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Growth program; Street Pastors Swindon, Image by sc & ciukes

Diocesan Growth Programme

“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.

The Parish Development Team 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.










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