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Mission Audit
3rd Interim Report for Annual Parish and Parochial Church Meeting 19 April 2010
St John's Working with the Community 2009/2010
Introduction
The APM/APCM 2008 endorsed the Mission Audit Report which was then submitted to Bishop of Southampton. This third interim report summarises the progress on the implementation of the recommendations. A synopsis of the original 2008 report is attached for easy reference. The Mission Audit provided the perfect opportunity for the church to examine how we worship and engage the local community.
Mission Audit Recommendations - Implementation Progress
General
Separate working groups for each recommendation and central coordinating team were not set up - the implementation is being conducted within the existing PCC structure except that an additional group for Communications was created to focus on specific findings/recommendations of the audit.
Recommendation - Review of PCC
The detailed review of the PCC is outstanding - it was sensible to delay the full review until the new organisation of St John's and St Mary's (the Benefice) with Brockenhurst and structured in a Group Ministry had settled down; the House for Duty Priest had been appointed and the Group Council was in place. These organisational changes will need to be taken into consideration by the review. Some interim measures have been taken. The initial meeting of the new PCC was conducted formally providing for new members introductions and the election of key appointments. A successful PCC 'Away Day' was held in September 2009 to address how St John's could meet the challenges of the role of the church in the community. The study focussed on the PCC Working Groups and a welcomed decision was taken to enlarge the Family and Youth Group, led by Neil, to concentrate on creating a strong relationship with the community. This matched the key findings of the Mission Audit and reinforced the current project of St John's Working with the Community 2009.
Recommendation - Communications
The Communications Group has led on improving communications and activities to reach out to the wider community. The revised Bridge editorial strategy to embrace community interests and activities has been successful and is improving the circulation. The Benefice web site has been audited and content developed. A data base of postal addresses and email addresses of all those connected with the church is being established - this will allow authorised people in the church management to pass information quickly and enable the promotion of church events. The group has proposed the formation of a team of Community Neighbours to cover the traditional settlements of Bull Hill. Portmore, Pilley, Walhampton, Boldre and Sandy Down. The Community Neighbours will be St John's representatives in these areas and help to develop a close contact with the community. A robust relationship is growing with Boldre Parish Council - they had an information stall at the Church and Village Fete and the Chairman, Ian Wild, joined Neil Smart in drawing the raffle. The Council Chairman with his wife and some of his colleagues attended the Harvest Supper and the Senior Citizens Christmas Tea Party. The New Parish Residents Welcome Pack is to be distributed shortly. Communications and contact with William Gilpins School and Hordle Walhampton School continue to be very strong and relationships are strengthening with Southlands and Hill House Schools. Hill House send a small working party on most Thursdays to help Chris Butler in the churchyard.
Recommendation - Church Issues
The community highlight event of the year in the church was the magnificent Midsummer Festival with all four of our schools contributing. Over two lovely days the professional flower arrangements, a William Gilpin presentation, a history tour, HMS Hood film and organ recitals graced St John's. In the churchyard families and passers-by picnicked under gazebos, tackled the treasure hunt and the yummy cakes from Cafe St John's - all recorded on DVD. A perfect example of all ages from the community enjoying and sharing our church. The church hosted our four schools with parents and staff for their individual Carol Services - each had their own character but in common lots of smiles and happiness.
Recommendation - Working with the Community
The project "St John's Working with the Community 2009"was enhanced by the above events and those sponsored by the Social & Fundraising Group programme which especially focused on the community. The rebranded Church and Village Fete, with a July date and wider publicity, was a huge success attracting nearly three times as many people than in previous years. A joint initiative with the Boldre Working Man's Club of a Barbecue and Band after the Produced Show suffered from heavy rain but sealed a warm relationship with the Club and joint future events are planned. The rebranded Community Harvest Supper with Entertainment in the Memorial Hall, and the first presided over by Neil, was a sell out. The Christmas Fair developed into a welcomed joint venture with William Gilpins School providing Father Christmas and Grotto - it was a well attended and happy occasion for all ages. The Senior Citizens Christmas Tea Party at Walhampton, the first attended by Frank, was oversubscribed and the initial event this year, Community Film with tea in the Memorial Hall, attracted a full house.
Summary
The intensive consultation programme of the Community Mission Audit involved some 60 individuals and families and we are pleased to report the progress in meeting some of the concerns raised. Church social events have been most successful and we have the seeds of integration with the community as a whole. The overwhelming success of the Midsummer Festival illustrates that with orchestration we can attract the young families to the church. We consider it is timely to conduct the PCC review and perhaps address the other issues identified in Recommendation 3 concerning services and particularly the use of St Nicholas - exploiting the location of being in the heart of the community. This is also recognised in Lynda Pink's study on Developing Children's Ministry.
Thank you for your support.
Auditors - Hugh Colley, Pim Farquhar and James Loweth with Don O'Connor
Synopsis of the Community Mission Audit 2008
Study Plan
The audit was conducted in six phases - understanding the issues, researching the community characteristics, relating the community to St John's, consulting the community, collating results and report submission.
St John's and the community
Ø statistically 84% are declared Church of England
Ø families have an association with St John's through baptisms, weddings and funerals
Ø community church attendance centres on Christmas, Easter and Mothering Sunday
Ø regular attendance are retired with a significant number from outside the parish-although some have lived in the parish and had long links with the church
Ø the 4 schools in the parish hold termly sevices in the church
Shape of the community - the "settlements"
Historically the community has developed on six settlements - Bull Hill, Portmore, Pilley, Walhampton, Boldre, Sandy Down. Bull Hill, Portmore, Pilley have families that have been in the New Forest for generations. These established families extend into the parish of St Mary's - hence the natural growth of the Benefice that also matches the local government ward. Properties in Walhampton, Boldre and Sandy Down have a higher turnover rate and tend to be owned by people who have moved into the area. A number of properties (estimated as 1 in 10) in the parish are second homes. Significantly St John's is located outside the settlements but St Nicholas' Chapel is in Pilley.
Consulting the community
An intensive confidential consultation programme of 60 individual and families was conducted under the following criteria
Ø high standing in community and those in key appointments
Ø well informed people in each settlement
Ø balance of sexes
Ø balance of regular and occasional church goers
All those consulted felt that their church was important to the community
Key consultation findings
Ø the role and management of the PCC needed review
Ø St John's should be more active in the community and local affairs
Ø requirement for effective proactive neighbourhood communications
Ø perception that the church does not welcome occasional/new church goers
Ø reduce number of communion services and not combine baptisms with communion
Ø need to work closely with all the parish schools and Priestlands
Ø the community concern that the church should support initiatives targeting the vulnerable 11 plus age group
Ø concern that the vulnerable in the parish - the elderly, disabled and sick needed better support from the community - particularly those who live on their own. Problems included the need to travel to Lymington/Brockenhurst for medical appointments. A suggestion was a weekly doctors clinic in Pilley
Ø Need for a close working relationship with Parish Council
Recommendations
The mission audit made four recommendations
1. Review the PCC including responsibilities, organisation and sub committees. Examine the processes, meeting patterns, agenda setting, meeting records and administration. Electoral policy and process should be specifically addressed.
2. Improve parish communications by reaching out to the whole community taking into account each settlement , the visitors system, Bridge, website, notice boards and local news papers. The review should specifically address welcoming new residents.
3. Review service patterns to ensure that they meet the whole community expectations. Review the Sunday Club and identify how it can be developed taking into account the use of St Nicholas. This review should advise on how to invite new members, establish a warm welcome system and effectively publish key services considering a feature of special (5*) services
4. St John's should examine how it can work in a better way with
Parish Council
Community Youth 11+
Parish Schools and Priestlands
Involvement/Organise Community Events
Supporting the Vulnerable
Use of Memorial Hall for Church led events
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