Strategy

Strategy

The Diocese of Ely has a strategy for growth right through to the year 2025 - People Fully Alive: Ely 2025

Download the document by clicking here and the associated Resource Manual by clicking here.  

Why have a strategy?

It’s important to think about what we want our church communities to look like in the future.

Change, growth and regeneration can be uncomfortable, but also exciting!

The strategy document, People Fully Alive, is here to reassure us and show us that change is possible if we are to keep growing and adapting to the needs of our communities.

Together with the Resource Manual, we can implement important changes, making good judgements and decisions for our parishes.

Who developed the strategy?

By consulting with and listening to voices of parishes, schools and other groups from right across the diocese, we can be sure that plans for the future will remain sensitive to the needs of our communities. The University of Cambridge Judge Business School helped to collect the data, analyse and produce a report about it.

The Ven Hugh McCurdy, Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech said, 'The strategy in its final format has been shaped by the 2000 plus people who attended a series of consultation roadshows...There is an overwhelming desire to cherish the past but to invest in the future and that is both tremendously exciting, but hugely challenging.'

What are the key points of the strategy?

It complements the diocesan vision, 'to be generous and visible people of Jesus Christ'.

There are three imperatives which we have added to commit to:

• Engage fully and courageously with the needs of our communities, locally and globally
• Grow God's church by finding disciples and nurturing leaders
• Deepen our commitment to God through word, worship and prayer

How does this affect me?

Decisions about how your church serves its community for the next few years, or about the Church of England school in your parish, will be affected by this strategy in some way. The diocesan leaders and officers who support your church or school focus their support, and the available grants and funding, accordingly too. Everyone has a part to play in bringing the strategy to life and the vision to reality.

Where will the money come from to help us make changes?

There is a mission fund set aside for this purpose. Find out more about this.

How might we have to change?

Church communities are asked to think and pray about this, but the diocesan consultation presented five key elements that will make the biggest difference to growth:

• Nurturing a confident people of God
• Developing healthy churches and leaders
• Serving the community
• Re-imagining our buildings
• Targeting support to key areas

Known as the five Levers of Change, they are detailed thoroughly in People Fully Alive: Ely 2025 and strategies are listed with a prayer offered for each theme.