loved to see more young people and young adults in their churches, although the extent to which they were prepared to change, for instance worship styles, to encourage this was questionable. Also, I detected a wide range of motives for mission from different people at the various meetings, including: •
A genuine desire to see people converted into the Christian faith for their own sakes – this was only clearly articulated at Lumley.
•
A desire to make a difference in the local community by drawing (young) people into the life of faith through the church – this was most clearly expressed at Birtley.
•
To ensure the survival of the church in the future – this was quite widely expressed.
•
To see the church premises used more – Perkinsville particularly.
•
To meet peoples’ non-spiritual needs – Pelton and Lumley.
I shall now look at each church’s Mission Statement, or equivalent, in turn together with their expressed priorities and comment on these with respect to their activities. In general, I would comment that ‘Mission Statement’ is often rather a misnomer, both in style and content – some were more a long-winded expression of who/what the particular church was. The 3 churches with formal Mission Statements had arrived at them by discussion in their leadership teams (mostly Church Stewards) and adoption by Church Councils.
Birtley Their lengthy Mission Statement was: As a people within the tradition of the Methodist Church, we are called by God to witness, together with those of other traditions, to the universal Love of God in Christ. As Disciples of Christ we are called to display His Love in our lives and the Life of the Church Family and to proclaim the Good News of Our Saviour in word and deed, so that by the Power of the Holy Spirit others may find the Truth of the love of Our Father in their lives. This calling and mission is to be worked out in our Life and example to others, in our Service to the Community in which we live, in our welcome and encouragement to the people of all ages, in our Prayers and support within and for this community, the peoples of the World and the Church universal. Their 3 priorities for the next 5 years were: 1. Spiritual and Biblical growth opportunities for all. 2. The introduction of ‘new families’ to the church. 70