Mission Development Plan

District Mission

Introduction

As a District, we are committed to growing a flourishing sustainable network of circuits of worshipping communities which are growing, evangelistic, justice-seeking, and inclusive in their outworking of the mission of God

To help us achieve this we have developed our Mission Development Plan which we have refined for 2024-2025.

This plan is a vital roadmap for our collective mission to grow flourishing, sustainable networks of worshipping communities that are evangelistic, justice-seeking, and inclusive. Over the next year, we will focus on two key priorities: Evangelistic and Justice-Seeking, while ensuring that Growing Communities and Inclusive remain integral to our work.

Priority 2: Evangelistic

Our commitment to evangelism is central to our mission. We will work together to build confidence in sharing the Gospel and creating opportunities for new evangelistic activities. Here's how we will support this priority:

-Missional Start-Up Grants: I will work closely with local churches and circuits to identify and support new evangelistic initiatives using missional start-up grants. These grants will help spark creative and impactful outreach efforts in our communities.
-'Love is___' Initiative: We will launch a District-wide evangelistic storytelling initiative called 'Love is___'. This initiative will encourage individuals and churches to share stories of how God's love is transforming lives, fostering a culture of evangelism across the District.
-Engagement with National Events: We will partner with the Evangelism and Growth Team to participate in national missional events such as Greenbelt and Silverstone. These events provide excellent opportunities for us to connect with a broader audience and share the Gospel in innovative ways.
-Youth and Intergenerational Work: We are committed to supporting every circuit in developing intergenerational and peer-based children's and youth work. This includes encouraging young people to participate in events like 3Generate 2024-25, ensuring that the next generation is actively involved in our mission.
-New Housing Communities: Drawing on the insights from the Overstone Community Pioneer Chaplain, we will develop an evangelism resource to engage with new housing communities. This will help us reach out to those in rapidly growing areas with the message of God's love.

Priority 3: Justice-Seeking

Justice-seeking is at the heart of our faith, and we are called to stand with those on the margins. Here's how we will advance this priority:

• Church at the Margins: We will develop a District strategy to support churches working in economically vulnerable areas. This includes exploring how our Grants Policy can better serve these communities and partnering with other Districts to maximize our impact.
• Twinning with Cameroon: We will strengthen our twinning relationship with the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon by exploring a memorandum of understanding. This partnership will deepen our global connections and support justice-seeking efforts internationally.
• Praise and Protest: We will creatively engage circuits and churches with the 'Praise and Protest' theme, inspired by the current President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference. This theme challenges us to celebrate God's goodness while actively addressing injustice in our world.
• Environmental Justice: We will embed the work of the District Environmental Policy and support circuits and churches in accessing Action For Hope funding for relevant projects. Caring for God's creation is a vital part of our justice-seeking mission.
• Partnerships with JPIT and All We Can: We will collaborate with Methodist-affiliated charities like JPIT and All We Can to challenge injustice both in the UK and globally. These partnerships will amplify our efforts to create a more just and equitable world.

Keeping Priorities 1 and 4 in Mind

While we focus on Evangelistic and Justice-Seeking priorities, we must not lose sight of Growing Communities and Inclusive. We will ensure that these priorities are woven into all our activities, from evangelistic outreach to justice-seeking initiatives. For example, our work with new housing communities will be both evangelistic and inclusive, ensuring that everyone feels welcome in our churches.

We firmly believe in God's future plan for the people called Methodist. We invite you to read the Plan and engage with the Mission team to see how we might support you.

Want to take your next step? Why not contact Mission Team Leader Matt on matt.forsyth@northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk