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Building Local Leadership for the Future Church

Explore strategies to address declining membership and aged leadership in the Church. Discuss training, empowerment of elders, and a new model for ministry to foster growth and adaptability. Join us for a collaborative session on shaping a vibrant future for the Church.

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Building Local Leadership for the Future Church

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  1. Programme18.30Welcome and Worship18.45Discussion 1: How do we become the Church we hope to be?19.30Break19.45Welcome back and Introduction19.50Discussion2 : How can we meet our ongoing leadership needs?20.00Presentation: Building Local Leadership20.20Discussion 2 – continued21.00 Plenary Discussion21.20Close

  2. Some facts and figures…… 2005 2015 Membership:520,940 363,597 (30% drop) Children:78,535 54,579 (30% drop) Minsters:1,032 786 (24% drop) Elders:41,218 30,301 (26% drop) In 2015….. 76.5% of ministers are aged over 50 18.7% of ministers are aged between 40-50 4.8%of ministers are aged under 40

  3. How do we become the Church we hope to be? In light of the current context, what should we hold on to or let go of and what new things should we be doing in relation to: • Participation in Christian life and worship • Making disciples and nurturing spiritual growth • Engaging more widely and effectively in community

  4. How can we meet our ongoing leadership needs and opportunities?

  5. Building Local Leadership

  6. Big issues we face in Leadership • Fall in the number of ministers – more than half due to retire within five years • Age range of ministers – only around 20% are under 50 • Getting harder to find key office bearers • Very few elders are under 50

  7. How have we responded to this? • Shape things round what you have! • Maintain current model of leadership • Move to have fewer churches • So far this does not appear to have slowed decline …. but we do need something to give stability

  8. Training Parish Ministers to enable a Missional Church • Major work on promoting ministry • Re-focus training on empowering the people of God to use their God given gifts • Key passage: Ephesians 4

  9. Ministers in a Missional Church We do need to find stability and inspiration in a time of change A possible model to support this: Hub Church Model

  10. Hub Ministries • Shared task • Focus on mission • Breaking the mould

  11. Suits you – basic design, but tailored to local needs Flourishing in diversity Trained and able to take the pace… …together

  12. Resourcing Ministry: • with local communities • supported by Presbytery • resourced by Church Councils Developing leadership Working collaboratively Nurturing ability Designed by Freepik

  13. A new shape for ministry A new kind of ministry

  14. “A spreading of religion usually overseas” Clue from Life & Work crossword August 2016

  15. Answer: Mission

  16. Training Parish Ministers to enable a Missional Church • Major work on promoting ministry • Re-focus training on empowering the people of God to use their God given gifts • Key passage: Ephesians 4

  17. Ephesians 4:11-12 11 It was he who “gave gifts to people”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. 12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

  18. Ministry Belongs to All The Saints • Train more non-stipendiary ministers (Ordained Local Ministers – OLMs) • Give a wider role to Elders • Release our leaders into new work …..with stipendiary parish ministers enabling this

  19. Strand 1: Training OLMs • Train non-stipendiary ministers • Numbers have not been high • Age profile has been largely over 50 • A review is currently underway

  20. Strand 2: Empowering the Eldership • Give elders some responsibilities traditionally carried by ministers. • With appropriate training: • Lead worship, preach, conduct funerals, Interim Moderators • Extend to administer the sacraments?

  21. Strand 2: Empowering the Eldership (continued) • The Eldership Working Group: • Moving away from the District Elder model………. • towards • ……….Elders shaping the work and witness of the church and providing the leadership for that

  22. Strand 3: Release Leaders to Work and Witness • Release people to develop the work and witness of the church in new ways: • Pioneer Ministry, Fresh Expressions, Path of Renewal, Go For It, Chance to Thrive • This is seen as a key area for development

  23. We’re listening….. …What do you think?

  24. ……in Summary • Develop Hub ministries • Train non-stipendiary Ministers • Give a wider role to Elders (and others) • Release leaders into new work • Train parish ministers to enable this • What advantages could you see in pursuing the Hub Church Model? What changes might we suggest to make it work? • How can we enable young people to move into leadership? • How do roles need changed to allow this? • In what ways should they be taken forward?

  25. Get in touch… roadshows@churchofscotland.org.uk

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