01 April 2008

The Bishop of Oxford has outlined his plans to develop mission in the diocese over the next five years.

After nine months spent in 'intensive listening'as he travelled around every corner of the diocese, he revealed some of his observations and ideas on how to move forward at the latest diocesan synod.

He said: 'I want to have a conversation across the whole diocese, as a Christian family, about the next phase of our life together.'

This 'conversation'will develop on from the mission statement Sharing Life, which was put forward by the previous Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries.

Bishop John said he had been excited by the extraordinary diverse happenings in the 621 parishes of the diocese.

'I want to affirm the wonderful and exciting goings on in our parishes. I was really encouraged by the motivation of clergy and lay people. People in our churches and parishes are not at all downhearted but really are ready for 'God's new thing'.'

He outlined five key values for the next five years: making disciples; making a difference in society; sustaining the sacred centre; creating vibrant Christian communities and shaping confident leaders. Underpinning these are commitments to keep a steady number of 'paid'clergy in the diocese. He said he recognized that many clergy were overburdened, both by buildings and bureaucracy.

He called for an approach that honours the following principles, voiced by people on his visits: not neglecting the past but building on it; not so much about strategy but culture; not top down but liberating the local; not targets but directions; not about structures but about relationships; not one size fits all but flexibility and not about complexity but elegance.

He called for a conversation on the way foward with every churchgoer in the diocese, and urged people to send in their comments, either to Church House or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

His discussion paper isavailable on this website as is a podcast of his address to synod. Copies of his paper are to be sent out throughout the diocese over the next few weeks and months for discussion.

He will report back on the conversation at the November diocesan synod, with a view to formally launch the new vision at the beginning of 2009.