Life in Christ Church Dore A

Role Description

Details of Post

Role Title: Oversight Minister in the Abbeydale, Dore, Totley & Millhouses Mission Area and Priest in Charge of Christ Church Dore

Name of Benefices: Christ Church Dore (Principal responsibility) All Saints Totley Abbeydale & Millhouses (St John Abbeydale and Holy Trinity Millhouses)

Deanery: Ecclesall

Archdeaconry: Sheffield and Rotherham

Context

The role of Oversight Minister is to work in partnership with the Bishop, fellow Clergy and Lay Leaders, and all the baptised members of the diocese of Sheffield, to help realise the Diocesan strategy to be a flourishing and generous Diocese of Sheffield by 2025: Renewed, Released and Rejuvenated!

We seek to be a Diocese Renewed in the grace and power of God, by a constant reliance on the Holy Spirit. We seek to be a Diocese Released from the constraints which hold us back from mission, and released, as the whole people of God for the whole mission of God. We seek to be a Diocese Rejuvenated — partly through a dedicated and sustained programme of outreach to families, children and young people, and partly through the creation of 75 new congregations, including 25 in our church schools.

The Parish of Dore is set within an active Mission Area which also includes the parishes of All Saints Totley and Abbeydale & Millhouses (St John the Evangelist & Holy Trinity). This mission area is served by two stipendiary clergy, who share in the oversight of the whole mission area with specific principal responsibilities. Whilst the previous incumbent of Dore was also Priest in Charge of All Saints Totley, the bishop is currently in advanced discussions that should lead to an additional stipendiary oversight minister appointment in the mission area with principal responsibility for Totley. In the unlikely eventuality this does not come fruition, the Priest in Charge of Dore would also be licensed as the Priest in Charge of Totley, with principal responsibility for both parishes.

Role Purpose

The role of the stipendiary incumbent is defined ‘semi-episcopally’ as an Oversight Minister, to work collaboratively with others in four interrelated ways:

1. To oversee mission and ministry in the Mission Area, managing change and providing vision, direction and leadership;

2. To grow a healthy church, watching over the well-being of the whole people of God and equipping them for the whole mission of God;

3. To ensure mission and ministry in the Mission Area reflects the Christian faith as understood in the Church of England;

4. To keep watch over the leaders in the Mission Area.

General Responsibilities

Oversight Ministers will oversee mission and ministry across the Mission Area, providing vision, direction and leadership for a cluster of existing and new congregations. Some Mission Areas will be served by two or more Oversight Ministers working collegially, while others will be served by one, according to size and context. Working closely with the Associate Archdeacon Transition Enabler, as the new diocesan structures are implemented, they will draw others into a constructive process of change. With a commitment to collaborative teamwork at every level, they will build and enable Focal Ministry teams for each congregation and a Mission Area leadership team. They will work particularly closely with Focal Ministers, providing supervision, support and mentoring.

At the heart of their work will be growing outward-facing Christian communities which demonstrate the love of God and His Kingdom.

Oversight Ministers will play a key role in sustaining a healthy church, through equipping and resourcing lay leaders, volunteers and whole congregations. They will work with Focal Ministers and other leaders, ensuring provision for the worshipping life of the church and for learning for discipleship and mission. In collaboration with St Peter’s College, they will identify and as appropriate provide training for individuals and groups in order to build up the mission and ministry of the Body of Christ.

They will support the churches in developing their understanding of faith and practice in the Church of England, the Five Marks of Mission, the Diocesan Strategy, and the way this is lived out in the local context. Oversight Ministers will act as a channel between church, Mission Area and diocese, facilitating healthy working relationships and ensuring full compliance with Diocesan policies, accessing deanery and central services support. They will ensure the ministry and mission of each church is rooted in prayer. They will lead by example in self-care and in personal ministerial development, supporting and enabling all leaders to do the same.

This model of ministry maintains our commitment to having a worshipping Christian community in every place, which makes disciples and seeks to transform our society and God’s world. The key challenge is to achieve a culture change, in which every Christian is mobilised for the service of God in the world. The exact outworking of the role of an Oversight Minister will vary according to context, but will exhibit the same priorities in all places. Collaborative working will be an essential quality and practice, comprising a number of inter-related ministries and mission communities:

Within the Diocese

● Diocesan Bishop and Suffragan Bishop; ● Parish Support Team; ● Archdeacons; ● 6 Deanery Areas; ● Associate Archdeacon Transition Enabler ● Area Deans; ● St Peter’s College.

Within each Mission Area

● Focal Ministers (lay or ordained); ● Leadership Teams comprising ordained & authorised lay ministers; ● Churchwardens and PCCs; ● Existing and new church congregations; ● Church schools.

Specific Responsibilities

1. To oversee mission and ministry in the Mission Area, managing change and providing vision, direction and leadership:

● To share with the Bishops the cure of souls in the Mission Area; ● To lead through change: starting from the current context, drawing others to engage in a constructive process of transformation, including positive engagement with conflict and resolving disputes; ● To foster the culture and practice of collaboration and teamwork; ● To provide oversight, guidance and leadership for the Mission Area leadership team and for the Focal Ministry teams, in the discernment and implementation of vision; ● To develop Mission Action Plans for the Mission Area, focussing on releasing and enabling leaders, facilitating new congregations and refreshing inherited congregations; ● To be the Priest in Charge in the Parish of Christ Church Dore, having regard to the calling and responsibilities of the clergy as described in the Canons, the Ordinal, the Guidelines for Professional Conduct of Clergy, and other relevant legislation and guidance.

2. To grow a healthy church, watching over the well-being of the whole people of God and equipping them for the whole mission of God:

● To support the churches and congregations in the Mission Area in the core practices of a healthy church; ● To encourage and resource the people of God in their growth as missional disciples; ● To be a leader in mission, modelling good practice and giving confidence to all God’s people in sharing in mission and evangelism; ● To seek to grow new congregations; ● To ensure the Mission Area and its congregations are sustained through the ministry of word and sacrament; ● To discern, release and develop the gifts of others;

● To ensure that the people of God are equipped to make Christ known; ● To provide regular support, supervision and mentoring for Focal Ministers, so that the mission and ministry of the local churches is sustained.

3. To ensure mission and ministry in the Mission Area reflects the Christian faith as understood in the Church of England:

● To foster a working understanding of Christian faith and practice in the Church of England; ● To attend to and advance the priorities described in the Diocesan Strategy of Renewed, Released, Rejuvenated; ● To ensure excellence in safeguarding and care for all God’s people, and full compliance with Diocesan and national Safeguarding guidelines, policy and procedures; ● To maintain good stewardship of finance, resources and administration, accessing deanery and central services support; ● To facilitate healthy and effective working relationships within and between the congregations, Mission Area, deanery and diocese; ● To be the person to whom Focal Ministers are accountable.

4. To keep watch over the leaders in the Mission Area:

● To hold the Mission Area before God in prayer; ● To lead by example, participating in the diocesan programme of learning and to engage in support and supervision for Oversight Ministers with the Associate Archdeacon and St Peter’s college; ● To support and enable Focal Ministers and other leaders in reflective practice, learning and personal development; ● To facilitate opportunities for learning as appropriate in the church / Mission Area; ● To support leaders in their practice of self-care, attending to their self-understanding, patterns of life and ministry, their spiritual life, and their desire to continue growing; ● To monitor individual learning plans for Focal Ministers, reviewing their learning needs and helping them develop and use the tools and skills of reflective practice.

Self Care

The Bishops are committed to the health and wellbeing of all lay and ordained leaders in the Diocese.

This is a demanding role and the post holder is encouraged to work within the pastoral guidelines issued by the Bishops on holiday entitlement and time off.

Person Specification An Ordained Minister

Qualifications ● In Holy Orders for not less than three years; and personal ● Recommended by their Bishop as suitable for Common Tenure Primary attributes Responsibility; ● Experienced in leadership; ● Able to demonstrate the calling, character, gifts and skills to oversee a number of local churches and ecclesial communities in a range of parishes, institutions and networks;

● Shows capacity to foster collaboration between lay and ordained ministers (licensed, commissioned and authorised) and lay leaders; ● Committed to mutual flourishing envisaged in the Five Guiding Principles.

Character ● Models leadership on the example of Christ ● Collaborative ● Excited about mission and the diocesan vision and strategy ● Committed to the breadth of tradition in the Church of England and mutual flourishing, whilst fully supporting the equal ministry of men and women. ● Strong and mature personal faith, nourished by well-established patterns of prayer, worship, reflection and study ● Accountable ● Open to life long learning and development ● Recognised as resilient, stable and trustworthy ● Self-aware and self-accepting ● Cares for self and for key personal relationships

Experience ● Leading, managing and consolidating change ● Conflict management ● Building and facilitating teams, shared decision-making ● Entrepreneurial skills, including responsible risk-taking ● Holding the big picture

● Energising and enabling others in forming vision and in strategic planning

● Working collaboratively, exercising accountability and delegation ● Encouraging trust in God ● Discerning, nurturing and developing the skills of others ● Enabling others in reflection, review and developing the mission and ministry of the church ● Building community through relationships of trust

● Inter-personal skills, including listening, communication, and exercising emotional intelligence ● Organisational skills and administration ● Working with different generations and inter-generationally ● Helping others shape and engage in mission and evangelism appropriate to the local context ● Pastoral supervision and reflective practice ● Coaching and mentoring ● Working with different theological perspectives, church tradition, culture and life experience ● Knowledge, understanding and experience of diocesan and church structures, policies, and practices including Safeguarding, finance and governance ● Initiating and enabling working relationships between church, Mission Area, deanery and diocese ● Handling a complex workload, prioritising and balancing competing demands ● Taking responsibility for personal well-being and nurture ● Enabling others in their practice of self-care and personal development ● Making appropriate pastoral provision for leaders

PARISH PROFILE Christ Church Dore

Welcome to our Church

Deanery of Ecclesall Mission area of Dore, Totley, Abbeydale and Millhouses Mission Action Plan – (covid & post covid world) Our principal aimis to rejuvenate,we need to grow in the age range 20 to 40 years, families and children The action plan is aimed at developing new actionsand initiativesthat will grow our mission. The absence of current activities does not mean they are unimportant, they are expected toIntroduction continue their effective mission. There will need to be at least two people to take ownership of each area.

Prayer Children’s work Worship through Outreach MissionPastoral Mission Sense of The parishmus of icDore is looking to recruit a Priest in Charge/ Community Develop our Develop the work Music group to Be able to answer the Develop & train pastoral Celebrate diversity prayer culture with Toddlers meet to review question:’ What does mission teams to in our church e.g. through be facilitatOversightors in musMinisteric at 10am with a missionalJesus mean toheart. me? We arec omplimentlooking forthe pastoral community e.g teaching, example, specific activities in service e.g. future team , covering : Black Lives Matter opportunity, our localitysomeone , be whodirect iocann work creativelyInvestigate whtoat providesort of inspirational Baptis m family meetings , develop supportive course we could offer preparation & Create the WhatsApp leadershipMusi andc atspiritual 5:30 to be empowerment, exploring faith &/or thus enabling thesuppor t opportunities for prayer group to Redevelop reviewed with discipleship Bereavement church to eat include regular relationships with congregation visiting &people together prayer for the Dore Primpeopleary of e.Godg. org toan/ keflourishyboard, Exandplore grow funding in afaith. Family We are lookingwho are dying e.g. at services, church School choir, hymns & Children’s worker Weddings church social Make the moforst someoneof any who loves God, loves people and is Expassionateplore with curre nt events, celebrate opportunity /activity to ( Perhaps the E.g. Encourage people to pastoral team out of lockdown, Keep the PPR engage witabouth the sharingpeopl ethe invo lvgooded wit hnews comple ofte Jesus the ‘ Shining Christ. as coffee morning session a core school e.g. make music could look at lights’ course from the Continue to support and offering to the them aware of church this ) diocese. Encourage encourage individuals in Explore purposeful church & community special events membership of their pastoral work through activities to embrace fellowship groups their daily lives all the church eg “Ministry must be faithful and fruitful and God e.expectsg. through tebothaching , art/craft Continue to mark church encouragement, examples from us.” & community events Aware of unequal inside & outside the access to digital building technology . View to The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren. work in partnership Identify & welcome new with other agencies people ( virtual & face to e.g. Age UK face) eg.new person coffee room

'DWHG Green = on previous MAP Purple = new additions. Time line : to be achieved in 2021 if possible

2 Contents

1. Welcome from our Churchwardens

2. Letter from the Bishops of Sheffield and Doncaster

3. The Opportunity

4. Christ Church Dore a. Worship and Prayer b. Special services c. The Church Building d. Church membership e. Mission and Evangelism f. Dore g. Black Lives Matter h. Finances i. The Church Year in Dore 5. Life in Christ Church Dore a. Children and young people’s work b. Newsletter c. House groups d. Pastoral care e. Mothers Union f. Ladies Group g. Baby and Toddlers Group h. Walking Group

6. Weaknesses 7. Meet the Team 8. The Vicarage 9. Christ Church Dore Community Centre 10. Other Churches in the Mission Area

3 Letter from our Churchwardens 1

By now you will have read the advert and may have explored our website and visited our Facebook page. We therefore hope that you are keen to know more.

As a Church we are passionate about our faith and want to grow personally and outwardly through the Spirit living in us. We may not numerically be the largest of Churches, but the love within our community and potential for growth is huge.

We have been in an interregnum for over two years. Sadly, a few months after this began, our curate, Neil, suddenly died. Despite the challenges of the interregnum we have not stood still and, indeed, it has been a period of growth. Many people have stepped forward to help in the life of the Church. In particular, the numbers attending our online Sunday morning service during the pandemic have grown. We have also become closer as a Church community, despite the challenges of Covid-19 restrictions.

We believe that God is speaking to us afresh regarding mission and our emphasis is on looking outwards to meet people where they are. We are aware that behind the curtains some people are lost and broken. In consultation with our Church family we have recently reviewed and renewed our Mission Action Plan (MAP). Our MAP helps us focus on how we can, individually and as a church, serve God. We understand that we are on a journey together to share God’s love and the saving power of Christ with the people of Dore and beyond. We are therefore eager for someone to lead and walk alongside us on this journey. This will entail change. We are ready to seek and see what God has for us as individuals, and our community

We look forward to getting to know you.

With love and prayers on behalf of the Church family at Dore,

Alison & Julia

4 2

Letter from the Bishops of Sheffield and Doncaster

Dear Friend,

There is no denying it: these are challenging ti mes in the Diocese of Sheffi eld. But by the same token, these are exciti ng ti mes for us. No-one has any doubt that in 2029 the Church of England in South Yorkshire and the East Riding will look very diff erent from the way it is now — but equally no-one is yet very clear about the shape it will take. Our plan is an am- biti ous one and we are hungry for change. We are asking tough questi ons. Will the whole people of God be mobilised for the whole mission of God? What will morale be like, among key lay and ordained leaders? Will att endance fi gures be in decline or growing? Will there be more sti pendiary incumbents or fewer? Will there be more congregati ons or fewer? Will we raise up a dynamic community of ‘Lights for Christ’? Will we grow a praying community of 2025 by 2025? These questi ons were already pressing ones for us before the present pandemic: they will surely be even more urgent for us now.

5 In this context, the appointment of a new ‘Oversight Minister’ for the Mission Area of Dore, Totley, Abbeydale and Millhouses, in the Deanery of Ecclesall (twinned with Att ercliff e Deanery) is therefore all the more important. The community of faith in the parish of Dore (where this ministry will be most focused) are profoundly realisti c about the missional challenges they face, but are equally excited about the huge opportuniti es open to them within their diverse communiti es. We share their longing to see the church of Christ fl ourish here – with every person who is bapti zed confi dent to shine as a light for Christ in the world to the glory of God the Father.

In this Gospel adventure for the sake of the coming kingdom of God, the leadership of these church families is going to be vital. It will require someone who is able to exercise an enabling oversight, with a passion for teamwork, for developing leaders and for empow- ering the whole people of God for the whole mission of God. It will require someone able to raise up leaders to take on responsibiliti es as ‘focal leaders’ in every congregati on and someone who understands that overseeing the ministry of the body of Christ does not mean doing everything personally, but releasing the gift s and ministries of others.

We are praying that the Lord will bring to us a person with a strong sense of vocati on to this task at this ti me; a person of faith and hope and love in God; a person who laughs easily and has a zest for life in Christ; a person with a sense of adventure, unafraid of failure and reliant on the grace of the Holy Spirit. If that might be you, we would love to explore with you the possibility that the Lord is calling you to this role.

With every blessing

The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox The Rt Revd Sophie Jelley Bishop of Sheﬃ eld Bishop of Doncaster

6 The Opportunity 3 The Diocese of Sheffield is made up of Church of England organisations located throughout South Yorkshire and the southern parts of the East Riding of Yorkshire. It comprises parishes, schools, chaplaincies, missional communities and other organisations all united by their common Christian faith.

It is an Anglican diocese that is made up of a diverse community of mission-focused people who are seeking to transform their lives, and the lives of others, by sharing the Christian faith. Since the creation of the diocese in 1914, the shape of the villages, towns and cities may have changed but the people are still vibrant, energetic and passionate about serving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Vision

As a diocese we have been “called to grow a sustainable network of Christ-like, lively and diverse Christian communities in every place which are effective in making disciples and in seeking to transform our society and God’s world”. Every day around the diocese, dedicated, creative and passionate people are working together in the mission of God, who long to see the Body of Christ grow in depth and in numbers. We long to see every disciple and the whole Church serving our wider society as salt and light.

From the Archdeacon

The Diocese of Sheffield is undergoing an exciting transition to a model of larger Mission Areas, usually encompassing several parishes, with shared ordained Oversight Ministry and largely (but not exclusively) lay-led Focal Ministry teams serving each congregation.

The Parish of Dore is set within an active Mission Area which also includes the parishes of All Saints Totley and Abbeydale & Millhouses (St John the Evangelist & Holy Trinity).

With an appointment process for a new Oversight Minister to be based at Abbeydale & Millhouses commencing later this year, together with emerging from the year-long COVID-19 restrictions, the newly appointed Oversight Minister at Dore will embark on their ministry at a time of new beginnings, where fresh and creative approaches to forming and developing lay ministries and new missional opportunities will be very much to the fore.

The Bishop’s Senior Staff Team is wholly committed to supporting the transition process through the appointment of Associate Archdeacon-Transition Enablers to serve each twinned deanery and a range of other locally deployed posts to help parishes and Mission Areas develop systems that are fit for purpose.

This includes support in the discernment and equipping of Focal Ministers, and the development of a collaborative approach that releases the whole people of God for the whole mission of God. We are confident that ordained priests, who are keen to work with others in developing new approaches to mission and ministry, will find this an energising and

7 creative environment in which their gifts and passions can be fully exercised. Our hope is that our Mission Area, and the parishes that constitute it, will be active in trying new things and learning from other contexts across the diocese at this exciting time.

Oversight Ministers will work closely with the Archdeacon, Associate Archdeacon-Transition Enabler and colleagues from Church House including our Parish Support team. As the new diocesan, strategy, plan and structures are implemented, they will draw others into a constructive process of change. With a commitment to collaborative teamwork at every level, they will build and enable Focal Ministry teams for each congregation and a Mission Area leadership team. They will work particularly closely with Focal Ministers and other Leaders providing supervision, support and mentoring. In turn they will be supported and mentored by their Associate Archdeacon Transition Enabler.

At the heart of their work Oversight Ministers will be growing outward-facing Christian communities which demonstrate the love of God and His Kingdom to be “Lights for Christ” in the local communities and the world. The Oversight Ministers will support the churches in developing their understanding of faith and practice in the Church of England, the Five Marks of Mission, the Diocesan Strategy (Renewed, Released, Rejuvenated), and the way this is lived out in the local context.

From the Area Dean

Ecclesall Deanery is made up of 16 parishes which are variously grouped into Mission areas or Bishops mission orders. We are in the very early stages of working with our twinned Deanery of Attercliffe for the purposes of engaging with the wider transition narrative the diocese is engaged in.

There is a strong emphasis on mutual support in ministry, and in wrestling with how best to carry forward the many changes that are needed to equip Churches for the future. There is a variety of geographical settings in the deanery from more spacious rural-like settings to city centre Churches. The full ecclesiastical spectrum is represented and there is one local ecumenical project.

Christchurch Dore is on the far western edge of the Deanery of Ecclesall, where I have found in my appointment as Area Dean, there is a lot of keen friendly support amongst the clergy. The Deanery comprises many different outlooks and approaches to ministry and mission, but all are keen to be supportive and share ministry where possible. I make it a priority to be a listening ear to any concerns clergy or parishes may have, and with others across the Diocese who support the work of Parishes, to share wisdom from many years of Parochially and Diocesan based ministry. You are entering the Deanery and Diocese at a time of significant change and your own contribution would be welcome. I am personally committed to helping you find your feet and be fruitful.

8 Christ Church and Dore 4 Worship and Prayer Pre-pandemic We have provided opportunity for worshipping in a variety of different styles: • All age Service of the Word or Holy Communion at 10am. At the end of 2019 we introduced ‘Godly Play’ to these services. • This service was followed by refreshments and the majority of the congregation would stay and chat. • Evening Prayer or Holy Communion at 5.30pm, each Sunday • BCP Holy Communion at 8.30am, twice monthly. • Thursdays at 10.30am: spoken Communion service. • In addition to these services, the Church building was open daily from 9am until about 5pm for personal prayers and reflection

During the pandemic

In March 2020 the Church building was closed for all services due to the pandemic. We moved to a live interactive 10am online service (tinyurl.com/ccdservice) using Google Meet. This step in faith has been associated with many positive benefits including greater interaction with the church family, use of technology and online resources (such as recorded music, YouTube Clips etc), and refreshment of our approach to sung worship. It has also

9 stimulated many members of the congregation to “step up” and volunteer for roles such as welcome, reading, prayer and service leading. We have also been fortunate to have support from local retired clergy. This service has been very well attended throughout, bringing in new faces to our regular congregation, and has resulted in very positive feedback. After the 10 am service we have coffee breakout rooms in which to continue fellowship and prayer.

A smaller Wednesday morning online service started in April by one of our lay leaders, which has support from a regular group from across the congregations.

As initial lockdown restrictions were lifted in August, we introduced a weekly “Open Church” afternoon which has been a successful outreach initiative. People passing by are welcomed and offered prayer ministry as they chat with us. Many new people have been coming into the church building for prayer and reflection. We have been amazed how God has used this opportunity for connection within the local community.

In September we recommenced Evening Prayer at 5.30pm, with restricted numbers in the congregations to comply with COVID rules.

As cases of coronavirus increased at the beginning of 2021 Sunday Evening Prayer and Thursday open church had all to be stopped. We look forward to gradually reintroducing physical services as the government roadmap allows. We are thinking about what the post Covid world will look like.

Special services

As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and to commend the person into God’s keeping.

Baptisms per Year: 2019 - 17, 2020 - 2

Funerals and interments: 2019 - 18; 2020 - 1

Weddings: 2019 - 4, 2020 - 3. Planned for 2021 - 7

10 The Church Building

Christ Church Dore is situated in the centre of the village of Dore, close to Dore Primary School and King Ecgbert’s Secondary School, and surrounded by the houses, shops and pubs that make up the local community.

There had been a Chantry Chapel in Dore since c. 1175 before the present Church was built in 1828 (consecrated in 1829) by Richard Furniss, the local schoolmaster. The building is a Grade II listed building that has gone through a number of changes over the last two centuries. We are in advanced stages of gaining approval for a re-ordering plan which will bring the building into the 21st century. As a result of these works, our Church building will be a beautiful space which can be used throughout the week for the benefit of the community and our varied congregations. The re-ordering will result in a more flexible internal space, a much lighter and accessible welcome area, a new meeting room, new toilets and a new galley kitchen.

The project is seeking Sheffield City Council Planning permission and will then be submitting a Faculty application, with the ongoing help and support from the Diocesan Advisory Committee. Details of the project can be found on the church website.

Much prayer has gone into this. We are trusting in God that the building work will start in 2022.

Artist impressions of the new West entry door and Church interior

Church Membership

Data for membership and attendances during 2019 and 2020 are summarised below. Clearly, data for 2020 are very different as compared with 2019.

Electoral Roll Members: 130

Average Number of Weekly attendees: 2019: 90 (across all services) 2020: 80 (online service) 12 for the small evening services we were able to hold during the short period where this was possible. 11 Mission and Evangelism

Jesus said to his followers “Go everywhere in the world and tell the Good News to everyone”. Mark 16:15

Our current mission statement states: Christ Church Dore invites everyone: To worship and to learning that renews and refreshes our relationship with God, To be a member of the family of God’s people, to meet and provide mutual help and support, To be an agent of the Christian gospel in the wider community.

The PCC is asking whether this is still our vision. Our recent thinking towards mission has been informed by Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose Driven Church’. As a Church we are committed to sharing Jesus’ good news with as many people as possible, enabling them to develop faith which is deep, relevant and life-changing. One of the members of our Church reports a prophetic word that God is at work with His “Refiner’s Fire.” Consistent with this, both our interregnum and the pandemic have resulted in a time of reflection and spiritual growth in many people across our congregations and we look forward to revival within our wider community. To help us in this undertaking, the 2019 Mission Action Plan has been reviewed and revised in January 2021 and can be seen in Appendix 1.

We have an annual Gift Day to raise money to give to our six World Mission partners. Our mission partners are • Mothers’ Union Overseas Fund • Tearfund • CMS supporting the Day family in Thailand • The Oakes Centre, Sheffield • Friends International in Cambridge • Wycliffe Bible Translators supporting Hazel Gray who was a young member of our congregation

For 2020 we held a Virtual Harvest’ online, with financial donations received rather the usual food and toiletries. The money raised was shared between the Archer Project and the Grace Foodbank on the Lowedges estate in Sheffield. A number of church members are regular volunteers at Grace Food Bank and we have a collection box in the Church porch for donations.

12 For many years we have supported the Genesis Project which provides good quality second hand clothes, toys and other items to their charity shop in one of the more deprived areas of Sheffield. This closed like many other similar enterprises during the pandemic. A member of our congregation who has been our contact with Genesis over the years, brought to our attention that they were reopening in December, and were desperately short of toys in particular. This was shared with our congregations and the local community, explaining how any contribution would make a big difference for Christmas for the children living in that area. The response was amazing, and eight car loads of items were taken in readiness for their opening at the start of December.

More information about Dore and Sheffield

Sheffield is a very varied city, emerging from its industrial heritage to become a centre for engineering, arts, music and higher education. There are 138 primary schools, 37 secondary schools and 12 special and alternative schools. It has 2 universities: the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

The village of Dore was part of Derbyshire until the 1930s when it was incorporated into the City of Sheffield. It lies on the edge of the city looking out across the city, and back onto moorland, on the edge of the Peak District National Park. This history gives us a mix of an affluent Sheffield suburb with an English village, with many of the traditions preserved. Cycling, running and walking are major leisure activities. The annual Sheffield Half Marathon passes through the centre of the village. The quality of life here is high, and many parishioners are active well into their nineties.

13 Dore and Totley ward is an affluent area, ranked 26th out of 28 areas in terms of deprivation. Thirty-two percent are in professional occupations with significant numbers working in health and education. Despite this affluence there is still significant social need; for example, 30% of people live alone and there is a significant elderly population. There are currently 18,331 people living in the Dore and Totley ward, over one third of whom live in Dore itself. There were only 130 people on the electoral roll in 2020. Although there are other Christian Churches in Dore, these data demonstrate that there are significant numbers of people in our community who do not regularly worship and likely do not associate themselves with the Christian faith. Age distribution within Dore and Totley as compared with regular attenders at Christ Church Dore is described below:

We are fully aware of the disconnect between the age of our Church family and the wider community and this has informed our MAP. Our principal aim is to rejuvenate; we particularly need to grow in the age range 20-40 years, families and children.

14 Black Lives Matter (BLM) Dore comprises a predominantly white population with only 4.5% of people from a BAME background. Nevertheless , we were very troubled by the events in June 2020 and are committed to becoming better informed on BLM issues and history. BLM is a standing item on the PCC agenda and the PCC members have been reading about Black British history. We are also exploring linking up with a more diverse church community in the city centre.

Church Finances Information about our financial balance can be found on the Charity Commission website. Charity No 1128106

The Church Year in Dore It is noticeable that although there is a low rate of regular Church attendance amongst the population of Dore, there are quite high levels of interaction at certain times through the year.

Mothering Sunday. There would usually be a special service in Church with a distribution of posies for mothers and carers. This year, we had a thanksgiving wall netting and invited the congregation and local community to add flowers and cards to remember their loved ones.

During Lent in the lead up to Easter we have joined with the Arise Sheffield 2021 initiative across the city. An Easter card is being sent to every address in Sheffield. Many of our congregation have been prayer walking and joining in the Arise zoom meetings. Easter eggs are to be given out in the community with the Easter message in them. Members of the church have put large wooden crosses in their front gardens. This has been a bold step of faith for us as individuals and a church. Our Lent Box appeal for 2020 raised money for the Furnival Burngreave Community project in Sheffield. Lent Box appeal for 2021 will support the Cathedral Archer Project, looking after the homeless in Sheffield.

15 Good Friday and Easter - Pre covid, after the Good Friday service, we have a Cross of Witness in the centre of the village, where prayer requests are taken, and vigil in church. On Easter Sunday we have a service followed by an Easter egg hunt for the children. This year the services will be online , the Wooden Cross will be erected as usual for private prayer & reflection.

Easter crosses outside our homes Good Friday 2020 Dore Village

Having retained many of the traditions of an old Derbyshire village, Dore celebrates its Well Dressing with the Dore Methodist Church and uniformed organisation in July. This event launches Dore Gala fortnight, a huge coming together of the whole community, at which we have a witnessing presence.

Well dressing Dore Gala with Christ Church Gazebo

16 Memorial Service for All Souls where we invite people who have lost people close to them in the previous year to attend.

Remembrance Day - The Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial is a significant event for the village with hundreds of people attending. A parade is led by a pipe band followed by uniformed organisations. During the pandemic we put a net up on the side of the church building, to allow the community to remember their loved ones by attaching a poppy or a cross. We also held an online service in line with what would have been held at the memorial.

Remembrance poppy net for individual acts of remembrance

Christmas at Christ Church is a big event

Typically, Christmas would see us holding Christingle, Carol services, Crib services and Christmas Eve Midnight service. In 2019 we formed the Dore Community Christmas Choir with over 40 members from the Church and the wider community and held a Carol Service which was very well attended, with over 300 people crammed into church. Over 700 people attended church over the Christmas period and two Crib services had to be held on Christmas Eve to accommodate all those who wished to attend.

With lockdown over Christmas 2020, things had to be different. A member of our church had a vision from the Lord about opening up the church to the community for the purpose of retelling the birth of Jesus as saviour and king in a new and exciting way. Creative members of our church put together a ’12 Days of Christmas’ event, a video offering of readings, songs (through some members of last year’s community choir) and testament around the Christmas story.

17 Members of the church knitted a Nativity scene. With restricted numbers being allowed in church at any one time, this was run every evening for 12 days, in a COVID secure way, and gift bags with a little book telling the Christmas story, a chocolate and a knitted heart were given to everyone that attended. In total we were able to host 264 people, with the video being used as an online service on Christmas Eve in place of the usual crib services. This was a fantastic event, bringing together many people and their skills to reach out with the Good News story to our community in these dark times. The video of The Twelve Days of Christmas was put on YouTube and many more were able to view it at home extending the reach to over 500 people.

18 Life in Christ Church Dore 5 Children and Young People’s Work

Pathfinders provides secondary school-age young people with Christian teaching and fellowship. Prior to lock down, meetings would alternate between PFT (Pathfinder Tea) and PFB (Pathfinder Breakfast). On average PFT is attended by around 20 young people. Highlights for 2019 were the amazing autumn Edale weekend away together, summer games and picnics at Limb Lane, Christmas trips out, a film night and, of course, the Pathfinder Quiz evening. Pathfinders have for many years supported a girl through Compassion UK, who has now successfully reached the end of the project. The Pathfinder Quiz evening raised money and £1435 was sent to Susan as a graduation gift and support for her future. During lockdown, PFT has continued with well-attended interactive zoom meetings. The leaders are thankful for the congregation’s prayerful support, and we are grateful for their continuing commitment to this God’s work with these children.

tclub was a new initiative that started in November 2019 for children between 7-11. We were thrilled with the new sense of fun, identity and belonging which grew week by week. 3 leaders and 2 adult helpers and between 8-12 children would meet on alternate Tuesdays in term time for tea, games, Bible time, prayer and craft, all crammed in between 5-6.30 pm at the leaders house. Most of the children were not from church families but families known to us in the neighbourhood, so an important part of the groups’ work was chatting with, and getting to know the parents. Sadly, this is another group that has been put on hold during the pandemic. We hope to relaunch tclub as soon as the situation allows.

19 We have a Church Newsletter that is produced monthly, and is available to all members of the congregations, as well as being shared with cafés, pubs and other businesses around the village. It keeps the parishioners informed of important matters affecting our Church, as well as the various activities we are involved in, sharing God’s message. This news is reinforced by our news and notices on our website, A Church Near You and our Facebook Page.

Housegroups We see house groups as being vital to church life in enabling people to form deeper relationships and explore and develop their faith. We want to see this aspect of church life grow. Details of each of the groups are readily available for people to see on our website.

Pastoral care Some members of our parish are unable to attend church due to sickness or age. A member of the pastoral team visits all church members who request it, to celebrate communion with them either at their homes or in hospital. Due to Covid restrictions, many of the church family and the local community have been isolating. The church has been very supportive and watching out for people in this situation. In addition to this the church worked with the local ‘Covid-19 Community Support Group’, offering practical help to the vulnerable & isolated members in the local area. We have been very intentional in reaching out and sharing God’s love. Members of our church have baked cakes, delivered cards and flowers and said prayers on the doorstep.

Christ Church has an active Mothers Union (MU) group, with over 6o members, who would meet regularly throughout the year. Each year MU holds a Strawberry Fayre and Christmas Market to raise money for various MU funds. There have also been ‘flash’ garden parties, raising additional funds, weather permitting! In 2019, MU had a day out on the Chesterfield Canal in the summer, with a fish’n’chip lunch as we sailed along!

Sadly, they have not been able to meet this year. Many of the members are in the ‘most vulnerable’ group from a COVID perspective. However, they still managed to hold an online raffle for the MU Literacy Training Programme that raised £400.

The Christ Church Dore Ladies group provides a valuable link between the Church, the village and the wider community, providing fellowship with talks, presentations and social events through their monthly meetings. Again, they have not been able to meet due to the pandemic.

20 Another opportunity for outreach within the local community is the Baby and Toddler Group, held in the Church hall on Thursday mornings, with a Nativity service held at Christmas. This is very well attended, with upward of 40 children and their carers sharing play and fellowship. MU ladies provide refreshments, a critical support for the fun and games! Quoting from the Toddler Group report: ‘Helping at Toddler group is a wonderful way of shining God’s love in a very practical way right into the heart of our community’. Feedback from the community has said how much this is valued and very much missed due to the restrictions of the pandemic.

A new initiative for 2019 was the Walking Group. The leaders devised a variety of walks of different lengths and terrains to cater for all ages and abilities. They took place midweek and weekends so that people who were working could join in, exploring the beautiful Peak District on our doorstep. This has proved to be a great opportunity for fellowship across the congregations. Sadly, social distancing rules meant that this was paused in 2020. We are already looking forward to when we can restart in 2021.

Weakness

We are aware of our weaknesses Despite the many positive features of life in Christ Church Dore highlighted in the above 6 sections, we are very aware that the majority of recent growth has been driven by people moving into the area rather than by new Christians.

We are particularly concerned about: • the baptism families who don’t return, • families with children & teenagers, • links with the thriving toddler group • those living alone • the high numbers of families at Christmas who don’t return during the year. • developing partnership with local schools, • no direct links to local social housing areas (Dore and Totley Brook). • inclusion of all minority groups • poor disabled access in the present church building • not reaching the marginalised members of our community

We therefore want to share the Good News of Jesus in a way that is relevant in 2021, and we are keen to work alongside someone who thinks similarly..

21 Meet the Team 7

Pete Anita Margaret Martin

Jill Alison Andy

Sarah Julia Robin Yvonne

Churchwardens: Alison, Julia Lay reader: Richard Lay members who are taking part in diocese training: Martin, Sarah Lay members who are developing leadership skills: Robin Supporting retired clergy: Primarily Revd Di Williams and Revd Phil Townsend, but others have supported us throughout the vacancy Lay Evangelist: Jill Pastoral Team Leader: Margaret Parish Safeguarding Officer: Yvonne PCC Secretary: Anita Treasurer: Alison Lay Vice-Chair: Pete Parish Administrator: Sarah IT Lead and Data Protection Officer: Andy Fabric Committee Chair: Pete

External Auditor: FaithStar LLP Patron: Sir Philip Naylor- Leyland, Bt

22 The Vicarage The Vicarage is a delightf ul detached family home with four good size bedrooms (one en- 8 suite), a family bathroom, one recepti on room with log burner and a large extended fi tt ed kitchen/dining room. There is a downstairs study and toilet, both with disabled faciliti es. The house is light and spacious. There is a lawn to the front with ample parking for 2 cars and a garage. To the rear there is a good sized private rear garden with a decking area. The house is located at the entrance to the village recreati on ground and is a few minutes walk from the church and offi ce. It is convenient for local schools, shops and local bus routes. It is also convenient for direct access into the Peak District.

23 Christ Church Dore Community Centre The Christ Church Dore 9 Community centre and Parish Office lie midway between the church and the vicarage. The parish office is the base for the parish administrator and can be used by the Priest in Charge. It is a focal point for members of the community to stop by during the week.

Previously known as the Church Hall, the community centre has been a focus for activities since the 1930s. Due to financial and manpower challenges it is starting on a new path as Christ Church Dore Community Centre. Although the church still owns the building, this will be a joint church/community initiative. Thanks to a significant donation we are in the process of updating the premises with the aim of providing superb facilities for community groups and church mission activities. This is a hugely exciting opportunity to meet people where they are and share our faith. The donation and the opportunity to work in partnership with the wider community is a real answer to prayer.

Proposed Parish Representatives:

Alison Saxton [email protected] Church warden and Treasurer Julia Stevens [email protected] Church warden

24 Other Churches in the Mission Area 10 ALL SAINTS CHURCH, TOTLEY

Totley is a suburb on the extreme southwest of Sheffield, bordering on the Peak District. It is a beautiful place to live and still has a strong community feel to it. The population of Totley in 2011 was approximately 7963 people. This has shown a modest rise over the last 10 years since the building of a variety of new homes in the area. There are a large number of retired people living in Totley but increasingly there are new young families moving into the area.

The church building was opened in 1924. The land and £2,000 towards building the church were donated by the owner of Totley Hall. It is a Grade 2 listed building and lies in the Totley conservation area.

The church hall was built in 1964 and extended in 1995. It is normally in constant use during the week by community groups- toddlers, guides, dance group, a drop in coffee morning etc. At the heart of All Saints is our motto that we: ”Love God, Love one another and Love a broken world.”

Our Sunday morning service features informal worship, modern music and Bible based practical teaching to help us translate God’s word into our daily lives. All Saints is a very warm and friendly congregation. We work hard at seeking to embrace the various age groups (from 3 to over 90 years) and provide Sunday worship that visitors can readily understand. Average attendance pre- covid was between 35-45 adults and 6-12 children. The children’s groups meet in the hall after the opening worship. Since 1991 we have been working on cell church values and principles with 3 small groups which meet weekly in homes. We have also used the LICC courses and the idea of following Christ throughout the week on our frontlines has become part of our DNA. The small groups are where we support and pray for one another and work to apply the lessons from Sunday’s teaching.

25 The life of the church is underpinned by regular prayer events, personal prayer ministry available at the end of the Sunday service, a “prayer chain” structure to respond to urgent needs and a small group who regularly meet to pray specifically for the leadership of the church.

All Saints is involved in a joint Youth Trust (Soulroots) with other S17 churches. Their purpose is to take the Christian message to the young people of S17 and to help them develop in their faith. Soulroots provides groups for older children from year 6 upwards and has well established links with the local secondary school. There are 2 excellent primary schools in Totley, one of which is a Church school. We have a good relationship with both schools. They use the church buildings for Harvest and Christmas services and members of the congregation have been involved in the church school as governors and members of a parents’ prayer group.

We aim to reach out into our local community through our involvement in the Totley Show, Open Gardens, Carol singing in the pubs and Lunch club. Much of our connection with the community, however, is through personal relationships developed through groups like the weekly health walk, volunteering at the library, bowls club, poetry group etc. Before the pandemic we had started a Natter Group for the over 60s, meeting in the library and we hope to be able to develop that in due course.

We have links with Kenya through Rev.David Kereto of the Maasai Evangelistic Association and support the rescue centre for young girls escaping tribal rituals and forced marriage. The church has a good relationship with Totley Rise Methodist Church. We usually work together to provide a service on Good Friday which begins at All Saints and then involves a walk of witness behind a large cross down the main road to Totley Rise stopping along the way to sing a hymn and distribute hot cross buns.

We have been in a Mission Partnership with Christ Church, Dore for several years. We are grateful for the administrative support with booking weddings and funerals and handling fee payments to the Diocese. We have shared Ash Wednesday services and opportunities for training and appreciated the Bible reading course offered by Dore’s Lay Reader. Our Lay Readers have helped lead some evening services during the interregnum. A few members of All Saints go to Pathfinders and some to Serendipity. Apart from that it is probably fair to say that the relationship between us is friendly but each church focuses on working independently in their own community.

26 THE PARISH OF ABBEYDALE AND MILLHOUSES

The Parish of Abbeydale and Millhouses Sheffield is situated Southwest of Sheffield, close to the Peak District. It was formed by the coming together of the two adjacent parishes of Holy Trinity Millhouses and St John the Evangelist Abbeydale. In 2011 the vicar of Holy Trinity had also become priest-in-charge of St John’s, and after co-operating increasingly closely over the next three years the congregations of both parishes decided in 2014 that the communities of Millhouses, Abbeydale and Bradway could be served most effectively by a single parish, with two churches, covering the entire area. The formal procedures were completed in July 2015. The congregation have continued to work well together and have created a warm and welcoming community. The large, late Victorian vicarage is adjacent to Holy Trinity on Millhouses Lane.

Holy Trinity Millhouses St. John the Evangelist Abbeydale

Our worship is based on a set liturgy with the Eucharist being at its heart.

Regular services are: • A 10.00 am Parish Communion each week in one or both churches. • A monthly All-Age Service in each church. • An 8.00 am Communion most weeks in one church or the other. • A varied pattern of Sunday Evening services, in one or other of the churches, on the 2nd Sunday of each month. • A monthly midweek communion at St. John’s • Café Church once a month.

Other Buildings owned by the Parish:

There are 2 Church Halls (one on each site of the Churches) and a Parish Centre on Dobcroft Road.

During non-covid times these buildings are extensively used by and for the local community. Holy Trinity runs 2 Mother and Toddler groups, St John’s run a Thursday luncheon club.

27 Our Values

We endeavour to: • Be welcoming and inclusive in our activities • Be joyful in worship • Be outward-looking in service and in mission • Be driven by vision • Encourage a sense of vocation and ministry among our members • Value the contribution that all can make • Live in a way that respects the environment

Regardless of age, gender, race, colour, sexuality or disability, we welcome everyone. Both churches are regularly open for prayer, contemplation or just a visit. As members of the Community of the Cross of Nails, we are committed to its aims of: • Healing the wounds of history • Living with difference and celebrating diversity • Building a culture of peace

Ministry

We are blessed with an Associate Priest, Angie Lauener (S.S.M.) part time who has lived and worshipped in our Parish for many years. As well as a Reader and Pastoral Workers, many of our congregation take an active part in our services, and in the daily running of the Parish. We have a close relationship with Millhouses Methodist Church (sharing our Worship together at least twice a year). We also have links with Dobcroft Infant and Primary School.

Please look at our website for further details www.amchurchsheffield.co.uk

28 Appendix 1. MAP

Mission Action Plan – (covid & post covid world) Our principal aimis to rejuvenate,we need to grow in the age range 20 to 40 years, families and children The action plan is aimed at developing new actionsand initiativesthat will grow our mission. The absence of current activities does not mean they are unimportant, they are expected to continue their effective mission. There will need to be at least two people to take ownership of each area.

Prayer Children’s work Worship through Outreach MissionPastoral Mission Sense of music Community Develop our Develop the work Music group to Be able to answer the Develop & train pastoral Celebrate diversity prayer culture with Toddlers meet to review question:’ What does mission teams to in our church e.g. through be facilitators in music at 10am Jesus mean to me? compliment the pastoral community e.g teaching, example, specific activities in service e.g. future team , covering : Black Lives Matter opportunity, our locality , be direction Investigate what sort of Baptism family meetings , develop supportive course we could offer preparation & Create the WhatsApp Music at 5:30 to be exploring faith &/or support opportunities for prayer group to Redevelop reviewed with discipleship Bereavement church to eat include regular relationships with congregation visiting &people together prayer for the Dore Primary e.g. organ/keyboard, Explore funding a Family who are dying e.g. at services, church School choir, hymns & Children’s worker Weddings church social Make the most of any Explore with current events, celebrate opportunity /activity to ( Perhaps the E.g. Encourage people to pastoral team out of lockdown, Keep the PPR engage with the people involved with complete the ‘ Shining as coffee morning session a core school e.g. make music could look at lights’ course from the Continue to support and offering to the them aware of church this ) diocese. Encourage encourage individuals in Explore purposeful church & community special events membership of their pastoral work through activities to embrace fellowship groups their daily lives all the church eg e.g. through teaching, art/craft Continue to mark church encouragement, examples & community events Aware of unequal inside & outside the access to digital building technology . View to work in partnership Identify & welcome new with other agencies people ( virtual & face to e.g. Age UK face) eg.new person coffee room

'DWHG Green = on previous MAP Purple = new additions. Time line : to be achieved in 2021 if possible