The Initial "Engage" stage of the Fit for Mission journey was a time for exploration and curiosity, as PCCs, lay leaders and clergy facross our deanery examined their hopes and questions about what a shared vision of a larger parish may look like. This stage concluded with each PCC voting. The results were announced across the deanery on Sunday 17th March with the statement below.
“I would like to thank all of the parishes of Liverpool South for their active engagement in the Fit for Mission discernment journey. Relationships have been made, renewed and strengthened across the Deanery and we look forward, together, to continuing our mission, ministry and life together in God’s service.” Nicola Milford, Area Dean
Following voting by the PCC’s of Liverpool South Deanery on 4th and 5th of March, on the Diocesan Fit for Mission initiative, the following Churches have decided to enter into the next stage noting concerns and barriers which need addressing over the course of the next year to eighteen months:
- St. Anne’s Aigburth,
- All Hallows Allerton,
- Gateacre Team,
Grassendale St. Mary’s,
- St. Mary’s and St. Nicholas Halewood,
- St. Hilda’s Hunts Cross,
- Mossley Hill,
- St. Aidan with All Saints, Speke.
This forms a viable cohort to move forward.
The following churches have decided not to go forward with the Fit for Mission initiative but remain fully committed to the mission and ministry of Liverpool South Deanery:
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St. Michael’s, Garston
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St. Peter’s Much Woolton
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Penny Lane St. Barnabas
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All Saints Childwall
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All Souls Springwood
The Deanery Synod of Liverpool South, which meets on 25th April, will be asked to affirm these worshipping communities as they move forward together and encourage every part of the deanery to continue in fellowship and collaboration. The next steps for those continuing with Fit for Mission will be for a, Navigation Team to be established to work and ministry with the Change Lead, Rev Phil Saltmarsh and Change Facilitator, Lisa Gilligan. This will consist of Laity and Clergy from across the churches who have decided to move forward with Fit for Mission.
"Following a lengthy period of discernment, I was pleased to see that 12 of the 17 churches in the South Liverpool Deanery have voted to move into the next phase of Fit for Mission.
This has been a challenging journey for our PCC’s and the range of options that have been reached through the voting process serves to highlight the degree of work that still needs to be undertaken in the “Working as If” period as we seek to find consensus.
We have certainly learnt a lot through the initial stages of the Fit for Mission process and as we move forward it is imperative that both the Clergy and Laity work together through the Navigation Team and Project Team to ensure the clarity and leadership that will be essential in delivering a positive outcome." Ian Crowe, Lay Dean
To find out more about Fit for Mission visit the Diocesan Website.