The Archbishop wants to create about 20 mission areas and appoint a mission leader in each. This proposal comes before Synod next week and is described in an Appendix of the Diocesan Mission Strategic Directions 2010-12 Paper.
The proposal is a significant one for several reasons:
- It is being pitched as ‘the next stage of Connect 09’ and will lead to a ‘re-drawing of the diocesan map’ to promote local mission
- It is being put forward at the same time that regional episcopal responsibilities are being reformed, and funding is being cut to regional councils.
- the cost of $300,000 over three years to equip local leaders is not insignificant at a time of tight budgets
- many of the details are yet to be worked out - how many mission areas? who will be the mission leaders? which Bishop will oversee this initiative? what will the relationship be with area deaneries?
I’m not sure what I think of this initiative.
There are things I love about it:
- I love the desire to see local leaders trained to think missionally. I think leadership does make a difference to the local church and money spent on equipping leaders is money well spent
- I can see how mission areas could help local mission partnerships form between parishes (that has been one of the greatest strengths of Connect 09).
- The current geographic regions are pretty meaningless for reaching tribal Sydney - they are just too big. It remains to be seen whether a redrawn map would help but in principle it sounds right.
But I’ve also got some reservations:
- the mission areas are still geographic - while this works for a suburban setting like Roseville it won’t work to reach all the tribes in Sydney. What about Chinese Sydney, City Worker Sydney etc?
- isn’t this happening already without diocesan bureaucracy attached to it? I’m certainly indebted to a few senior ministers who have generously given me time to help train me in thinking about mission to the local area. I’ve also had fruitful partnership with a number of local ministers as we’ve worked through Connect 09 mission plans together. Will an institutional framework help grow this leadership or choke the life from it?
- Is it worth the cost? What will we not do by doing this? What kind of training will be delivered for $300,000? Are there better ways to develop local mission leaders than this?
We Anglicans are a pretty conservative and risk averse bunch so a major shake up like this will probably meet a deal of resistance at Synod.
But you don’t have to wait for the Archbishop to invite you to a microphone.
Do you think the proposal will enhance mission for your church?
I’d especially like to hear from those who think we should get behind this proposal.
