Parish Vision Statement

Some time ago St John's began to construct a Vision Statement. This was partly an exercise in articulating our sense of calling under God. It also provided a check-list against which we could review our activity.

Until recently the fourth section was incomplete. Thanks to our Sustainability Group we now have a set of bullet points amplifying this item.

The Vision Statement is not set in stone. It represents the current position of the Ministry Team and the Parochial Church Council. We should expect it to be reviewed and modified over the years.

Here is the full text:

St John the Baptist, Malden

Vision Statement

Both now and for the foreseeable future,

we understand ourselves to be called by God to be:

An expression of the Body of Christ within the Anglican Communion

which offers worship to God,

which witnesses to God’s love and life,

which helps people to grow in their experience and knowledge of God’s love,

and which works towards the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, as a place of justice and peace for the whole of creation,

1.     which offers worship to God, that

-        is beautiful and the best we can offer

-        engages the senses, the intellect and the emotions

-        is open and available to as many people as possible

-        is regular and reliable, yet evolving

-        celebrates and consoles, affirms and challenges

-        brings to God the world as we experience it

2.     which witnesses to God’s love and life, by

-        communicating the Gospel by all relevant, engaging and accessible means

-        showing God’s love, not only in our worship, but in our structures and activities

-        being of service to our neighbour(s)

3.     which helps people to grow in their experience and knowledge of God’s love, by

-        encouraging personal prayer and reflection

-        encouraging a knowledge of the Bible, and a way of engaging with it which is critical, devotional and open to inspiration

-        encouraging intelligent and creative engagement with the liturgy and celebrations of the Church

-        helping people to grow in their understanding of the nature and mission of the Church, and their unique place within that

         

4.     which works towards the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, as a place of justice and peace for the whole of creation, by

-        preaching the stewardship of all of God’s creation as essential to Christian discipleship

-        teaching and practising sustainable and ethical purchasing in accordance with Biblical principles of justice for all

-        using resources such as energy and water responsibly, minimising waste

-        caring for the environment in and around our church building