Pastoral Vision
Bishop Michael writes:
“You mark out my journeys and my resting places and are acquainted with all my ways.”
“Our Calling under God” is to “bear fruit and be our Lord’s disciples”.
This has to be the “end” towards which all our proper concern for the character of our church life and for our (re-) ordering of ministries and resources is directed.”
So what is it to bear fruit and be Our Lord’s disciples?
Firstly, as St Paul sets out, it is to display the fruits of the spirit – love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.
Secondly, it is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ that those who hear may respond to His love. Finally, we are called to represent him, and engage with others, in contemporary and Biblical issues surrounding the care of the poor and weak; the responsible use of earth’s resources; our reflections of His love in our sexual relationships and families; and making a reality of the Peace of Christ in which we may all flourish.
In doing these things, we shall serve God’s mission in Christ, recalling and reconciling creation to Himself, which is Our Mission under God.
Our Calling under God
A pivotal moment in the Diocesan family's shared journey of discipleship took place in April 2006 at the Diocese's first conference. Since then a process of mission audit has been taking place to listen and develop action plans to take forward the churches' role in God's work.
Bishop Michael said: "It marked the conclusion of a period of deliberate listening and reflecting together on our response to the changing nature of ministry and our aspirations for growth in all the communities we serve together. It was also a clear commitment to seek, as a family, 'Our Calling under God' and to offer support and encouragement to each other so that we may all bear fruit wherever we are called to serve."
He added: "As Diocesan Bishop, and with my colleagues Bishop Trevor and Bishop Paul, I was freshly aware from the Conference of the wealth of gifts and commitments to the work of the Gospel which exists across our Diocese. God has indeed blessed us with the abundant riches to achieve all that He is asking of us. It is for us to ensure that we seek them out and share them, so that even the hard places can bear fruit. For we are called to support the weak and vulnerable and to be good stewards of God’s world and His blessings."