At a recent meeting a discussion was held about what happens at TMC and how it is and should be organised. The concept of Single Point of Contact (SPoC) was mentioned, designed to ensure that for any activity or duty, one person would be available to field enquiries or requests and to then assemble and direct a group of people to undertake whatever actions needed to be done.
Agreed next steps were to include a supplement in Shine, explaining what tasks are required to allow TMC to operate, inviting readers to consider prayerfully what we have missed, what else we need to do, and what activities each reader might be able to assist with. We should invite responses to any of the stewards. Our aim is for Church Council to ratify what we finally agree as a vision that is fit for purpose.
Identified activities included (in no particular order) the following:
- Church Council – to receive and approve strategy, proposals and initiatives
- Stewards – to enable worship on a Sunday morning, inc. rotas
- Worship group – to liaise with ministers, lay preachers and worship leaders to plan worship
- Financial – Banking collections, paying bills, accounts, audit, Gift Aid
- Property – Maintenance and repair, implementing quinquennial, major schemes
- Pastoral – Home visits, hospital visits, general support
- Social Events – Beetle drives etc
- Fund Raising – grants, sponsored events etc
- Publicity – for fairs, table top sales and other events
- Shine – and Summer / Easter / Christmas magazines
- Room Letting – liaison with all user groups
- Table Top Sales – booking tables, setting up church table, moving chairs
- Fairs - booking tables, setting up church tables etc
- Circuit Liaison and initiatives
- Housekeeping – cleaning etc
- Leadership Team – Developing and monitoring a 5 year future strategy
- Safeguarding – keyholder forms etc
- Mission
- Charities – special collections and events etc
- Junior Church
- Church Buddy – for youth groups and renting user groups
Our Calling identifies four strands of our work as a church, being Worship, Learning and Caring, Service, and Evangelism
WORSHIP - The Church exists to increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love
- What helps us to centre our worship on God?
- Where and when do we feel the presence of God? How can these experiences enrich services of worship?
- What motivates us to study the Bible?
- What helps us to express awe and wonder, thankfulness and praise, and love towards God? How can we use resources from the worldwide Church?
- What would help our worship to make sense to people who come only occasionally?
- Can we improve the comfort and decor of our surroundings and the welcome for people with disabilities?
- Is our worship much the same all the time? Should we explore styles and traditions of worship from other denominations and other parts of the world?
- What are our plans and targets for improving our worship next year?
LEARNING & CARING - The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care.
- What church activities help us most to deepen our faith in God?
- How effective are our small groups, in linking faith to everyday life?
- How do we learn about the challenges of Christian life today from churches elsewhere in Britain and the wider world?
- Are there peripheral activities we should stop, to make time for our training and learning needs?
- What activities make it easy for others to join us? What links do we have with groups using our premises?
- What do we expect from our pastors? What do we expect from one another by way of support and care? Do we notice or care about those who drift away or leave?
- What are our plans and targets for developing our life together next year?
SERVICE - The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice
- How do we discover the needs in our community and respond to them?
- Who is involved in service to the community through charities or community groups?
- Are there opportunities for more of us to become involved? How do we give attention to the moral issues raised by daily work?
- Do we share with one another our concerns about things which do not seem right, or cause trouble in our community, or appear unjust? How do we challenge injustice in other parts of the world?
- Are we making the best use of our premises and our money for service to the community? Are we wasting resources? Are we spending our time and resources in ways which are consistent with our beliefs and values?
- How does the life of our community, and our involvement in it, feature in the prayers of the church?
- What are our plans and targets for improving our community involvement over the next year?
EVANGELISM - The Church exists to make more followers of Jesus Christ
- How do we develop friendly attitudes towards everyone we meet?
- Do we have a clear message? Are the words we use straightforward and meaningful to those outside the Church?
- What attracts others to the Christian faith? Are there initiatives we could take to present our convictions? Can we do this with Christians of other denominations?
- Where should the focus be - on church premises, or in the community?
- How can we learn about effective witness from Christians in other cultures?
- What can we do to make our premises more welcoming?
- Should we consider planting a new congregation in this locality?
- What are our plans and targets for making more followers of Jesus Christ next year?
Many of our activities outlined above cover more than one aspect of Our Calling, but a rough split is as follows:
Worship
- Mission
- Stewards – to enable worship on a Sunday morning, inc. rotas
- Worship group – to liaise with ministers, lay preachers and worship leaders to plan worship
- Junior Church
Learning and Caring
- Pastoral – Home visits, hospital visits, general support
- Circuit Liaison and initiatives
- Leadership Team – Developing and monitoring a 5 year future strategy
Service
- Fund Raising – grants, sponsored events etc
- Publicity – for fairs, table top sales and other events
- Table Top Sales – booking tables, setting up church table, moving chairs etc
- Fairs - booking tables, setting up church tables etc
- Property – Maintenance, repair, implementing quinquennial, major schemes
- Financial – Banking collections, paying bills, accounts, audit, Gift Aid
- Charities – special collections and events etc
- Safeguarding – keyholder forms etc
- Housekeeping – cleaning etc
- Room Letting – liaison with all user groups
Evangelism
- Church Buddy – for youth groups and renting user groups
- Social Events – Beetle drives etc
- Shine - plus Summer / Easter / Christmas magazines
Please think about all of these activities, pray about them and our vision, and talk to each other and to stewards to let us know if we are on the right lines, and to what extent you would feel able to help with any of the activities and responsibilities mentioned.
Thank you!