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Seven Steps to Establishing a Mission Area in the Church: A Guide for Dioceses, Summaries of Finance

Seven steps for transforming a diocese from deaneries to mission areas (mas). The process involves discussions about shared mission and ministry, forming a vision, consultation with diocesan officers and the bishop, forming a mission area executive (mae), developing a covenant, presenting plans to the bishop and standing committee, and commissioning the new ma. A checklist is also provided for the establishment process.

What you will learn

  • What role does the Bishop play in the establishment of a Mission Area?
  • What are the steps involved in transforming a Diocese from Deaneries to Mission Areas?
  • What is the purpose of a Mission Area Executive (MAE) in the establishment of a Mission Area?

Typology: Summaries

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/12/2022

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Seven steps to a Mission Area
As a Diocese we are all taking steps to serve our church communities to work better
together, to grow in faith and to share the good news of Jesus Christ. The
transformation from Deanery to Mission Area (MA) has been evolving for some time
and each Emerging Mission Area (EMA) has taken steps slightly differently
depending upon circumstances and culture. The following seven steps do not need to
be taken in this order but hopefully they will be helpful in recognising where each
MA is on their journey.
1. Churches begin discussions about shared mission and ministry and discuss
the concept of Mission Areas (MAs). Church members are invited to local
meetings to identify and form a vision on how they can work locally with
other churches to strengthen their common life whilst engaging in mission and
outreach in the communities they represent.
2. Neighbouring parishes come together with their current Area Dean to
develop the practicalities of working together in an EMA. These
conversations, which need to be ongoing, may involve churches of other
traditions, schools and other agencies. A vision starts to develop on what
the EMA may look like and how it will function on a day to day basis.
3. Further consultation may include a Transition Mentor as well as Diocesan
Officers, the Archdeacon, Transition Missioner and Bishop to consider the
practicalities of becoming a MA and identifying priorities. Liaison is established
with the Archdeacon and Bishop and their views sought.
4. A strategic Mission Area Executive (MAE) is formed to look at
recommendations and devise a development plan for the first five years. The
MAE is accountable to the MA Conference (MAC) and led by a potential
Mission Area Leader (MAL) or elected Lay Chair. The Shared Ministry Team
(SMT) will represent those who offer a range of ministries. MAs need to be
aware of existing training and how to access more specific and effective
training to meet the needs of their MA.
5. The MAE work with the Bishop to review the terms of the Decree
establishing the MA. Working with Diocesan Officers and the MAC they also
develop a Covenant, a working agreement, to fulfil the needs of the MA,
keeping in mind the agreed vision, priorities and development plan. This is
attached to the Decree and signed off by the MAL and Lay Chair of the
emerging MAC. Treasurers meet with Diocesan Officers for initial discussions
on MA finance
6. Plans for the new MA are formally presented to the Bishop and Standing
Committee of the Diocesan Conference who have responsibility for the
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Seven steps to a Mission Area

As a Diocese we are all taking steps to serve our church communities to work better together, to grow in faith and to share the good news of Jesus Christ. The transformation from Deanery to Mission Area (MA) has been evolving for some time and each Emerging Mission Area (EMA) has taken steps slightly differently depending upon circumstances and culture. The following seven steps do not need to be taken in this order but hopefully they will be helpful in recognising where each MA is on their journey.

  1. Churches begin discussions about shared mission and ministry and discuss the concept of Mission Areas (MAs). Church members are invited to local meetings to identify and form a vision on how they can work locally with other churches to strengthen their common life whilst engaging in mission and outreach in the communities they represent.
  2. Neighbouring parishes come together with their current Area Dean to develop the practicalities of working together in an EMA. These conversations, which need to be ongoing, may involve churches of other traditions, schools and other agencies. A vision starts to develop on what the EMA may look like and how it will function on a day to day basis.
  3. Further consultation may include a Transition Mentor as well as Diocesan Officers, the Archdeacon, Transition Missioner and Bishop to consider the practicalities of becoming a MA and identifying priorities. Liaison is established with the Archdeacon and Bishop and their views sought.
  4. A strategic Mission Area Executive (MAE) is formed to look at recommendations and devise a development plan for the first five years. The MAE is accountable to the MA Conference (MAC) and led by a potential Mission Area Leader (MAL) or elected Lay Chair. The Shared Ministry Team (SMT) will represent those who offer a range of ministries. MAs need to be aware of existing training and how to access more specific and effective training to meet the needs of their MA.
  5. The MAE work with the Bishop to review the terms of the Decree establishing the MA. Working with Diocesan Officers and the MAC they also develop a Covenant, a working agreement, to fulfil the needs of the MA, keeping in mind the agreed vision, priorities and development plan. This is attached to the Decree and signed off by the MAL and Lay Chair of the emerging MAC. Treasurers meet with Diocesan Officers for initial discussions on MA finance
  6. Plans for the new MA are formally presented to the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Conference who have responsibility for the

mission and pastoral boundaries of the Diocese and for approving the formal change to a new MA or MAs.

  1. The MA is commissioned and should now exhibit all the hallmarks of a MA as perceived in the MA Covenant. The MAC replaces the Deanery Conference to which the MAE and SMT teams are accountable. Financial arrangements are agreed upon and implemented. This is not the end as the progress is constantly evaluated to meet the challenging and changing needs of our communities to grow in faith and serve in mission.

As we are working towards the establishment of MAs the following Checklist may be useful, again depending on your circumstances you may have a slightly different order.

  1. Ensure good conversations in churches and Deanery to establish what a MA is and what it is not-differences between the old and new worlds.
  2. Get to know one another and establish activities together
  3. Establish the MA in terms of churches and areas
  4. Working closely with the Bishop, Archdeacons and Diocesan Officers ensuring good communications and a shared vision
  5. Appointment of Transition Mentor and TM report to be received by Deanery Conference
  6. A strategic MAE is chosen or elected to work on TM recommendations or ways of developing a new way of being church, for example
  7. Start on the Covenant and develop an agreed vision, priorities and development plan
  8. Initial discussions on MA finance in preparation for financial consultation
  9. Proposal to become a MA to go to MAC and Diocesan Standing Committee
  10. The decree to be prepared and signed off
  11. Celebrate the new MA with a commissioning service
  12. Continue to keep in mind and evaluate the agreed vision, priorities and development plan

What can we do together? What happens where? What may need to stop? What roles and ministries will be needed? Who is to be in the Ministry Team? Are all the ministries we require available-individual and group training needs?