Articles

For full details of the Church Planting Policy:
Download Church Planting Policy >>

The Diocese of Bristol exists to create communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre. 

This purpose has a deliberate breadth.  It encourages communities that may not be ecclesial but are Christ-centred to be developed.  It incorporates the continual renewal of existing ecclesial communities as they seek “to proclaim afresh [the faith] in each generation”.   As an ecclesial community is a sign of God’s Kingdom, we believe they can have a leavening influence on the wider community, making not only the Church, but the world more whole.

This policy does not concern itself with these two aspects of our purpose (the creation of non-ecclesial communities and the renewal of existing ecclesial communities).  Instead, it concerns itself with the aspect of the purpose that is explicit about creating new ecclesial communities.  Generally, this action is referred to as “church planting” and the outcome is an “expression of church” (inherited” or “fresh”).  We hope that any expressions of church that results from church planting will become a “community of wholeness with Christ at the centre”. 

For full details of the Church Planting Policy:
Download Church Planting Policy >>

What then is this proposed new way of being a clergyperson – Common Tenure?
If introduced, Common Tenure would, in a sense, do what it says on the tin. It offers a way of being in ministry that could be held in common by almost all clergy with tenure as an office-holder, rather than by an employer-employee relationship.

Full article downloads:
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Gifts of Healings has been produced by the Bishop’s Advisory Group on the Church’s Ministry of Healing to provide practical insights and advise for church groups in Bristol Diocese interested in developing healing. Download PDF sections below. [Can't open PDF? Click here - it's free]


1. Explanation & introduction >>
2. Resources for learning >>
3. Gifts of Prayer >>
4. Gifts of Sacraments >>
5. Gifts of Healing Services >>
6. Gifts of Ministry Teams >>

Download entire course >> 

Smallprint/uses:
If you use the course you are free to adapt it to your local need. Please acknowledge your source if you re-publish extracts. If you edit sections of the text for local use, please remain true to the overall spirit of “Gifts of Healings” in teaching that healing and wholeness are God’s gifts to us through Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Saviour.

We hope you will find the material useful and we pray that God will bless you and those you work with in the service of Christ, our Lord.

Creating Communities of Wholeness with Christ at the Centre: Going for Growth

Our purpose as a Diocese is to create communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre which are growing in numbers, in commitment, in influence and in partnership. This course, consisting of six sessions, has been designed to help churches accross the Diocese explore what it might mean for our Chirstian discipleship. The course would work well in Lent, however, it could be run at any time of the year and is very flexible.

Download PDF sections below. [Can't open PDF? Click here - it's free]

0.1 Download entire course >>
0.2 Contents; full list >> 0.3 Introduction to the course >>

Download the six sessions:
1. Christ at the Centre >>
2. Wholeness >>
3. Communities >>
4. Creating >>
5. Creating communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre >>
6. Going for growth >>

See also:
- Notes for course leaders
- I came I was sent statements
- Icebreakers
- Preparation for Next Week
- Evaluation Sheet

A CD to accompany the pack is available from the Parish Development Team. Please contact us on 0117 906 0100.

The Good Giving Guide is a teaching resource developed by Bishop Mike to help churches face the resource challenge of modern ministry. The material aims to assist churches fund their local vision.

If you would like to deliver this material in your own church setting, you can download teaching notes and a Power Point presentation [below] which you can either use for a sermon or a longer seminar.

If you would prefer someone from outside your church to deliver this material, there are trained lay ministers who are experienced communicators available to come and teach in your church. If this is your preferred option, please contact Oliver Home at Bishop Mike’s office on 0117 973 0222 or  stating:

-   Date and time
-   Venue
-   Preferred format (sermon or seminar)

One of these trained people will then contact you.

Download the Teaching Notes here >>
Download the Presentation here >>

Resources including a portable Uganda exhibition and short video 'Introducing Uganda' with slides and notes may be borrowed by parishes. The link co-ordinator for the Diocese is Revd. Philip Rowe, to whom all enquiries concerning the link should be addressed.

- Uganda Links section of this website

For a list of ongoing training courses available, as well as a regularly updated training events calendar, please visit our Training section.

December 2007: 108 Lay Ministers from the Diocese took part in a conference held at Brunel Manor near Torquay in Devon.


This was the first ever Lay Ministers conference held by the Diocese and was planned and led by the Lay ministers themselves. The theme was ‘Keys of the Kingdom’ and this was explored through Bible study, music, drama and opportunities to experience different aspects of practical ministry. Bishop Bob is Bishop of Crediton in the Exeter diocese but started out as a Reader candidate in the parish of Christ the Servant Stockwood in Bristol Diocese before being ordained. Bishop Lee spoke on the opening evening and at the final communion. The bible studies are all on the theme of the Kingdom of God.

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Using the player above, please allow a few seconds for the talks to load. To save these talks to your computer, right-click a download link below and choose "Save target as".

Bishop Lee Rayfield; introduction >> Size: 9mb
Bishop Bob Evens #1 >> Size: 38mb, Duration: 53 mins
Bishop Bob Evens #2 >> Size: 34mb, Duration: 48 mins
Bishop Bob Evens #3 >> Size: 27mb, Duration: 37 mins
Bishop Lee Rayfield; closing message >> Size: 13mb

Session notes are available here in PDF format, click a download link below:

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3

Elaine Storkey, President of Tearfund speaks at the Swindon Mission Network. Elaine introduces the Global Poverty Prayer Week, and discusses the main focal points for Church prayer groups; HIV/AIDS, climate change, disasters, trade justice, water and sanitation. She talks about the need for prayer in these situations, and the network of support between churches worldwide. To save this audio recording, right-click the download link and choose "Save target as".

Download >> Size: 21.7mb

Jane Williams, wife of The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, speaks in Swindon on the confidence to share your faith, citing examples from her own experience.

- Responding to questions about suffering in the world
- The theology of the bible
- Christians as 'forgiven', not necessarily 'good'
- Difficult questions of the church
- Christianity as 'caught', not 'taught'
- Books which have helped with Jane's own journey

Download >> Size: 21.2mb

To save this audio recording, right-click the download link and choose "Save target as".

How can we make our worship services more accessible and engaging? Bishop Mike considers some of the signals we send in our worship and how they might help or hinder the experience.	Bishop Mike Hill. Photo courtesy of Walter Dirks
To save this audio recording, right-click the download link and choose "Save target as".	Download >> Size: 5.71mb

 

Victor Howlett talks about his experience planting churches in Stratton St Margaret, Swindon. Their use of non-church schools (for advertising and hosting church groups in return for Victor, & his colleague Greg, occasionally taking assemblies), lay administrative support and existing networks in the community has enabled rapid establishment of small church plants throughout the Parish.“
To save this audio recording, right-click the download link and choose "Save target as".	Download >> Size: 3.85mb

See also:
- The Diocesan Growth Programme
- Download The Stratton St Margaret Growth Plan (PDF)