1. I am a Churchgoer … Stages of Renewal in the local Church GET ME OUT OF HERE!!

2. A Quick Quiz... Four questions –And a choice of answers Choose what you think most of your congregation would say –And note the score Add your four scores –And interpret your results

3. Renewal - Question 1 Local people who attend church –Score 1 Those who appreciate the Vicar’s (minister’s) ministry, and/or what happens in church –Score 3 People chosen out of the locality to be the people of God –Score 4 Part of a wider fellowship of Christ’s disciples who are called to serve God in this locality –Score 5 Do most members of your congregation see themselves primarily as

4. Renewal - Question 2 The Church Building and they are its custodians –Score 1 The Vicar/minister as in the phrase “going into the church” –Score 2 Bishops, synods etc Those who manage the institution –Score 2 Themselves making them different from their neighbours –Score 4 A world-wide fellowship of Christ’s disciples –Score 5 Do most members of your congregation understand ‘church’ to mean primarily

5. Renewal - Question 3 We only need a minister to take services –and for weddings and funerals –Score 1 We are those who are ministered to –Score 2 We help the minister in his(her) ministry –Score 3 We share ministry with the Vicar/minister –Score 4 The Vicar/minister enables us to exercise our ministry –Score 5 How do most members of your congregation understand ‘ministry’?

6. Renewal - Question 4 Public appeals to maintain the building –Score 1 Fund-raising events involving members of the congregation –Score 2 Regular giving schemes weekly envelopes etc –Score 3 Regular, stewardly, costly giving by churchgoers but mainly for the needs of the church –Score 4 As part of regular, stewardly and costly giving by churchgoers In sheer gratitude to God –Score 5 How does your church derive the bulk of its income?

7. Stages of Renewal Total Scores 4 – 6 4 – 6The Building is the Church 7 – 9 7 – 9The Vicar is the Church 10 – 13 10 – 13We help the Vicar to be the Church 14 – 17 14 – 17We are the Church 18 – 20 18 – 20We are part of God’s Church

8. The Vicar? Oh, he never calls Stage One The Building is the Church The Church is there when (if) we want it

9. Stage Two Probably even the cleaning! The Vicar does it all The Vicar is the Church THE VICAR?

10. Stage Three We help the Vicar to be the Church - maybe! PCC Church Organisations House groups The Vicar still does most of it … or else tells us what to do! THE VICAR?

11. Stage Four WE are the Church The Vicar helps us - maybe! Help or hindrance? … Saint or Sinner? PCC Church Organisations House groups THE VICAR?

12. Stage Five  Church  Building  PCC  even the Vicar! are no longer centre-stage... Instead, as disciples, we know that we are part of the Body of Christ gathered in His presence PCC Church Organisations House groups

13. Stage Five Nourished within the Body of Christ (the Church) we are servants of God’s Kingdom THE VICAR?

14. Stage Five Jesus said I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry. I am the gate. Whoever comes in by me will be safe. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

15. Stage Five Church as a communion of small communities ~ ‘cells’ who meet to celebrate

16. BUT THERE MIGHT BE... As the Holy Spirit enables each small community of disciples to become through Christ what they already are in Christ Stage Six P r a y f o r i t !

17. If you, like many churchgoers, are stuck in a congregational rut, perhaps your prayer should be: GET ME OUT OF HERE!!