Link to ChurchCouncil > MissionPilotWelcomeLetter
Mission Pilot Process
Description from Presbytery
The Mission Cultivation Process is a twelve-month process for congregations to learn about new ways of being in mission through action learning – taking on a new initiative and learning from the experience. This involves a process of missional cultural change designed to assist congregations to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the post-Christendom context in Australia.
The Presbytery is seeking to identify three congregations for this first round of mission pilots, with subsequent rounds from mid-2020. Congregations are invited to submit expressions of interest to participate in the project by 31 August, 2019. The Port Phillip East Presbytery *Cultivating a New Future* Process includes a strategic priority to develop a small number of Congregational Mission Pilots in 2019 and 2020.
A brochure and introductory video are available here: https://www.ucappep.org/being-presbytery/mission-pilot-process/
Some of the thinking behind it is included in notes from the Poupup study.
Glen Waverley consideration
Considered at July 2019 Council meeting
NeilPeters commented:
After looking at the video on the Presbytery website the following things stood out for me. This is about shaping the culture of a congregation. Looking at the vitality of our congregation as a community of disciples. This is connecting discipleship and Mission Do you want to take a risk. Not pretend to do something. Looking at how we function as a leadership team. These are all things that excite me about this process. I also feel that both Alanee and myself should be members of the group who do the project work. If others are up to the challenge and opportunity, so am I. John Hurst spoke to me. He hopes that church council will express interest in the Mission Pilot process. John has expressed interest in being part of the group for the 12 month project. Whether it includes John or not I think the group should have some from church council and some members of the congregation. It needs to be people committed to doing the work.
DavidFraser prepared a diagram.
AlisonClarkson wrote:
I strongly support an application to be part of the Mission Pilot Project. I like the opening sentence to the invitation, ‘An invitation to discernment, learning and action in local mission.’ From the Invitation I highlighted, - community connection, both a fresh look and new relationships - reimagining what it means to be church shaped for mission in our context - learn about expressing faith as good news in word and deed with people in our community. From the Mission Cultivation Gauge I highlighted, - deepening discipleship practices as a congregation - team building and team learning (Ministry team and others) - discernment, listening to God’s Spirit. - risk taking and experimentation I see the project as an opportunity to build on and expand what we are doing, particularly with the Asian community. I particularly like the emphasis on sharing and deepening of faith Perhaps our project could be development of the Chinese Fellowship
- Glyn wrote:
A BIG YES TO: seeking to participate fully marrying discipleship and mission in a focussed and thoughtful way in a process shared with the presbytery team. involve the wider congregation with a highly committed pilot team ensuring it is an inclusive project. Two possible areas immediately occur to me: working on faith development and with the Chinese fellowship (this could also be part of a wider task).
Acceptance
Received 2019 Sep 29
Dear Neil, Following on from, our recent conversation, the Mission Pilot Steering Group is pleased to accept the Expression of Interest from Glen Waverley to participate in the process. As I also indicated, we’ve had a low number of expressions and yours is the only congregation to be accepted at this stage! As a result we have asked the Standing Committee to shift the process to 2020 and reopen expressions of interest until the end of November this year. If Standing Committee agrees, an email will be going out shortly with revised dates, and you will receive this. When you’re back from leave, let’s touch base about all of this. I’m very much looking forward to working with all of you on the process. peace Craig Dr Craig Mitchell Presbytery Minister - Church Development
Welcome