Our Mission
Our Circuit Mission Policy
The Circuit sees its role as enabling every local church to fulfil serve God's Kingdom in their own unique way.
Our driving question is: How can we best use our Circuit money, property, and people (ordained and lay) to enable Our Calling (worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism) and to become a "growing, inclusive, evangelistic and justice-seeking Church"?
1) Helping churches produce and action a Discipleship and Growth Plan by providing resources and ideas to support them.
We encourage churches to 'dream God's dreams' and to not be limited in this dreaming by resources – including perceived lack of people, funding, or current buildings. Each church must decide "How will we make more disciples of Jesus Christ and grow in our own discipleship?"
2) Helping churches end well
Sometimes local churches come to a point where there is little scope or calling to new mission work. In these cases, local churches should ask the Circuit Leadership Team to assist them in developing an 'Ending Well' plan. In this way they can use their ending to leave a lasting impact on neighbourhoods and lives.
3) A Mission, Team and Gifting model of staffing
Staff will be enabled through the Mission Groups (see below) to use their gifts and grace, along with those of lay leaders, to enable mission in churches. This will not mean that churches 'lose' their named Minister with pastoral responsibility but rather that some of their time will be given to enriching other churches' mission. It is expected that this work will take up to an average of 2 sessions a week for staff, enabling them to exercise their gifts and flourish in ministry, and the churches in the Circuit to be enriched by the diverse gifting of the whole staff.
4) Expand and plant
We will explore within the Circuit where there is currently no Christian presence and release members to 'plant' as a team for mission and/or as a worshipping community.
5) Sharing our 'Good News Stories'
We will share our stories of God's Work to encourage one another in our own sharing of God's love and so we learn from each other's Godly risks.
We have organised our mission plans under seven groups:
| Group | Overview |
|---|---|
| Worship | Worshipping God is a central part of our life and mission. The Worship Group enables and resources the worshipping life of local churches. Read More |
| Nurturing Faith | Each one of us is on a journey of faith seeking to grow closer to God and use our God-given gifts as servant disciples. The Nurturing Faith Group creates resources and opportunities for us to grow in faith and discover out gifts. Read More |
| Children and Young People | Young people are not the future of the church, they are God's gift to the church now. The Children and Young People Group plans events and creates resources to enable the flourishing of our young people's faith. And have more than a little fun too. Read More |
| Later Years and Care Homes | Our growth as disciples never ends and our opportunities to encounter Jesus often come in later years. The Later Years and Care Homes Group provides opportunities for people in residential homes and in later years to encounter Jesus and grow in faith. Read More |
| Eco-Church | Creation is God's gift to us, and we are charged with its care. The Eco-Church group helps churches use their land and buildings as good stewards of creation and a blessing to the planet we are entrusted with. Read More |
| Human Resources | People are the key to helping us fulfil our mission plans. The Human Resources group takes on the responsibility to find these people. Its role encompasses a duty of care to them (and those already in post) whilst they work for us. Read More |
| Mission Resourcing Group | Need help getting started? Need money for a project? Need someone to help you dream God's dreams? This is where you find that help! Read More |
Contact Us
office@bhbcircuit.org.uk
0118 958 1505
Berkshire & Hampshire Borders Circuit Office
84 Queens Road
Reading
RG1 4BW
