Mission Action Plan

Parish: St James

Deanery: Merton

Date: September 2015

We reviewed our Mission Action Plan at the PCC meeting in September. We gave thanks for what has already been achieved and continue to pray for the success of our long term goals. New short term targets were set.

Our Mission Statement

Our purpose/reason to be here.

St James’s Church:

Growing Up towards God;

Growing Out to our community and the wider world;

Growing Together for support and strength.

Our Vision Statement

How we want to be described 5 years from now.

A growing church serving God, our community and each other;

known and valued for being that

Our Priority Goals

A maximum of 5 for this next season

Long term (5 years) – to have increased average attendance by 50%.

In order to achieve that -

1. A new priest in post and review of goals with them

2. Improve publicity about who we are and what we do, including use of website and social media

3. Get roof fixed and heating done

4. Nurture existing congregation

5. Increase welcome to non-regular (potential) congregation.

Proposed Actions		Who leads?	By When?	September 2015
A new priest in post and review of our goals with them.	Parish Profile written, illustrated and agreed	PCC	June 2015	Achieved – Alse displayed on website and lobby notice board
	Advert in	Standing committee to liaise with Diocesan Office	July 2015	Achieved – written and in 2 editions of The Church Times and 1 edition of “The Bridge”
	Shortlist and interview	Parish Reps, Simon Gates (archdeacon) and John Hayward (Patron)	Sept 2015	Achieved – also Parish visit of shortlisted candidate to see the church, parish and vicarage, and meet members of the congregation and local community, including school. Hospitality offered.
New actions:	Liase with candidate and diocese about next steps in process	Parish reps and Churchwardens	October 2015
Improve publicity about who we are and what we do	Get group – Wendy, Michael, Carolyn, Elaine + others	Elaine to suggest and convene	July 2015	Not achieved yet – Some liason so far but no group discussion. Still to be worked on
	Get a board for outside chapel	Simon	July 2015	Achieved – board is mostly outside when Church door is open; put out and taken in daily.
	Plan bookstand in foyer	Simon	Next PCC	Partially achieved – No bookstand yet; some literature available in lobby.
New actions:	Have some books to take away and some to borrow and return. Stickers to identify books. Await new incumbent before embarking on other publicity	All Mary-Jane
Get roof fixed and heating done	Get advice and quotes	Roof – Mary-Jane Heating – Elaine +Premises	- July - August 2015	Partially achieved — quotes obtained, Faculty application in-waiting, Partially achieved — further info and quotes received. Best short term gain may be to get loft insulation.
New Actions:	Qotes for getting hall loft insulated Discussion about grant applications Further discussion about project and budget	Elaine Elaine and Eleanor Premises
Nurturing existing congregation	Assess changes to altar rail/access to communion	Mary-Jane	June 2015	Achieved – H&&;S concerns addressed. Changes made to original plan in response to suggestions/ objections. Revisit under new incumbent.
	Review suggestions from service audit	All committees, groups	April 2016	Not acieved yet. Ongoing.
	Follow up people who don’t come any more Ongoing.	Joan		Achieved – some phone calls made.
New actions:	Set up group leaders/hosts for house groups. Set up house groups for prayer/bible study/worship.	Eleanor	January 2016
Increase welcome to non-regular (potential) congregation	Invitation to coffee on pew sheet	Wendy	July 2015	Achieved. Ongoing
	All, but especially those on welcomers rota, to welcome and chat to newcomers in coffee.	All		Achieved. Ongoing.
	Consider “pray for” and get to know your neighbours coffee mornings	Social and fundraising. Joan and Anne, and Simon, delivering fliers/knocking for invitations	October 2015	Not achieved yet. Ongoing
New actions:	Include the mission and action of our church in all prayers	Intercessors	Immediate