The Mission presentation at Synod last night has given Sydney Diocese the first glimpses of the new Diocesan strategy, Connect 09.

Archbishop Peter Jensen and Evangelism Ministries CEO, the Rev Jim Ramsay presented Connect 09 to the Synod for the first time this year.

Dr Jensen says the goal of Connect 09 is primarily to "invite the membership of all parishes, congregations, fellowships, Anglican schools and Anglican organisations to work together to contact and connect with all the residents of the area covered by the Sydney Diocese'.

"Such contact will provide residents in the Diocese with an opportunity to hear and understand the Gospel and to join a local Bible-based congregation or fellowship," he says.

Mr Ramsay proposed that "a Diocesan-wide outreach activity be conducted based on the distribution of the Word of God to all residents of the area covered by the Sydney Diocese'.

"With 60 per cent of non-church attenders in Australia not having a close friend who attends church, it is this 60 per cent with whom we want to make contact and connect."

God’s word essential

Mr Ramsay stressed the importance of the Bible as the conduit by which people here about Jesus.

"The normal way that God speaks to us is the Bible. We can trust the word of God to work even without human intervention. This is why we want to distribute the word of God to every person in the Diocese," he says.

Mr Ramsay hopes the program will be an opportunity for encouraging a culture of generosity and partnerships across the Diocese.

"We want to see renewed partnerships create many opportunities for individuals, parishes and organisations to connect at many levels, which they may not otherwise have had. We want to see those with many resources share with those with limited resources."

The fundamental aims of the Diocesan Mission, the four Mission policies and the target of seeing 10 per cent of Sydney in Bible-based churches were reiterated by the Archbishop.

"I see in this the best way of reaching out to our community with the Lord Jesus Christ," he says.

"I have received a few comments about the 10 per cent goal. I say again, it will be impossible without a work of God."

Prioritising P,C and C

Mission Board strategy group members Claire Smith and Bishop Al Stewart spoke on the importance of prayer and of the church contacting and connecting with the community.

Five churches from across the Diocese, including Meadowbank International Church (MIC), were highlighted as examples of Christians successfully connecting with communities and bringing Jesus to them.

MIC was established because the area was experiencing significant growth, but under-resourced with Bible-believing churches.

A number of Christchurch, Gladesville members were living in the area of which 49 per cent of residents were born overseas.

MIC was intentionally planned to reflect the diversity found in the community, the unity found in Christ and to build a multi-ethnic family community.

Andrew Irving, who leads the ministry with Andrew Mitchell and Christine Yang have used innovative outreach techniques including playgroup, door knocking, and personal invitations to reach all cultures in the area.

"We have people standing out the front of church in the street as people walk by inviting them to come and join us," Mr Irving says.

"We have seen quite a few people who are unchurched coming along, some have stuck around and we have had a number become Christians."

Over the last 18 months MIC has seen over 20 conversions and over 50 people are attending.

Revealing figures

Mission Executive Les Gray spoke on the state of the Mission by reporting figures from the National Church Life Survey 2006, parish and offertory indicators and ABS statistics.

Statistics reveal weekly attendance in Sydney Anglican churches increased from 55,663 to 56,996 from 2001 to 2006 and monthly attendance increased from 65,500 to 67,000.

Trends show an increase in the long-term retention of young adults in Sydney Anglican churches and an almost doubling of the number of Sydney Anglicans who were born in non-English speaking countries.

Figures also show that building of a sense of community in congregations, the encouragement of using gifts and the inclusion of new people were the aspects of church life needing the greatest attention.