Bishops’ Mission Orders

Enabling the mixed economy church

The mixed economy church

Bishops’ Mission Orders

Fresh Expressions within the mixed economy church

Minding the Gap

ChurchChurchCultureCulture

the mixed economy churchthe mixed economy church

a midweeka midweekall-age after schoolall-age after schoolserviceservice

Parish CommunionParish Communion

a Sundaya SundayEvening DeaneryEvening Deanery

Youth congregationYouth congregation

A networkA networkof midweek cellsof midweek cells

assembling monthlyassembling monthlyA small communityA small communityin a new housing areain a new housing area

The Spectrum

Large ProjectsFunded Posts

“BMO”

Locally basedLay led

Shift to “church”

New CommunitiesWider than parish

Some funding

Reimaginingfor mission

What is a fresh expression?

A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.

• It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples.

• It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.

Bishops’ Mission Orders

Stories of fresh expressions of church

http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/ca/home.asp

Bishops’ Mission Orders

The process and the resources available

Bishops’ Mission Orders

• Purpose and scope

• The three-stage process:– Exploration

– Consultation

– Action

• Accompaniment and review

The Key Documents

• The DPM Measure 2007

• The House of Bishops’ Code of Practice

• Advisory Material– Beginners Guide– Share (www.sharetheguide.org)– Skeleton orders

“To affirm, enable, encourage and support a new mission initiative within the overall ordering of the life of the church.”

Relational and Synodical involvement, recognition, clear oversight and integration in diocesan life

Purpose and scope

• When a mission initiative aims to establish a new community (a

fresh expression of church)

• When a number of parishes or ecumenical partners are involved

• Code of Practice a helpful & good guide for local situations

When are they needed?

• A network congregation for young adults in a deanery

• A collaboration between two parishes and a circuit in a new housing area

• A language-based congregation serving a large town

For example:

A Three Stage Process

Stage 1Making the Proposal

andInitial Explorations

Stage 2Consultation

andDrafting the Order

Stage 3Making the Order

and Review

• Bishops’ Mission Orders are made by bishops.

• The Bishop can initiate explorations, and/or local leaders can request an exploration.

• The Bishop normally appoints an “officer” to do this work

Stage 1Making the Proposal

andInitial Explorations

Initial Questions

1. What is the nature and scope of the proposal?

2. Who are the originating parties?3. How will the proposal further the mission

of the Church?4. Are ecumenical partners involved at this

stage or envisaged?5. Why is a Bishop’s Mission Order

required?

Further Questions

6. How will it fit with everything else?

7. Resources and partnerships

8. Who needs to be formally consulted?

9. Mission accompaniment?

10.Provision of ministry

11.Sustainability

12.Special circumstances

• Other churches/religious organisations “as [the Bishop] thinks fit”

• Those with “significant interest”

• The diocesan mission & pastoral committee

• The leaders of the planned initiative

Stage 2Consultation

andDrafting the Order

“Ministry without consent”Why is this needed?

1. To provide continuity into the future (change of incumbent)

2. To cover a large geographical area and prevent unreasonable veto

3. Where present incumbent is unwilling to consent and the bishop is satisfied it is appropriate to override this.

“Ministry without consent”What consultation?

1. For a small number of parishes: the incumbent(s) concerned

2. For a deanery: the House of Clergy of the Deanery Synod

3. For a diocese: the House of Clergy of the Diocesan Synod

Decision: making clear…

1. …the objectives and the areas of work.

2. …the leaders and their role, and provision for sacramental worship.

3. …the time-scale of the order. An order will be issued for a limited term (up to 5 years) in the first instance.

• The Bishop appoints a Visitor to the initiative. The Visitor:– Oversees the initiative on the Bishop’s

behalf. – Reports to the Bishop and ensures that

lines of communication are open.– Reviews the initiative regularly and

conducts a full review near the end of the order.

Stage 3Making the Order

and Review

Accompaniment

• The Visitor ensures that there is suitable mission accompaniment* for the initiative.

* A person or people “who will walk with them as supportive and critical friends, both encouraging and challenging their development”.

Review - scope

• Should the initiative continue?• Should the BMO be renewed, or

replaced by other legal provision?• Should there be formal changes to

the BMO?• Are there particular aspects of the

work that need to be addressed?

Review - outcome

• Renewal for a further finite period• Renewal, pending an alternative

future• Termination of the Order • Replacement by another legal basis• Renewal for an indefinite period

Is it worth the effort?

• Testing a call• Owning the vision • Securing continuity• Providing accountability• Patience needed!