What’s in Our Hands? Learning from the Church of England’s Latest Mission Review

https://churchsupporthub.org/all-resources/whats-in-our-hands-rural-mission-learning-review/

At Rural Missions, we’ve been reading and reflecting on the Church of England’s What’s in our Hands? Learning Review with interest and encouragement. The report highlights three key priorities for the Anglican Church as it seeks to grow in faithfulness and fruitfulness. Over the last week on socials, and tomorrow, we’re drawing out inspiration from the Church of England’s learning review to share these priorities further with you to encourage and support churches across the United Kingdom across denominations, traditions, and communities. Ultimately, no matter where we are in the country, we want to see the good news of Jesus shared in local communities and for them to be transformed by the love of God.

I wonder as you are reading this, where are you? Are you out and about, or are you in the comforts of your own home? What day is it and what time? One of the priorities of the learning review is to see God’s people live their lives no matter where they spend their time, from Sunday to Saturday! At Rural Missions, we deeply believe that mission isn't confined to Sundays or to church buildings. In rural communities, this reality is even more vital. Many of us live scattered lives serving on farms, in schools, in shops, caring for neighbours, or volunteering in local spaces. The opportunity to be salt and light is found in the everyday.

But we also know that traditional church models can sometimes unintentionally limit this, making people feel like their faith only ‘counts’ when it's expressed in certain ways. We want to break that stigma and allow people to thrive in who God’s called them to be as individuals and within a church body.

As part of our consultations, we deliver free to churches. We look at what gifts you have and what you can use, and I reflect it back to this priority and ask - How are you enabling people in your church to be disciples wherever they are? How are you helping them see that their workplaces, village halls, cafés, fields, and homes are mission fields? If you’re unsure how we at Rural Missions could support you in answering the questions above?

The second priority in the learning review emphasises creating a “mixed ecology” as the norm across parishes, cathedrals, chaplaincies, schools, and beyond. The aim? That everyone, wherever they are in England, might be able to find a Christian community that feels welcoming and meaningful to them. We find that really encouraging.

Rural communities are incredibly varied across age groups, lifestyles, and spiritual journeys. And we’ve seen time and again that when churches are open to different ways of worshipping, gathering, and growing in faith, new life begins to emerge. From café church and Messy Church to walking groups and farm fellowships, God is clearly at work in new and creative ways.

So, although at times it can feel incredibly scary, what might a mixed ecology look like where you are? Are there ways your ministry might need to adapt or grow to better reflect the people you’re called to serve?

We’d love to help you explore that. Sometimes just talking it through with someone can help relieve anxieties and uncertainties and release moments of vision and dreams for the place you live and the community you love.

The review also shares the vision for more diverse and younger churches. Although it can seem scary, God can also work through change, and naturally, when God moves, you see a shift in the church being more diverse and seeing new people come into the church. Across the church, it has been labelled the quiet revival of God stirring faith in a depth which isn’t hyped up, but a stirring of hunger in individuals coming to church randomly, and people are seeing it among their rural churches. I wonder if you’re surprised when you see new people come to your church? I believe that God invites people into the church to be a voice, and it strengthens the community of the church. I wonder who is in your community that you are missing in your church. Diversity looks like a range of things from ages, ethnicities, experiences of life and much more.

What’s in your hand? What has God already given you - your people, your setting, your gifts - that could be used to help your church grow in mission?

You’re not alone. We’d love to hear what’s stirring in your heart and how we can walk alongside you. We would love to hear your thoughts on the review – look at our Facebook or email us your reflections.