Post on 02-Feb-2016
description
Bishops’ Mission Orders
Enabling the mixed economy church
The mixed economy church
Bishops’ Mission Orders
Fresh Expressions within the mixed economy church
Minding the Gap
ChurchChurchCultureCulture
the mixed economy churchthe mixed economy church
a midweeka midweekall-age after schoolall-age after schoolserviceservice
Parish CommunionParish Communion
a Sundaya SundayEvening DeaneryEvening Deanery
Youth congregationYouth congregation
A networkA networkof midweek cellsof midweek cells
assembling monthlyassembling monthlyA small communityA small communityin a new housing areain a new housing area
The Spectrum
Large ProjectsFunded Posts
“BMO”
Locally basedLay led
Shift to “church”
New CommunitiesWider than parish
Some funding
Reimaginingfor mission
What is a fresh expression?
A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.
• It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples.
• It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.
Bishops’ Mission Orders
Stories of fresh expressions of church
Bishops’ Mission Orders
The process and the resources available
Bishops’ Mission Orders
• Purpose and scope
• The three-stage process:– Exploration
– Consultation
– Action
• Accompaniment and review
The Key Documents
• The DPM Measure 2007
• The House of Bishops’ Code of Practice
• Advisory Material– Beginners Guide– Share (www.sharetheguide.org)– Skeleton orders
“To affirm, enable, encourage and support a new mission initiative within the overall ordering of the life of the church.”
Relational and Synodical involvement, recognition, clear oversight and integration in diocesan life
Purpose and scope
• When a mission initiative aims to establish a new community (a
fresh expression of church)
• When a number of parishes or ecumenical partners are involved
• Code of Practice a helpful & good guide for local situations
When are they needed?
• A network congregation for young adults in a deanery
• A collaboration between two parishes and a circuit in a new housing area
• A language-based congregation serving a large town
For example:
A Three Stage Process
Stage 1Making the Proposal
andInitial Explorations
Stage 2Consultation
andDrafting the Order
Stage 3Making the Order
and Review
• Bishops’ Mission Orders are made by bishops.
• The Bishop can initiate explorations, and/or local leaders can request an exploration.
• The Bishop normally appoints an “officer” to do this work
Stage 1Making the Proposal
andInitial Explorations
Initial Questions
1. What is the nature and scope of the proposal?
2. Who are the originating parties?3. How will the proposal further the mission
of the Church?4. Are ecumenical partners involved at this
stage or envisaged?5. Why is a Bishop’s Mission Order
required?
Further Questions
6. How will it fit with everything else?
7. Resources and partnerships
8. Who needs to be formally consulted?
9. Mission accompaniment?
10.Provision of ministry
11.Sustainability
12.Special circumstances
• Other churches/religious organisations “as [the Bishop] thinks fit”
• Those with “significant interest”
• The diocesan mission & pastoral committee
• The leaders of the planned initiative
Stage 2Consultation
andDrafting the Order
“Ministry without consent”Why is this needed?
1. To provide continuity into the future (change of incumbent)
2. To cover a large geographical area and prevent unreasonable veto
3. Where present incumbent is unwilling to consent and the bishop is satisfied it is appropriate to override this.
“Ministry without consent”What consultation?
1. For a small number of parishes: the incumbent(s) concerned
2. For a deanery: the House of Clergy of the Deanery Synod
3. For a diocese: the House of Clergy of the Diocesan Synod
Decision: making clear…
1. …the objectives and the areas of work.
2. …the leaders and their role, and provision for sacramental worship.
3. …the time-scale of the order. An order will be issued for a limited term (up to 5 years) in the first instance.
• The Bishop appoints a Visitor to the initiative. The Visitor:– Oversees the initiative on the Bishop’s
behalf. – Reports to the Bishop and ensures that
lines of communication are open.– Reviews the initiative regularly and
conducts a full review near the end of the order.
Stage 3Making the Order
and Review
Accompaniment
• The Visitor ensures that there is suitable mission accompaniment* for the initiative.
* A person or people “who will walk with them as supportive and critical friends, both encouraging and challenging their development”.
Review - scope
• Should the initiative continue?• Should the BMO be renewed, or
replaced by other legal provision?• Should there be formal changes to
the BMO?• Are there particular aspects of the
work that need to be addressed?
Review - outcome
• Renewal for a further finite period• Renewal, pending an alternative
future• Termination of the Order • Replacement by another legal basis• Renewal for an indefinite period
Is it worth the effort?
• Testing a call• Owning the vision • Securing continuity• Providing accountability• Patience needed!