Working together to strengthen local mission
Mission is stronger when churches work together.
The Strategic Mission Programmes encourage parishes and local leadership teams to collaborate, recognising that many of the opportunities and challenges they face are shared. Working together can help churches share learning, resources, skills and leadership, while building confidence and energy for mission within their local communities.
The starting point is local. Churches are encouraged to think about the mission opportunities in their own communities, consider what they want to explore and identify other parishes and local leadership teams that they could work with.
Your Episcopal Area Team or the Church of England’s Vision and Strategy Team can help you think through your ideas, understand what is already happening locally and connect with other churches exploring similar opportunities.
Partnerships might develop around priorities such as children and young people, estates and low-income communities, intercultural ministry, compassionate communities or new worshipping communities. They might involve sharing people, resources, learning or leadership, or developing something together that would be difficult for one church to achieve alone.
The aim is to build local ownership, confidence and capacity for mission, with churches taking the lead in shaping and developing the mission they want to see in their communities.
Start a conversation
If you have an idea for mission, or would like to explore working with other churches in your area, speak to your local Area Team or Vision and Strategy Team, or use the Mission Programme enquiry form to start a conversation.
Additional resources and links
The Mission Programme also works alongside a range of organisations that provide additional expertise, resources and support for mission. These resources can be useful once churches have identified the areas of mission they want to explore.
- Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication (CCX) provides resources, training and support for churches exploring church planting, multiplication and new worshipping communities.
- The Church of England’s National Church Institutions provide information, resources and support relating to mission, ministry and church growth across the Church of England. Please visit the Vision and Strategy section of the Church of England website for more information.
- Where appropriate, churches may also benefit from working with ecumenical partners and other local organisations to support mission in their communities. This can provide opportunities to share experience, resources and expertise across different Christian traditions.