Mission Action Plans (MAP)
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Mission Action Toolkit
The Mission Action Toolkit is a set of resources that can help any church, of whatever tradition, size, context or type, to join in with responding to the missional aims of the Diocesan Vision. If you would like to know more about the Diocesan Vision and its missional aims, you can do so here.
The Toolkit is based on Mission Action Planning for the Diocese of Derby, which we have been using since 2010 to help churches grow as healthy, worshipping communities that engage in God's mission in the world. However, it is a more focused, streamlined toolkit that is flexible and light-tough enough for any church to use. Churches can use the Toolkit in many different ways and adapt it to suit their own context and style.
The Toolkit isn't another thing to do or an extra initiative. It is a process to help with that which has always been central to the identity, calling and purpose of every single expression of church - to engage in God's mission in the world. It can help churches to acknowledge and celebrate what God is already doing in and through them in mission, and to hear God's call to grow and develop in their mission further.
The Toolkit consists of six core resources, which are all downloadable below. More resources will be added in the future, and all the resources of the existing full MAP process, found in these pages, are also available to use with the Mission Action Toolkit.
- Quick Start Guide - an accessible introduction to the Mission Action Toolkit, suitable for anyone in the church.
- Introduction for Church Leaders - a more detailed guide intended for use by any church leader, lay or ordained.
- Missional Aims Summary - a single-sheet overview of the different aspects of each missional aim.
- Resource Sheets - a rich set of theological reflections, discussion questions, prayers and ideas for actions for every aspect of our missional aims.
- Questionnaire - one way in which to gather information from the church as a part of the Mission Action Toolkit process.
- Action Sheet - a way of recording and tracking the actions a church decides to undertake.
The Mission Action Toolkit is designed to be adapted and used independently by any church. However, help and support is available to help churches as they use the Toolkit. To find help, please send an email to missioner@derby.anglican.org.
Missional aims videos
Please watch and enjoy these five-minute videos, each offering a light Biblical reflection by Revd Jason Kennedy on one aspect of our missional aims, ‘Transformed Lives’, 'Growing Church' and 'Building Community'.
They form a part of the Mission Action Toolkit, which helps churches to engage with God’s mission in an approachable, practical and flexible way.
The videos can be used for individual reflection, as a light sermon or an introduction to a conversation in small groups or, for example, a Lent group.
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Help and Information
For more help and information about MAP for the Diocese of Derby, please please send an email to missioner@derby.anglican.org.
What is MAP?
MAP stands for Mission Action Planning. The main purpose of MAP is to listen and discern the will of God for your church and its community. It is about looking at what is happening in your parish and as a church community considering the direction that you think your church should be heading. Once you have established a vision for your church you then set yourselves priorities for your church for each of the following 3 years and then plan the specific steps you need to take to deliver these goals. At the end of each year we will ask you to review your action so that you can adjust your plan accordingly.
Finding the right direction for your Church
Let’s imagine someone has a free day and they want to go on a new walk. They get out their map and need to consider the following:
1. Where will they start from?
2. Where are they going, what is their destination?
3. What’s the best way to get there?
4. What do they need to do now?
Well that’s exactly the process we follow for mission action planning:
As churches begin to consider where God is calling them, what direction they should take and which path they should follow, then these same questions are relevant.
What is Mission Action Planning (MAP)?
A MAP is an action plan for mission in your church. It is produced after much prayer and discerning God’s calling for your Church and community. The plan describes your vision for your Church. It also gives the long and short term priorities that you have decided will implement your vision. The plan will need to be reviewed and updated regularly and should be revised every 3 years.
“In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them
and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”
Stage 1: Where are we starting from?
What is our Church like? What links do we have with the community?
As individuals and as a church:
Spirituality – How is our Christian faith developing?
Discipleship – as followers of Jesus how are our lives standing out in a crowd?
Evangelism – How do we talk about what our Christian faith means for us?
Engagement – How are we salt and light in the world and our local community?
Stage 2: Where are we going?
What do we believe that God will do amongst us?
Where would we like to be in three years time?
After considering these:
What is your 3 year vision?
Stage 3: What’s the best way to get there?
What are our priorities?
Who will take action?
Stage 4: What do we need to do now?
Are we support the people involved in delivering our plan?
Are we organised to do it?
As part of our commitment to growth, we ask every church to create a Mission Action Plan (MAP). We want to make our communities and those beyond the church a greater priority and to prayerfully and strategically consider how we relate to them.
Approximately 85% of parishes in the diocese have now produced a Mission Action Plan, many more are in the process of launching their MAP.
Our prayer is that every one of us in Derby Diocese have that real sense of joy of working together for the glory of God through the MAP process over the coming years.
For more information please contact:
Revd Lee Townend, Church Growth Officer, 01332 388668 or email lee.townend@derby.anglican.org
