About Fit for Mission
Fit for Mission is not a project for the few or an idea of the moment. It sits in our diocese's faithful, prayerful call to do God's work. This page gives you some of the background to Fit For Mission and where it fits into our vision of asking God for a bigger church to make a bigger difference with more people knowing Jesus and more justice in the world. Fit for Mission is part of our Long ObedienceWe have all been trying very hard to grow over the past decades. Indeed 22% of our churches have seen sustained attendance growth which is fantastic. However, 70% have been in sustained decline. We need to face that reality and take action, addressing the issues that hold back mission and growth. Fit for Mission builds on what has gone before, it:-
Where is Fit for Mission up to?Over the last two years, Fit for Mission has involved hundreds of people across our diocese in working groups, consultations, and discernment. We have been formally offered significant funding to take Fit for Mission forward over the next 6 years. The funding will mean that each deanery will get the support they need, with capacity and specific resources for a two-year change period. Between September 2021 and April 2022 the deaneries of St Helens and West Derby engaged with Fit for Mission to understand what it is and what it would mean to join the change programme. This culminated with each PCC voting on whether they wanted to be in the first (pilot) cohort. Twenty three churches across St Helens and West Derby made a commitemnt to the process, and by June 2022 will have begun their two-year Fit for Mission journey of change. Keep an eye out on here, in the Bulletin, and on Diocese social media to follow their progress. What do I need to do?There will be the opportunity for parishes in every deanery in the diocese to join Fit for Mission over the next four years, in two more cohorts. As each deanery begins to actively engage with their decision on whether to go ahead and commit, they will be supported by the Fit for Mission programme team in engaging deeply and prayerfully with all in their church communities. What can I share with my church?You may like to direct people to these web pages to explore what Fit for Mission is, and how the St Helen's and West Derby deaneries are engaging as the first cohort. Below are a few resources that are available to help you communicate in churches. Two-page summary - this is a short introduction to Fit for Mission How can I find out more?Contact fitformission@liverpool.anglican.org for more information about Fit for Mission Together we can be Fit for Mission |
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