Growing Forward Together
Towards 2020


Summary

An encouragement to parishes, deaneries, and the diocesan groups
to reflect on their priorities and strategies in mission.

    In all that we do with and for God we shall seek to be
  • loving
  • collaborative
  • flexible
  • prepared to take risks
  • generous
  • wanting to say Yes

Growing with God - a holy people

Our priority will be to make our relationship with God active, vibrant and exciting. So we are looking for SPIRITUAL REVIVAL and RENEWAL

  • that is personal
  • and corporate

    …. bringing new enthusiasm
    commitment, and vision

    Growing as disciples - a learning people

    Our priority will be

  • that we should be a learning people, committed to understanding our faith and able to relate it to our life in the world
  • to call out, train and nurture ministers both lay and ordained

    		•

    Growing in the world - a missionary and evangelistic people

    Our priority will be to become a Church that is involved in, with and for the World

  • in our daily lives
  • in our worship and prayer
  • in our mission
  • in our social action

    Travelling Light

    Our priority as a pilgrim people will be to seek

  • to hold on to all that is important
  • to let go of what holds us back
  • to have sufficient resources for our journey

    • It is a good time to be in Canterbury Diocese! There is so much God is doing among us that brings encouragement and hope!

    I have a real sense that under God there is greater confidence, a stronger vision, and even greater numbers. Clergy and laity are learning the benefits of working more collaboratively, parishes are valuing their work together in clusters, minsters, and in deaneries. All of us are realising that we need each other, and our need to grow in love for each other and for God

    .

    This webpage highlights in a few words the main themes and priorities that I believe we need to be addressing. It should be received as an encouragement not as an additional burden. It sets before us four main challenges for our pilgrimage together into this brave new century.

    As an individual, ask yourself how you measure up to the values on the front cover and the priorities on the inside.

    Be honest! What is holding you back? What is driving you forward? What help do you need? Ask yourself the same question about your parish. As we look at our meetings, agendas, spending priorities - could we not travel lighter, or differently? What do we know about our neighbouring parishes? Do people see us as part of the same enterprise?

    … and what about the diocese, or deanery … or even our family? It is my prayer that, as we explore the challenges set by this leaflet (and the presentation etc that lie behind it),

    we shall be set free to be God's missionary people as we learn to be Growing Forward Together with God and with each other.

    + Stephen