Please install Flash to view this website in all it's glory
Growth program; Street Pastors Swindon, Image by sc & ciukes

Diocesan Growth Programme

Note: Want help building a strategy for your church?
Note: Get in touch with Paul Rush of Strategy Support >>
Note: Growth toolbox: resources and courses to help you >>



“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” 
St Paul, 1 Cor 3:6

When Jesus described the “kingdom of God”, the stories he used showed it to be a kingdom that grows.  It is clear that God call us to be fruitful as well as faithful (John 15). St Paul stresses that it is God that gives growth. But for God play his part, we must play ours with purposeful effort and activity.

The Growth Programme aims to give direction to that effort and activity in the Diocese and the communities that make it up.  The Growth Programme takes a holistic approach to growth and therefore has four key components:

- growing in Commitment
- growing in Partnership
- growing in Influence
- growing in Numbers


Growth in the Diocese of Bristol
Although all parts of the Diocese have been asked to embrace the Growth Programme, it is particularly hoped that every parish, benefice or partnership will develop their own, locally shaped plan for growth. 

As well as picking up on all four components of the Growth Programme in formulating their plans, each parish, benefice or partnership will need to shape their plan in line with their cultural context, their theological tradition, their available resources and Deanery strategies.

Strategy Support is here to offer help and consultancy to parishes who wish to develop plans or those who are seeking to put their plans into practice.

See examples of locally shaped plans for growth The four components of the Growth Programme




Growth toolbox: Resources for evangelism
pdf Anything to Declare? >>
Not everyone is called to be an evangelist; Anything to Declare is a workshop enabling all the baptised faithful to talk about Jesus and their faith in him with their friends and neighbours.

pdf Mind the Gap >>
Operating on the principle that most people belong before they believe, this single day or evening workshop for Church leadership carefully works with building connection and building understanding and enables churches to plot stepping stones for people at various stages of their spiritual development.

pdf Mission Shaped Ministry >>
Training for those involved in, or considering, fresh expressions of church. Running ecumenically in over 50 centres across the UK with more than 2000 students enrolled. The Diocese of Bristol is working with the Bristol District of the Methodist Church to offer it locally, starting Saturday 8 Jan 2011. The part-time course takes participants on a learning journey as part of a supportive community, training them for ministry in fresh expressions of church.



See also:
- 2010-15 Diocesan Strategy: Releasing the energy
- Reveal Conference, Willow Creek; feedback
- Synod Presentation; Oliver Home / Diocesan Strategy
- "Going for Growth"  course
- Church Planting Policy
- Working in the Community
- Fresh Expressions of Church


Note: Want help building a strategy for your church?
Get in touch with Paul Rush of Strategy Support >>