At the Parish Conference held on 11 November 2023, the meeting reviewed a simplified version of the core values established in September 2021 designed to underpin all that we do together. We did not wish to change them, but we felt that they needed to be more memorable. Reaffirming these, rather than thinking up the next steps straight away, we did some dreaming about what a church would like if it pursued these values to their utmost. We felt that we would then be in a better place to identify our gaps, which in turn would suggest our next steps for us.

 

We expressed each of our core values with one word, followed by a simple phrase by way of explanation.

 

At St Andrew’s Church we are committed to being…
 

A. WELCOMING … being inclusive, accessible and welcoming

B. CARING … treating each other and our visitors in a loving way

C. GROWING … trusting in God

D. RESPONDING … responding to our community’s* needs

E. NURTURING …  nurturing discipleship

 

*Defined as church community or wider community as appropriate.

 

During the conference, a small group considered each of these values and ask the question, “If we could do just one thing to make a difference…” Arising from these conversations, the following Mission Action Plan for 2024 was written and presented to PCC.

 

A review of the previous Mission Action Plan was included in our conversations, and certain items not yet completed were felt to be worth carrying over inti the new plan.

 

As ever, the New St Andrew’s Project continues to be our goal so that our buildings help us to fulfil our core values. This too is included in the plan, as is the decision made by the PCC in November 2023 to initiate a Stewardship Campaign during 2024.

 

Approved by PCC, 23 January 2024. To be reviewed in Autumn 2024.

 

Version 1.1

29.1.24

Value	What?	How?	By when?	How will we know?	Who?
WELCOMING	No one arrives at St Andrew’s without a welcome.	Provide a Welcome Lead to supplement the existing Welcome Team, with a special brief for identifying, engaging and seating visitors.	January 2024	Visitors are made welcome with just the right amount of contact and that no one is left alone, especially over coffee, unless that is their choice. People in obvious distress are noticed and offered pastoral care.	Vicar Welcome Team Leader Everyone!
		Implement much delayed training for existing Welcomers to extend their role to encompass the whole service and after.	February 2024
		Encourage the whole congregation to take their part informally.	Ongoing
CARING	Improve aftercare in our funeral ministry.	Make better use of LPAs in post-funeral ministry	January 2024	Additional visits are made to funeral families, especially in the run up to the annual All Souls Day service.	Vicar LPA Team
GROWING/ NURTURING	Nurture and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.	Run Lent a group in “café church” style to handle questions of faith.	February 2024	There are more and recognised opportunities to learn more about, and deepen, our faith both using short courses and preaching, alongside our newly established Lectio Divina group.	Ministry Team
		Restore our former “3-term” Sharing & Learning Together (SALT) series, working with neighbouring churches where possible.	Summer 2024
		Make more imaginative use of the “sermon slot” and other aspects of our worship.	Ongoing
		Complete our Communications Review, to replace Inspire and enhance the existing range of publicity so that everyone knows what St Andrew’s has to offer.	Easter 2024		Vicar Parish Administrator
RESPONDING	Continue with next phase of the New St Andrew’s Project.	Continue to work with the DAC and PCC Architect to reorder the South Aisle and the area around the Northeast Door.	Summer 2024	Our building can serve congregation and community better using flexible space for a wide range of uses including many of those proposed in this plan.	NSA Group
	Underpin all our work together by ensuring that we align our financial resources to match our priorities.	Having covered our essential costs, available finance is used to target MAP priorities.	January 2024	After a period of plenty, and in the light of increasing Parish Share, we are more aware of what we need to do our work and are better prepared to make difficult decisions.	PCC
		Consider holding a Stewardship Campaign in 2024, bearing in mind the sensitivities of the current times.	Summer 2024		Vicar Treasury Team