DS/07/05
 

 

The Diocese of St Albans

Board for Church and Society

 

Report to Diocesan Synod 6th October 2007

 

The Board has adopted the following Vision, Mission and Values and established the strategic priorities set out below for the remainder of the current triennium. We have also agreed the “test question” at the end of the document that we intend to apply to our activities.

We are looking forward to the opportunity at Synod to explore these ideas with members and consult about how the Board can best use these priorities to advance its work and in support of the work of the Diocese and its parishes.

 

Strategic Priorities for the triennium 2007/9

 

The Board for Church and Society has reviewed its work and priorities and will play its part within the Vision for Action of the Diocese as follows.

Our Vision for action, grounded in our Christian faith, is that all people may experience the reality of God’s love.

Our Mission is to provoke the Diocese to look outwards; and to provide aid and support to the Diocese and its parishes as they go about their work of sharing the Good News of the Gospel in society which is both global and local.

Our Values, for us as a Board and as individuals, are based on living a life that follows the example set by Jesus Christ; individual values include

§         Showing respect for all individuals (believing that everyone is made in the image of God) whilst standing for solutions that are based on right relationships (social responsibility)

§         Seeking justice for all

§         Striving for reconciliation

§         Speaking truth in love

Our Vision for Action strategic priorities have emerged from our vision, mission and values and a strategic planning workshop where we reviewed our accomplishments and a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis – this review is available.

At the heart of these strategic priorities is the task set when the Board was established

§         To promote the whole mission of the Church in wider society throughout the Diocese

In order to achieve this and our own Vision and Mission our key priorities are to

§         Carry out social responsibility issue-based work

This should be focussed, well managed, and subject to regular review so it does not become a list that tries to be exhaustive, but ends up being exhausting and unrealistic. It should also identify what the BCS cannot do and who is better suited to carry out some activities.

§         Clarify and progress the place of evangelism in the work of the Board

This acknowledges that the accomplishments of the BCS have been focussed on social responsibility without explicit reference to evangelism (or mission) however defined and that more work is needed on the implicit and explicit relationship of social responsibility to evangelism (and mission).

 

To support these priorities we aim to

§         Have excellent communication with the parishes and structures of the Diocese

This acknowledges the need to review our “message” and “brand” and how we communicate; also the need for clear and effective communication systems that are understood at all levels so they facilitate the connection between the BCS and the Diocese, its structures and decision-making processes, and local parishes; and effective use of the website as a knowledge management system.

§         Work within a management system that has a priority-setting framework and clear accountability

This requires a management system for the activity of BCS that is robust and within which all participants, whether paid or voluntary, are accountable for what they do and how they do it; it also requires that the skills and experience of members and supporters are acknowledged and used effectively.

§         Generate resources from outside the Diocese and its structures where possible and to make effective use of resources for our work

This acknowledges that resources will remain an issue for the BCS that should not rely wholly on the Diocese for its income whilst setting an example about the careful stewardship of resources.

 

We have agreed a “test question” to accompany our agendas and our work. The question is designed to test what is distinctive about doing social responsibility in the context of the church and not just as a social agency with no religious or spiritual take on life. What’s the “added value”? What’s different?

The question, arising from our Vision at the beginning of this document and considering the individuals and/or the group we are working with, is

Is this action grounded in the values of our Christian faith and improving lives whilst giving people the chance to experience the reality of God’s love?

Board for Church and Society: Background

 

The Board’s task is “To promote the whole mission of the Church in wider society throughout the Diocese.  In particular, the Board has special regard for social responsibility, evangelism, ecumenism, interfaith relations and international links. … Responsibility for policy lies ultimately with the Bishop and Diocesan Synod, generally mediated through the Bishop’s Council, which may assign specific tasks to the Board.  It is the responsibility of the Board to initiate, shape and steer policy in the light of the overall strategy of the Diocese.”

 

The Board comprises 12 members elected by Diocesan Synod, currently one co-opted member (nominated by the Methodist district), a nominee of the Bishop’s Council, the Archdeacon of Bedford, its Executive Officer (non-voting) and a non-executive chair appointed by the Diocesan Bishop. 

 

Officers

 

The Board has two officers working in its areas of responsibility: the Officer for Mission and Development (yet to take up post), who will be the Board’s Executive Officer, and Kemi Akinruli (Social Responsibility Officer, currently part-time).  They are supported by Val Geldard (Administrative Assistant).

 

In addition, the mission team of officers comprises:

 

Workplace Ministry Team Leader (full-time, stipendiary)

Interfaith Adviser (half-time, stipendiary)

World Development Adviser (one day per week, voluntary)

Chaplain among the Deaf (part-time, non-stipendiary)

Ecumenical Officers for Herts and Beds (2 part-time, voluntary)

Agricultural Chaplains for Herts and Beds (2 part-time, voluntary)

Diocesan Environment Officer (seeking a part-time volunteer)

 

Agencies and Groups

 

The following agencies and groups, almost all voluntary, carry out specific work within the Board’s responsibilities:

 

Workplace Ministry in Herts and Beds (organised ecumenically)

Caribbean Links Group

Council for Partnership in World Mission

Healing Ministry

Rural Strategy Advisory Group

Diocesan Urban Forum

Interfaith Advisory Group

Race Equality Committee

Community Care Group

Europe Group (covering European links)

HIV/AIDS Support Group

Yarls Wood Asylum Casework Support Group (ecumenical pilot scheme)

Environment Group

 

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