The Five Marks of Mission

The Five Marks of Mission

In his presidential address to Diocesan Synod in June 1997, the Bishop articulated a strategy for the diocese based on the Five Marks of Mission. These marks were formulated by the Anglican Consultative Council and have been endorsed by General Synod:

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
3. To respond to human need by loving service
4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society
5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth

Evangelism

A definition:

"Evangelism involves a subtle process of human interaction. Through it, men and women experience God's love, expressed in his people, and come to hear and understand the truth of the gospel. The Holy Spirit is at work in all this, often in ways we do not understand. As a result, people start to follow Christ and join his church."

John Clarke - Evangelism that really works.

Research into Evangelism

Encounters on the Edge, Sheffield Centre, Church Army

1. Living proof - A new way of being church. Christian Community in a deprived area of Cardiff.
2. Unit 8 - Out of sight out of nothing. Church planting in Shipley through children and young peoples work.
3. Cell Church Planting - has the Church reached its cell by date. About cell church with special reference to Lisburn (Northern Ireland).
4. Eternity - the beginning. Youth congregations with reference to "Eternity" Bracknell.
5. Joining the club - or changing the rules. New ways of being church in the context of church history.
6. Across the pond - beyond control and security. Church and community in Blackheath. "Come" thinking turning to "Go" practice
7. New Canterbury Tales - network church plants. Non geographic churches including The Carpenter's Arms. Deal.
8. Thame or wild.
9. Leading lights. Who can lead new churches.
10. Hard graft. New life for a struggling Church.
11. Never on a Sunday. Midweek church.
12. The enigma of Alternative worship.
13. Encountering exile. Looking for hope in the scriptures

And more...

Church leaving and returning

Philip Richer and Leslie J. Francis. DLT.
ISBN 0-232-52236-7

"A very valuable survey of why people leave churches and which of them are more likely to return. Practical solutions to church leaving. “The results of this research should be pondered long by all Church leaders for it has much to teach us" - John Finney

Good News for a Postmodern world

Colin Horseman. Grove Books.
ISBN 1-85174-323-5

It really is good! It is one of Grove’s best sellers and gives a good insight into the changes in society and how we share the gospel to the post-modern generation.

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