We dream of a church in which…

we are all followers of the Way of Jesus who are -
living in the presence of God;
serving Christ with one another;
taking part in the Mission of God in the World…

we are all active in the ministry of Christ –
being his body in a broken creation;
building one another up for works of service;
fulfilling his call in the midst of daily life…

we are empowered and driven by the Spirit –
who fills us with gifts and guidance;
who leads us out into new territory;
helping us to develop new expressions of faith and community…

we serve together in collaborative and mutual ministry –
each member an active participant,
according to their gifts and calling;
leadership exercised by the whole body acting as one…

all forms of ministry are recognised and given space to grow –
ministries of loving service;
ministries which walk with others in the territory of the Holy;
ministries of connection, oversight and vision…

Servant Leadership is exercised
so that those in positions of authority encourage
and support the ministry of others,
coordination, facilitation and empowerment
are more important than power and control,
and each member is nurtured, trained
and supported as a valuable member of the team…

the local church is valued
because God meets us in relationship,
community and a need for “home”
and blesses each community with
the resources it needs to be Christ’s body;
creating space where human beings can encounter God…

the wider church is valued
because it exists to make local ministry possible,
and unites us in fellowship with people of God
in every time and place…

hope will always overcome fear,
because we are not obsessed with
failure, competition or even survival,
but continually draw onwards as faithful pilgrims,
who experience growth, transformation and new life…

We will work towards this vision…
with fresh and inherited expressions of church;
as listeners, partners, mentors and companions;
by reflecting on the voice of God in the stories we tell…

We dream of a church…

[Local Shared Ministry Project Group: July 10^th 2008]