Sharing Life

Since the end of the 1990s a strategy for evangelisation has begun to emerge in the Diocese under the title of Sharing Life. This is to emphasize the need for a more intentional focus, not just on mission, but specifically on evangelism. PCCs and Diocesan Boards and Councils have been asked to take four emphases into their corporate life. These are:

• Centred on God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• Orientated towards the world and its needs
• Connected to people, both their communities and their culture, in new ways
• Serious about Christian discipleship

There are five strategic directions:

• Creativity and flexibility for our Christian communities.
• Encouraging and resourcing innovative forms of outreach.
• Implementation at local level.
• Sustainability and refocusing of financial resources.
• Training for Servant Leadership.

Some of the most significant practical expressions of this are:

• Most clergy and some lay leaders have undertaken a Servant Leadership process which includes residential training.
• A Cutting Edge Ministry resource has begun to offer a combination of funding, practical help and mentoring to leaders of innovative projects to create new forms of church.
• Deaneries are being encouraged to work with benefices and parishes to develop Mission and Ministry Plans with an emphasis on Mission and new patterns of Ministry.
• Renewal of the use of ancient buildings
• Particularly promising at the moment is the development of a process to promote “healthy churches”.

Sharing Life +

Eight years on Bishop John has invited the diocese to reconsider and reshape these priorities.

The Sharing Life + Podcast
Play or download mp3

The Bishop invites you to participate in conversations surrounding Sharing Life +

Taking Part in the Conversation PDF
Here are some ways you might like to use to help you to discuss Sharing Life+ Making a Difference.

Sharing Life + a discussion paper
How we might develop as the Christian family in the diocese of Oxford over the next five years.

Other Pages

Bishop Vows to Put Mission and Spirituality at Heart of Daily Life
the Door April 2008
The Bishop of Oxford has outlined his plans to develop mission in the diocese over the next five years.

Bishop John's introduces Sharing Life + to the Diocesan Synod March 2000
Play or download mp3
(36min)
Briefing Paper
Bishop John's Presentation View / Download (Powerpoint)