thing, and this scheme reflects that wonderfully.”