ACNS Church growth and evangelism challenge: Does your church initiative pass the Ten Tests?

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Posted On : June 21, 2011 11:35 AM | Posted By : Admin ACO

ACNS: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/6/21/ACNS4884

> Related Categories: ACO - Mission

Church growth and evangelism challenge: Does your
church initiative pass the Ten Tests?

> By ACNS staff

The English Diocese of Liverpool has set ten
'tests' for any proposed initiatives to help
churches avoid doing anything that might hinder the work of God's mission.

The diocese, which has 250 churches in both rural
and urban settings in the north of the country,
is said to be working towards "a sustainable, led
and transforming Christian presence in every
community in the diocese to enable all to act
justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God"

Liverpool?s Church Growth Team Leader Linda Jones
explained that as part of this its synod agreed
that Ten Tests should be set and used to measure
the worth of any proposed initiatives:

Does each area of work or initiative:

1.    Encourage growth numerically or in spirituality?
2.    Support and reflect the church that we wish to become?
3.    Affirm mutual support and collaboration within the diocese?
4.    Strengthen relationships between parishes?
5.    Recognise the ethos and the characteristics
of the diocese particularly highlighting issues peculiar to the diocese.
6.    Take appropriate account of the
sustainability and viability issues of church buildings and congregations ?
7.    Provide for accountability throughout every
step of the initiative within the diocese and beyond?
8.    Present an appropriate stewardship challenge?
9.    Provide appropriate support for local decision-making?
10.  Is the proposed system or process transparent and easily understood?

"We are now in the process of applying these 10
tests to any initiative that we are thinking
about," explained Linda. "Hopefully by doing this
it will encourage us to think collaboratively,
look wider, and apply the concept of subsidiarity
to enable us to be good stewards of God?s
giftings for the building up of his kingdom."

The need for such strategic, critical thinking
cannot be underestimated when you take into
account that the diocese stretches across a
region that is both rural and urban, stretching
from Southport in the North to Widnes in the
South, from Liverpool in the West across to Wigan
in the East, serving a population of 1.53 million in an area of 389 sq mile s.

Linda added, "Ultimately we are aiming to see
healthy churches at the heart of healthy
communities; excellent church schools promoting
Christian education; Christian disciples growing
in faith, hope and number; outstanding Christian
leaders for today and tomorrow; and vibrant and
inclusive mixed economy churches in and from all traditions.
"We think that, with God's help, the ten tests
will help us achieve just that."

> Linda is also a member of the Anglican
> Communion?s Evangelism and Church Growth
> Initiative that is a network of people across the
> world who together work to promote church growth
> and evangelism in Anglican and Episcopal churches
> across the globe. Information about Liverpool
> Diocese?s Ten Tests and many other projects,
> initiatives and ideas for encouraging church
> growth and evangelism can be found in its latest
> newsletter Witness6.7 here:
> http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/mission/ecgi/newsletters/2011/jun 
> e/index.cfm

> ENDS

> Notes to Editors
> ·         The Diocese of Liverpool is an
> exciting, challenging and stimulating place to
> be. It serves a wide mix of communities in urban,
> rural and town parishes. It is innovative,
> seeking new ways to further God?s mission while
> respecting cherished traditions. Its 250 churches
> are spread across a region that is both rural and
> urban, stretching from Southport in the North to
> Widnes in the South, from Liverpool in the West
> across to Wigan in the East, serving a population
> of 1.53 million in an area of 389 sq miles. http://www.liverpool.anglican.o rg

·         Following the resolution passed at
ACC-14 to promote 'Evangelism and Church Growth
Initiative' a Core Group of Animators was
appointed to take the work forward under the
auspices of the Mission Department of the
Anglican Communion. The main purpose of the
Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative (ECGI) is
to promote evangelism and church growth work
throughout the Anglican Communion. As well, as
facilitating the sharing of news, stories,
experiences and strategies of various evangelism
and church growth initiatives.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/mission/index.cfm

·         The latest edition of Witness6.7, the
newsletter of the Anglican Communion Evangelism
and Church Growth Initiative (ECGI), (found here
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/mission/ecgi/newsletters/index.cf m
), tell stories from around the Anglican
Communion, as well as providing biblical
reflection on 'How Anglicans share their faith'.
The stories reflect the diversity of Anglican
witness but also illustrate the importance for
Anglicans of Mission that is: holistic or
integral, incarnational, community-based and
using the language of the people; both strategic
and creative and open to trust the Holy Spirit.
Offering hospitality and going out to others in
humility and vulnerability and openness to learn
from others so that we grow in our own faith are
some of the ways Anglicans share their faith. The
newsletter also shows Anglicans' commitment to
gospel values and lessons that come from biblical
examples. In all this worship that is done well
is central to the Anglican faith. The Evangelism
and Church Growth Initiative (ECGI) welcomes new
registrations and stories from Anglicans on how
they share their faith which can be used in future editions.

·         The Anglican Communion Office serves
the Anglican Communion, comprising more than 85
million members in 44 regional and national
member churches around the globe in more than 130
countries. http://www.anglicancommunion.org/