Samarès
Methodist Church
Mission Statement and
Philosophy of Ministry and Policy Documents
History Early in 1994, we
undertook a Review of Church Life - a Mission Audit -
using material from the then Home Mission Division of The Methodist Church. One
of the results of this was that the Church Council drafted a
Mission Statement for our church.
Mindful of our numerical strength, but not wanting to limit
the grace and work of God, after considerable thought, work and
prayer, the Church Council in December, 1994. adopted the
following Mission Statement.
Early in 1997, the Church Council asked all church members who
were willing, to offer contributions towards drafting a Philosophy of Ministry and Policy Statement.
Following lengthy discussion, the Autumn 1997 Church Council
unanimously adopted the statement found at the end of this
document.
Mission
Statement
To challenge the people of this
neighbourhood to acknowledge the revelation of God's love for
them in Jesus Christ and to enter into a living relationship with
Him, growing in Christian love and maturity. In the power of the
Holy Spirit, we will serve God together both as obedient members
in the Church and faithful witnesses in the world. (Colossians 4:6,
1 Peter 3:15)
Therefore we intend to grow in
faith, fellowship, mission and numbers. (Acts 2 :42-47)
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Philosophy of
Ministry and Policy Statement
The aim of this document is to set out the manner in which we
intend to fulfill our Mission Statement, pursuing the business of
God's Kingdom through Samares Methodist Church.
The Mission Statement gives our overall vision for the church
and forms the backbone of this document, so that our main
objectives are identified and dealt with. (The words of the
Mission Statement are in italics).
(We exist) to challenge the people of this
neighbourhood to acknowledge the revelation of God's love for
them in Jesus Christ ....
Our purpose is to proclaim the Gospel to "all who pass by"
and especially to those who live in the neighbourhood. We intend
to communicate our Christian understanding of life in a clear,
non-confrontational way, giving an open invitation, as Jesus did
(Luke 18:18-30).
We aim to be bold in our witness, balancing our message to:
- affirm the joy and assurance that knowing God's
forgiveness and salvation bring (Romans 8:1; 15 Galatians
5:1);
- acknowledge the reality of cost and suffering in
Christian discipleship (Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
Therefore we aim to equip all our congregation to be effective
disciples of Jesus and witnesses to the Gospel. Our intention is
to be a model of community; the chapel and hall proclaiming a
Christian presence in the neighbourhood
.... and to enter a living relationship
with him, ....
We desire that all people should enter a living and personal
relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:4;
2 Corinthians 5:20). We recognise pre-evangelism as a step in
this process leading to a relevant presentation of the Gospel. We
will work with other churches in this task, whenever possible
.... growing in Christian love and maturity.
Growing into Christian maturity as a part of a developing
fellowship is our objective for all disciples (1 Peter 2:2-3;
Ephesians 4:11-16).
We intend our corporate worship to be led by trained worship-leaders,
developing our own style and providing a measure of continuity.
To further this aim, we will request appointed preachers to
follow the planned series in the all-age teaching and worship
material agreed by the Church Council.
We intend this worship to be relevant to the daily lives of
casual visitors whilst upholding orthodox Christian belief. We
desire excellence and variety in our worship and will offer the
congregation opportunities to contribute to the development of
this. As a further encouragement to grow in Christian
discipleship, love and maturity, we will provide opportunities
for fellowship, prayer and study through small groups.
We desire that all Christians should belong to such a group,
providing opportunities for wrestling with Biblical themes and
contemporary issues in order to enable our faith to shape our
attitudes and actions (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Lay leadership of
these groups will be encouraged where appropriate.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we will
serve God together both as obedient members of the Church and as
faithful witnesses in the world (Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:15).
As members of the body of Christ, we recognise that we all
have different spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12; Hebrews 2:4).
We would see those gifts used in serving one another and our
neighbours (John 13:14; Luke 10:25ff). Our premises are an asset
for serving the community through ministry and mission and are
also available for use by other groups where appropriate.
We aim to:
- identify unmet needs within our community;
- evaluate our ability to meet them to focus our service
and witness.
Therefore, we intend to grow in faith,
fellowship, mission and numbers (Acts 2:42-47).
We will maintain our premises to contemporary standards, to be
attractive, integrated and user-friendly, declaring "do come
in". We will review our goals and work regularly. We will
join together in looking outward in our concern for non-believers,
not hiding behind our own limitations but using these goals to
motivate us as a disciple-making church.
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Vision for the Work at Samarès
Words that came to David Miller during a prayer meeting at
Samarès. That we should seek to discern those things:-
- which Blind people to the
Gospel
- which Block the work of
the Kingdom
- which Blur our vision for
ministry and mission and
- which Blunt our
effectiveness in the Lord's service.
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Objectives for the Property Refurbishment
Project
In order to help fulfill the church's Mission Statement, and
Philosophy of Ministry, refurbishment of our premises is planned
in accordance with the Connexional Property Committee's Vision
2000 call for churches under 20 members. December 1995 Church
Council agreed:-
- That the premises should be a tool for ministry and
mission and a focus for meeting and for our activities.
- They should be Inviting - drawing people in, with
easy access, presenting as few physical and cultural
barriers as possible.
- They should be Integrated - linking the Chapel and
Hall as a statement that we minister to the whole person.
- They should be Issuing a Challenge - standing as a
visible sign of Christian witness in Samarès.
As a result of that decision, on the 2nd April 2000 our refurbished and
renovated premises which we are confident totally meet the criteria set out
above were re-dedicated to the glory of God and the service of the community in
the neighbourhood.
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