(Feedback from Diocesan Synod was that not everyone had the chance to read Richard's emails on the progress of the Diocesan Mission Strategy. Please see below with apologies if you didn't receive the original email.)

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Work on the Diocesan Mission Strategy is progressing well and this email is to keep you updated on that progress.

Your prayers and ongoing support are appreciated and we are deeply grateful for all you do in your parish and benefice communities.

Firstly, we would like to say thank you to all those who responded to the request for your thoughts and opinions on the mission strategy through an email sent in January.

Each reply has allowed us to build a deeper understanding of what has worked well in the past and what has been less successful. Furthermore, we've been able to gather original ideas across the Diocese.

In total, we received feedback through 71 replies, including candid thoughts regarding some of the challenges facing churches in Norfolk and Waveney.

We want to assure you that we have heard all of your comments and will be reflecting on the issues raised. Your responses, along with information from Statistics for Mission will help build our understanding of where support is needed, so we can live our Diocesan vision of being Transformed by Christ: Prayerful, Pastoral and Prophetic.

Our Director of Mission and Ministry, Revd Richard Lamey, is working collaboratively with others across Norfolk and Waveney to build a revitalised Mission Strategy that is guided, shaped and informed by stakeholders in every parish and benefice.

Richard joined us in September 2024. If you haven't met him yet, in this video he provides a brief introduction to himself and his role.

Further, in the following video Richard explains how the Diocese is approaching the process of crafting the strategy - and how important receiving your input is for the success of the work:

The current stage of the process is focused on exploring the challenges of parish and benefice life, as well as examining where things are working well - and identifying why that might be so.

Our next steps will be to determine the level of change needed to fulfil our Diocesan vision and to carry out a SWOT analysis of the Diocese.

The strategy process and content will be discussed at the upcoming Bishop's Council of Trustees and Diocesan Synod, with a further email update soon after Easter to share the subsequent developments. 

We are always keen to hear your thoughts.

If you want to keep thinking about this vital area of the church's life, then we would love to learn more from you.

Do send in any ideas or questions you have to: strategy@dioceseofnorwich.org

Questions to consider might be:

• What is going well in the life of your church/Deanery, which we could try to copy or learn from in another place?

• What is your prayer for the village or community you are part of? And what is your prayer for your church?

Whilst we hope to hear from you - whether in person at events such as Diocesan Synod or via email - we will keep you up to date as work continues on the strategy.

At key points throughout the year we will send you an email bulletin to provide the latest information and let you know how you can contribute to the development of the mission strategy.

Thank you for reading this update.

Diocesan Strategy Group

Diocese of Norwich

www.dioceseofnorwich.org