Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Thank you so much for your inputs into the emerging strategy. The formal period of consultation has now closed. We have had around 700 ideas for solutions to the challenges we face, which is an amazing response and provides a superb foundation for us to build on.

What we recognise first and foremost from your feedback is the importance of a missional culture – that we grow into a Diocese of benefices, churches and worshipping communities made up of disciples who are excited by the adventure of following Jesus.

The vision of the Diocese for the last few years has been “Transformed by Christ” and we are building on that in the strategy as it emerges. Simply put, Jesus said we all have a purpose and that is “to be and make disciples.” (ref.Marks of Mission)

We have been working the suggestions we received into strategic areas to share, discuss and shape- with Bishop’s Staff and the Bishop’s Council of Trustees and then, with their support, more widely in the Diocese. It continues to be an exciting and promising journey that we are taking together and we can’t wait to see more of where the Holy Spirit is leading us as we explore together the call to be Transformed by Christ.

We were disappointed to learn in July that the Church Commissioners Triennium Funding has reduced the amount of funding for mission available across the whole Church, which we (and other dioceses) can apply for.

Bluntly, we will be able to apply for about half of the National money that we thought. This means that we will have to reset our expectations of levels of outside investment in mission and ministry in the Diocese. We will still be able to do good things, of course, through the money we can apply for, and with the money set aside within the Diocese, by finding other sources of income and by doing things which have no cost implication. 

In response to this news, Bishop Jane writes,

‘The Norwich Diocesan strategy is a strategy for our flourishing together now and in the long term. Our task is to discern the sustainable future to which the Lord is calling us. It is by God’s grace and in our deepened discipleship that we will do this. External funding will help us to test out ideas. We never wished to rely on it. We wish to be a prayerful, pastoral and prophetic people who know that God gives what we need in abundance’.

We will be updating you again, after the next tranche of work has been completed.

Join us to pray for our vision

Please join us for prayer for the our Diocese. We meet every Tuesday at 8:30am for 15 minutes

Vision Prayer Meeting

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 333 747 040 311 0

Passcode: vB6uA7Vk

By the power of the Holy Spirit, be the transformation we long to see and to be.

Do you have a Festival Church in your benefice? Are you looking for ideas on how to run occasional services?

Parish Stories: A new mission resource for Festival Churches - Diocese of Norwich

Have you read this research (just published) with Children and Young people in the West of Norfolk about their experience and engagement with Church… fascinating and transferable. Let’s listen well and act together.

Homegrown-Research-Report.pdf

Here’s an idea for mission… 

'We doubled the size of our congregation after surveying the local community.'

A parish on the outskirts of Bolton found there was demand from young families for a short early evening service during the week. They call it WOW – Worship on Wednesdays.

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/stories-and-features/we-doubled-size-our-congregation-after-surveying-local-community

"Part of the focus for the strategy is Growing younger and more diverse, which is both a national priority and a priority for the Diocese of Norwich as well. Too often we think about how we can attract young people and teach them- we often don't think about what we will and can learn from them about God and about what it is to be human, how they can minister to the Church and the world and to us and call us into a deeper walk with God. With that in mind, here is a short prayer video from the Diocese of York- let these young people pray for you." 

PRAYER.mp4

We are not waiting for the whole strategy to start to make things happen! One of the big things we have been hearing is the need to have one place in the Diocese for clergy and Wardens and PCC members to look up policies and advice. Working with the Archdeacons, we have gathered it together and put this on the Diocesan website. Huge thanks to the Comms Team for putting it on the website too. You can find it here: 

Policies - Diocese of Norwich

Do have a look, see what is there, bookmark it- and let Richard Lamey know if there is anything on there which doesn't work or anything you would find helpful which is missing.  richard.lamey@dioceseofnorwich.org

Diocesan Strategy Group

The Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Revd Dr Jane Steen

The Bishop of Thetford, the Rt Revd Ian Bishop

Tim Sweeting, Diocesan Secretary

Revd Canon Julie Boyd, Team Rector Aylsham and District

Revd Richard Lamey, Director of Mission and Ministry

Andy Sexton, Strategic Programme Manager

Diocese of Norwich

www.dioceseofnorwich.org