Photo: Nasa – Unsplash

The Church of England has a bold vision for growth over the coming decade. One of the six ‘bold outcomes’ that are envisaged is ‘A parish system revitalised for mission so churches can reach and serve everyone in their community.’ This is envisaged to be a central part of the ‘mixed ecology’ of worshipping communities ‘where every person in England has access to an enriching and compelling community of faith by adding new churches and new forms of Church to our parishes, cathedrals, schools and chaplaincies.’

At the recent meeting of General Synod in York, a debate was held about the importance of the revitalised parish system. It was exciting to have the opportunity to discuss church growth and local church life at General Synod. Unfortunately the debate was cut short due to the volume of other business to be discussed. There were some excellent speeches and a helpful video (see 3 hr 34 minutes onwards here), but I didn’t have the opportunity to give the speech that I had prepared. So I thought I would share the substance of my speech here since it connects with the theme of Establishing Gospel Culture. 

The importance of our lay people

I support what is being proposed in this debate. However, I would like to add a few thoughts.

I have been a vicar of two small churches in West Hull for the past 12 years. During that time I have been involved in helping to lead the two churches through a period of great change, including starting a new congregation a few years ago. I’ve learned lots of lessons, made lots of mistakes. I am also involved in a cross-denominational church planting movement – Hull 2030 – with a vision to see 20 healthy churches and worshipping communities established in the great city of Hull by 2030. I have experienced first-hand the joys and challenges of seeking to grow existing, established congregations; as well as the joys and challenges of leading, and witnessing others lead, new worshipping communities.

One thing I have learned over the years is that the most precious things we have are not our buildings, our money, or even our services. The most precious things we have are the good news of the glorious and beautiful Jesus Christ; and our people: ordained yes, but particularly lay.

The local community of faith

I’m not just referring to our ordained and lay people viewed as resources, although of course each person does have much to offer. Rather I mean ordained and lay people operating as a body, a local community of faith: Loving one another; serving one another; mutually building each other up. In short, doing everything the gospels and New Testament letters urge God’s people to do in the power of the Spirit.

This vision of the importance of the local community of faith is supported by the 39 articles of the Church of England:

The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men (and women), in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.

Article 19 of the 39 articles of the Church of England

I have learned that there is something beautiful, glorious and deeply attractive about a community of faith, built around the beautiful Lord Jesus, functioning as the body of Christ should. Jesus said ‘you are the light of the world’ (Matthew 5:14-16) speaking of the whole community of faith; Paul encourages us to ‘shine like stars’ (Philippians 2:15) – something we do as a body. And then of course there is what Paul has to say to the Ephesian and Corinthian Christians about the importance of the body (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12).

Overflow of communities of faith

It’s been interesting to hear from various people over the past few days, including at the Mixed Ecology Deep Dive on Saturday evening*, that most church growth in recent years has come from existing communities of faith with healthy leadership which have multiplied – overflowed if you like, into new expressions of faith and life; sometimes led by ordained people, sometimes led by lay people. This has also been my experience in Hull.

Where those communities of faith have been undermined in some way – or where leadership capacity has been removed so that the leaders are unavailable or don’t have capacity – growth has not followed, but rather decline. And yes, clergy well-being is essential, and we mustn’t be asking our clergy to do more than they are capable of. And on that note I’m delighted that in the report there is much reference to well-being and mentoring of clergy. And I would add that the well-being and mentoring of lay leaders is also vitally important.

So yes, the parish is central to the ecosystem of the Church of England. But I would go further to say that the local communities of faith, built around the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and appropriately led, are essential.

Now of course, there will be situations where the local communities of faith are not in a situation where they can grow, or even be sustained. Difficult decisions sometimes have to be made. Even there those decisions can be made in love, for the greater glory of God and the good of his people.

So I believe we need, as a principle at least, to hold onto the importance of communities of faith.

The spreading of the light across the nation

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about these words written by the apostle Paul:

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

As we gaze on Jesus Christ, as his people, we are transformed into his likeness. And what an impact it will have. People today are looking for beauty, they are looking for distinctive community. How wonderful if dotted around our nation were many such communities – you might like to think of them as ‘beacons’ – that as they became more like Jesus were so attractive that they were drawing people into the light; and as they did they multiplied so that – just like the satellite image of an industrialised nation at night – the number of lights continued to grow and grow, until all that could be seen was light.

So I support the motion, and I encourage us to continue to see the vital role of communities of faith built around the beautiful and glorious Lord Jesus.

*- This was a discussion about the meaning, and practical workings, of ‘Mixed ecology’ as referred to above.