What are the Laity called to do? Debbie Sutton Diocesan Lay Chair

Two shifts in culture and practice….. …that we see as critical to the flourishing of the church and the evangelisation of the nation: 1. Until together ordained and lay we form and equip lay people to follow Jesus confidently in every sphere of life, in ways that demonstrate the Gospel we will never set God’s people free to evangelise the nation.

Two shifts in culture and practice….. 2. Until laity and clergy are convinced, based on their baptismal mutuality, that they are equal in worth and status, complementary in gifting and vocation, mutually accountable in discipleship, and equal partners in mission, we will never form Christian communities that can evangelise the nation.

FACT 67% of non-Christians know a Christian Only 1% know a vicar www.talkingjesus.org.uk

What the laity do…. This makes quite a good handout and shows where the real opportunities for lay people to reach others lie.

This represents the Gathered church

This represents the Sent church

We are already called Not asking for more time. Not asking for more money Not asking for more activity Rather, look at what we do from a different angle. ‘Setting God’s people free’. General Synod Report GS 2056

In, around and beyond Church Stre Workplace Charity Shops Street Pastors Good Neighbours Prison Hospital

How can church equip us? Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.’ (1 Peter 3.13-17). Church should provide the resources people need to be able to do this.

In Church Choir Sunday school flowers server Coffee Important not to undermine or diminish what happens in Church Coffee

In church T

o n e This seems a popular and easily understood concept of how to bring about change in culture.

T This Time Tomorrow. Example of easy exercise that can be done within a Sunday Service setting to give value to what people do in their daily lives.

Free….. To be effective witnesses “I teach Sunday school for 45 minutes a week, and they haul me up to the front of the church to pray for me. I teach in a school 45 hours a week and the church has never prayed for me.” Comment from a teacher

Change your Mission Notice Board to include local workplaces and people.

Why do we come to Church? “Mission is not about removing people from the world to seek refuge within the Church … but about releasing and empowering all God’s people … in order that the whole of creation might be transformed and restored in Christ.” (Setting God’s People Free, p. 14)

Around Church – Pointing and Preparing The essence of what we are trying to achieve, but maybe not the best way of getting there?!!

Beyond Church Workplace Stre Charity Shops Street Pastors Good The Monday – Saturday world. Good Neighbours Prison Hospital

What is Portsmouth doing? Pilot Diocese. Learning Community sessions. Communicating to Diocese. Recruiting Pilot Churches. Integrating SGPF with other initiatives and strategies.

Two shifts in culture and practice….. …that we see as critical to the flourishing of the church and the evangelisation of the nation: 1. Until together ordained and lay we form and equip lay people to follow Jesus confidently in every sphere of life, in ways that demonstrate the Gospel we will never set God’s people free to evangelise the nation. Recap

Two shifts in culture and practice….. 2. Until laity and clergy are convinced, based on their baptismal mutuality, that they are equal in worth and status, complementary in gifting and vocation, mutually accountable in discipleship, and equal partners in mission, we will never form Christian communities that can evangelise the nation.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord We are all Christians. Whatever we do Wherever we do it Our work is of worth GOD WILL USE WHAT WE OFFER