Appendix B

Visits and Inspections

  • OUR VISION
    The Diocese of Canterbury is part of the Church of England - a Church whose calling is to serve all the people of our country and a Church that is present in every local congregation. Through the Diocesan and Provincial networks, all congregations are in fellowship, each helping and being helped by the others.

    Our Vision is that in every local community of this Diocese there should be a worshipping, welcoming and serving congregation, working with Christians of other traditions and people of goodwill, witnessing to the transforming power of the love of God as seen in Jesus Christ.

  • DIOCESAN POLICY OBJECTIVES
    These objectives are reviewed when the Bishop/Archdeacon meet with the PCC as part of their cycle of Parish Visits.

    1. That every Church should offer a variety of ways in which members can learn the Christian Faith and deepen spiritual understanding.

      Are there teaching/discussion, bible study and prayer groups?
      What encouragement is there for Quiet Days/Retreats?

    2. That ministry should be understood as the responsibility of all God’s people and that this understanding should be demonstrated at every level of diocesan life.

      What plans are there for more involvement through pastoral/ bereavement visiting; welcoming newcomers; baptism and marriage preparation; lay chairmanship of PCC/Committees?

      Are there key issues of community life which might involve members of the congregation?

    3. That each parish church should review and revise the character and quality of its public worship and other activities in the light of the vocation of the Church of England to be accessible to the community at large.

      In what ways do you consider your worship to be accessible to the wider community? When was the style and pattern of worship last reviewed and what conclusions were drawn?

    4. That each church should study and develop appropriate ways through which its congregation can grow numerically.

      What plans are in hand?
      Do you have any evangelistic projects in mind?

    5. That each church should anticipate the future need for and use of buildings as centres for worship and mission, and make plans and proposals accordingly.

      What is your present assessment of your building needs?
      What problems do you envisage? What help do you need?

    6. That every church, in witnessing to the full concerns of God, should actively address areas of social, personal and material need in the local community - collaborating readily with other Christians and people of good will. In what ways does the church/individual Christian address local needs?

    7. That each Deanery should conduct a survey of the present state of ministry to young people and children and develop plans (within or across the parishes) that are sustainable and that will improve outreach.

      What Deanery/Parish ministry is there already to young people/children?
      What plans are there for the future?

    8. That we as a Diocese should review the effectiveness of all our administration and ways of communicating. Parish Magazine/Notice Boards? Does your PCC structure need a review?

    9. That we as a Diocese should be in a position to pay the stipends of all our ministers from our own resources by the year 2000, and also to have created a growing Mission Development Fund.

      What measures do you plan to enable this? What problems do you envisage?
      What help do you need?