In January 2003, as part of a Diocesan initiative, we carried out a Natural Church Development survey. From this survey we discovered that we scored highest in loving relationships but found that our weakest area was in functional structures.

 

We analysed our church structures, and discovered that just about everything was being dealt with by our Parochial Church Council (the PCC). We were spending a lot of time discussing small details and building/fabric issues and struggling to find sufficient time to properly discuss big issues such as how we serve our town with the love of Christ. We also acknowledged that some groups within the church (such as youth and children) were not represented on the PCC and so not easily involved in making decisions that affected them.

 

From this analysis we have established ‘Task Groups’ to cover our recognised primary purposes of worship (which draws people into a closer relationship with Jesus), fellowship (which loving nurtures every member) and outreach (which leads others into Christ’s kingdom) as well as a youth and children’s Task Group (recognised as a group which needed to be focused upon).

Task Groups report to PCC and act under PCC authority. They meet quarterly in place of a PCC meeting and comprise a roughly 50/50 split of PCC members and others of the congregation with an interest in the area covered by the Task Group. Each group typically comprises six or seven people.

 

Read on to find out more about the Task Groups and their projects….

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St. Mary’s Task Groups