outreach
Church: focussed on the local church family and parish community outreach and pastoral care
Through these experiences, I have seen both the joys and the challenges our Church faces: the struggle to regain and increase attendance after the Covid pandemic, particularly amongst the young, the need to recognise and act upon the many ways we can outreach to our local communities, and the call to be the natural pastoral home for our neighbourhood.
If elected, I would keep the heart of the Gospel in all my deliberations and decision- making, encourage local parishes in mission and outreach ensuring resources are used wisely and effectively.
I remain committed to the church’s outreach to young people, who are our future, and have served for over 25 years on Christian holiday camps for teenagers.
Previously, I led the software development team at the University of Durham, and worked at St John’s College on Christian Apologetics projects, focusing on Faith and Science and youth outreach.
Commissioned as a Lay Pioneer in 2018 That has included founding Inclusive Church Peterborough, helping develop LGBT+ community groups, supporting a Community Fridge, Warm Hubs, Family Fun Days, mental health training days, outreach cafes, online services etc.
Licensed as a Team Vicar, in my current post as House for Duty, I am the incumbent of the Oak Hill Parishes, responsible for Worship, mission and outreach in Alderton, Dumbleton, Gt Washbourne and Wormington.
I was involved in some of the early iterations of Youth Alpha, pioneered night club chaplaincy, worked with young women at risk of abuse, worked ecumenically on outreach events and helped the churches I have led to grow in confidence.
Through my nine years as Worldwide Correspondent for the London Diocesan Mothers' Union, six years as Chairman of its Action & Outreach Committee, six years as Deanery Chairman and three years as Co-ordinator of London Diocesan Members, I have also seen at first hand the importance of listening, outreach and practical Christian service.
I dedicate my time to understanding the needs and expectations of the youth and ways to establish outreach to the youth.
We belong to a very active, outward-looking church and we are both involved with leading worship and church outreach.
Outreach must be a greater priority.
In the past I served as Chair of Clergy (3 terms), on Finance & Scrutiny, HR and Outreach committees.
I have a track record of commitment to creative evangelism and mission, having, before my consecration, been one of the organisers of the ecumenical initiative, Festival Manchester, in 2022, which reached 65,000 people over four days, and sparked a range of on-going community outreach ministries.
Together, we have re-established regular prayer meetings and Bible study groups and have sought to strengthen both our worshipping life and our outreach to the wider community.
Outreach activities as part of our Church youth fellowship engraved in me the importance of mission.
I have seen the dedication of clergy and lay leaders who work tirelessly to sustain worship, pastoral care, outreach, and community presence.
e Outreach in the local community, establishing and running a parent and toddler group for seven years when my own children were small.
During my curacy, monthly prayer ministry, healing services, Café Church and Blue Christmas were established across both parishes, creating spaces for prayer, fellowship and outreach.
Community outreach programmes such as HOPE+/Micah Liverpool demonstrate that we do things better together.
What began with assisting our vicar to share sermons online, has evolved into a regular online presence for our community, This has proven to be a useful outreach tool for drawing new people to our church.
Outreach: That the Church maintains its practices, ensuring a multitude of ‘entry points’ for young people.
I am vice-chairman of the Trustees for The GAP, a community centre which provides activities for all ages and needs within the community, including direct, specialist outreach work for the local authorities.
I’ve funded the start-up costs and second year of a youth outreach project on the Isle of Wight, and I continue to support youth and ministry work here in London.
Student Outreach: For the last three years, I have been active in the local Christian Union meetings for university students.
baptism, wedding and funeral outreach to our communities I believe that God loves us all in our diversity and our messiness.
● Targeted, accessible funding for parish outreach and mission. ● Streamlined grant and compliance processes so small PCCs are not discouraged by bureaucracy. ● Support for training and mentoring for lay leaders and newly ordained clergy. ● Improved communication flow to and from Synod-Diocese-Parish so Synod decisions are informed by frontline churches, and decisions are relayed back to them. ● More parity between dioceses to avoid contradictions and duplication of resources.
● Champion parish resilience - press for practical support for PCCs, sensible governance, and help with church buildings and compliance that does not overwhelm volunteers. ● Support local outreach - advocate for funding and simplified processes for foodbanks, youth work, community partnerships and other parish-led initiatives. ● Care for clergy and lay ministers - press for realistic expectations, better pastoral care, and accessible training and mentoring for both clergy and lay leaders. ● Respect local context - oppose one-size-fits-all mandates and promote policies that allow dioceses and parishes to respond to their unique circumstances.
In that time, I have and continue to: ● Work closely with our vicar on pastoral care, recruitment and wellbeing. ● Assist with outreach projects including food provision to local families and individuals. ● Be involved in fundraising for essential repairs and mission initiatives. ● Be actively involved in initiatives to reach men on the edge and fringes of the church. ● Be and remain a trustee of The Friends of St Mary's Association. ● Lead a church Home Group with my wife. ● Serve on the Standing Committee within our PCC This hands-on experience gives me a clear sense of where there are pressure points at parish level and the need to raise the profile and priorities of our smaller, rural or struggling churches at Synod level.
I have a Certificate in Theology, Ministry & Mission and am particularly passionate about worship and outreach to families.
We must build unity and consensus between the leadership of the Church of England across our parish churches, to rebuild trust and provide a platform for evangelism and outreach. If elected, I would work towards to ensuring that commitment to prayer and the Bible is always at the heart of everything that the Church of England does.
oversaw and organised parish events and conferences, led diverse congregations within different traditions, served on and ran multiple outreach programs for groups that include vulnerable adults, children and those exploring faith, and spoken at conferences to encourage young leaders.
I have also seen, in Parish ministry, both the opportunities for fresh mission and outreach within our communities, and the real cost that ordained ministry can place on clergy — a cost the Church must take seriously.
I am a member of the staff team, preaching, leading services, and helping with pastoral, prayer and outreach ministry.
While there is of course a place for new ideas and innovative forms of outreach, I want to see a Church of England where normal clergy in normal parishes doing the normal things - leading worship, preaching, caring for the vulnerable, administering the sacraments, getting involved with the community — are able to feel supported and resourced.
Before becoming Dean of Chelmsford, I served in Ely Cathedral for eight years as Residentiary Canon for Learning and Outreach.
In addition to providing some funding for parish youth workers, we have recently raised sufficient money to purchase the former HSBC Bank in Duffield and are in the process of converting it to a café as part of our outreach to the community.
Rural parishes, town churches and churches in urban communities face different challenges and also have different opportunities for mission and outreach.
Ensuring national Church resources, funding mechanisms, and budgets directly support parish ministry, clergy deployment, and frontline community outreach where impact is felt most.
I chair the Eco Diocese Group and sit on the Outreach and Diversity forums for the Diocese.
At St Mark’s Church, Nottingham, I helped in women's groups, Sunday schools and catering for outreach events.
Before ordination, for eight years I was an itinerant evangelist leading parish-based outreach initiatives.
Our parish has a full and busy worshipping life, with an important heritage building and other buildings used for outreach and service.
I remain involved with the Prayer Book Society and its national outreach through the Cranmer Awards.
I worship at Great St Bartholomew, Smithfield, where I am Vice-Chairman of the PCC and Chairman of the Mission & Outreach Committee, and I have been an elected lay member of the Diocesan Synod since 2024.
I long that the current levels of anxiety which I have seen across the country at every level of church life be replaced by a growing unity based in shared opportunities for outreach, ministry, honest and honouring relationships, and mutual hospitality in Christ’s name.
Occasionally, you might find me on the High Street witnessing and giving out New Testaments as part of the outreach for Good News For Everyone (formerly The Gideons).
My first role was as Vicar of a densely populated suburban area with a focus on community outreach and work with schools.
Enhancing faithful local U-18s ministry in the parishes (Sunday schools, holiday clubs, youth camps, outreach, etc) is essential.
I began a youth outreach project that is still running 35 years later.
I have seen the difference made by foodbanks, community cafés and outreach.
Children have to be at the heart of our outreach.
I am a founder member of our church Mission and Outreach Committee, attracting more people into church by putting on events there such as a Faith Badge evening for Beavers and Cubs, an annual
studies and outreach events.
Mission & Church Growth: Drawing on practical church planting experience to advocate for evangelism, discipleship, and intercultural community outreach.
pressures, placing greater strain on clergy wellbeing and limiting opportunities for mission and outreach.
I take part in weekly evangelistic outreach in central Northampton and attend prayer meetings in the town.
Much of my ministry has focused on youth outreach, children’s work, and supporting parents and families navigating complex modern pressures.
● Volunteer working with children and vulnerable adults at St Catherine's Church, Coventry, since April 2022 — leading children's engagement programmes under full safeguarding compliance (DBS certified). ● Lead Bible study for adults, children and young people's Sunday services, and co-lead the evening Theological Reflection Group (in-person and via Zoom). ● Coordinator of the Parish Church Council & Theological Reflection Group, and speaker at Deanery Synod advocating for faith-based initiatives. ● Hosted Racial Justice Sunday, leading discussions on racial justice within theological reflection at the church. ● Support Messy Church, Outreach and Hot Chocolate afternoon events, helping foster connections within the community. ● Previously served as Children's Teacher and church committee member (sanctuary keeper, Treasury & Audit Committee, Choir) at Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Ibadan, Nigeria, from 2010 to 2021.
e Believe the Church of England’s top priorities should be: o Youth and young adults’ engagement and discipleship o Community outreach and local mission o Financial sustainability o Church unity
Community Outreach and Local Mission
Dressing up for Christmas outreach events over the years
mission and outreach
I worship at St Stephen’s church in Burnley where I am assistant Church Warden and am active in many community and outreach activities at other churches in the area I am standing for Synod to offer my experience for the service of the church.
Setting up community projects including youth groups, civic pride and church outreach.
Outreach in the local community, establishing food and entertainment programmes with others to bring people together and share their experiences.
I share in Christ’s message through practical outreach, speaking, supporting, and developing our future leaders from all backgrounds.
My ministry has included parish leadership, PCCs, safeguarding, pastoral care, mission and outreach.
I have been involved with running parenting groups and helping on courses in prisons and during my time as a Trustee of MU in Manchester was responsible for all outreach programmes both national and local.
We can lead public engagement and provide educational outreach on this issue.
My ministry has included children’s work on a Sunday, midweek after school clubs, holiday clubs, Alpha, schools’ ministry, community outreach and the many other things that make up church life and ministry; my wife also serves on the PCC.
Having been awkward and uncooperative during the outreach event someone told me to pray openly and honestly for God to open my eyes.
I believe more work needs to be done to share resources and encourage parishes in their nurture of, and outreach to children, young people and families.
I have had the honour of working with the School of Homeless Pastors who engage in homeless outreach.
I was very involved here across all the local churches with Evangelistic outreach, C of E Primary School, summer missions and outreach, starting up and running a large church Parent & Toddler Group, a home bible study group for mums new to faith, and singing at many church events throughout the town and local villages.
Member of the disability forum & Outreach Committee.
The Challenge The parish church is not just the bedrock of worship in the Church of England, but through outreach and engagement it also plays a vital role in the wider community.
We have recruited an excellent vicar, undertaken large capital projects, attracted younger members of our congregation and created and extended vital outreach projects.
This could be used to fund 29 fulltime stipendiary parish roles, which would increase community outreach and congregations7.
Involved in music, lay ministry, youth work and community outreach
Now at 30, I am serving on the staff team of St Nicholas’ Stevenage, particularly supporting our young people, men’s groups, community outreach and music.
My commitment to the local church, state education, and community outreach is practical and longstanding.
I will strongly advocate for central funds to directly support local parish ministry, community outreach, and clergy wellbeing.
• Community development and outreach to those who need us most;
Chaplaincy, Schools ministry and outreach are not add-ons to parish ministry; they're the same calling reaching further out.
A Deep Commitment to Parish Ministry I love parochial ministry and mission: public and private prayer, celebrating the eucharist, preaching to and teaching all ages, pastoral care, occasional offices, equipping and releasing God’s people, outreach, preparing for confirmation, serving our local communities, school assemblies, caring for God’s acre and for our wonderful buildings (though often challenging!).
In our local church - St John's Hartford - Richard and I have been involved in supporting youth outreach.
From what you have read so far, I am sure you will have gleaned some of the areas that I care about – the spiritual support for those older in age, how children and young people are involved in ‘church’, developing individuals to take on roles within the church in voluntary or paid positions, and how we serve out in our communities through mission outreach, which is likely to change the whole notion of ‘church’.
I served my curacy in rural Oxfordshire engaging in ministry in a broad church and engaging in mission in the local community, focussing on schools and outreach to children and their families.
At St Martin’s, I help with a weekly music dementia group, initiate outreach events such as pancake parties and pub carols, and have helped establish Wild Church, a seasonal outdoor all ages activity.
I care deeply about the Church being a cornerstone of its community and have a heart for outreach.
Outreach: It is surely important that the churches ‘puts themselves out there’ in order to attract parishioners.
I will be a loud voice for social action and outreach, continually speaking out against the injustices that impact the flourishing of everyday people.
Diocesan Vocations Outreach Officer, Clergy Member of Chelmsford Diocesan Synod (Braintree Deanery), and Assistant Curate at Coggeshall and United Parishes.
My family and I are deeply invested in local community ministry: my wife, Jo, leads a local youth outreach project called Lightbox, and we are raising our two young daughters (both under 10) here in the diocese.
Alongside others, some of our work included, outreach to the homeless and vulnerable, work with women in the sex industry and those experiencing gender-based violence, children and families, youth, students, prisons, providing food banks, support for relationships and the Alpha Course.
I want the church to be confident in sharing the good news, both through intentional outreach and through everyday relationships.
Frontline Outreach: Prioritising national and diocesan resources for parish level mission, especially supporting local lay leadership and evangelism.
Outreach, especially to young people and especially via social media, needs to be much more savvy.
Every bit of outreach needs authenticity and personality.
Safe outreach is counter- productively boring.
EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH
EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH – I believe the parish provides a vital framework for creativity in evangelism and outreach, while also serving as a community hub.
I have also held roles for Church Urban Fund as a Grants Officer for their Near Neighbours Project and ran our church community outreach program for 11 years, where we offered English classes, craft groups and gardening projects for the people of our inner-city Bradford Parish.
• Local parish churches leading mission outreach and transformation of their communities: the
I am concerned that the church is not attracting as many of the people who claim to be accepting of the spiritual life, but feel they can “Go it alone.” I see a need for an outreach towards these people who are “Wandering in the wilderness” and to bring them home.
Inspired by these experiences, I began an MA in Christian Spirituality at Sarum College, while simultaneously entering the discernment process for ordained ministry and supporting a parish outreach program for the local homeless population.
I am passionate about: resourcing ministry at the grassroots outreach to communities who have not traditionally found a welcome in church developing a robust and undefended safeguarding culture working out what reconciliation looks like in and beyond the church.
Community Outreach
Outreach to Young People and Families – This is vital to the future of the church and for spreading the gospel.
We need to encourage outreach in schools and train youth workers to engage with young people.
Outreach and Evangelism – Speaking about our faith and witnessing to others takes courage.
Encourage mission and outreach that enables people of all generations to encounter the love of Christ.
Seeing people come to faith through our outreach Life Series course, held in our local Wetherspoons, with many going on to be baptised and becoming active members of the church family.
Much of my curacy so far has focused on the outreach and discipleship of students and formation of younger leaders.
My journey has included work as a pipefitter and in IT, street outreach, prisons, schools, housing estates, rural communities, and life on a substance rehabilitation working farm.
We still have the good will of the village who support our outreach activities, but do not attend church on a regular basis due to no priest taking services.
• Outreach.
I am committed to and involved in various styles of outreach to those
I served as Chair of a charity dedicated to parish outreach within the UK.
I have served in theological education, mission and outreach in a variety of dioceses across East Africa as recently as last February.
The heart of the Church of England is the parochial system, giving it the framework to minister to all, through occasional offices, week by week worship, and wider mission and outreach.
However, they are a key witness to the life and work of the church in the local community, and often provide many opportunities for mission and outreach in the local community.
07398 102428 [email protected] (<-- Click to email me!) My policy summary: Passionate about inclusivity in all areas Supporter of missional outreach Believer in clergy and their place in communities Calling for robust safeguarding and church safeguarding reform Advocate for climate and ecological care by the the CofE and Church Commissioners
Our Parish Church is hugely exercised by many problems that many other churches experience and we have undertaken the enormous task of raising huge funds to refurbish and restore the building so we can extend the outreach to our whole village.