MINISTRY SUPPORT

Congregational Ministry Reviews

Ministry is the work of the whole people of God, both pastor and people together. Making time to have open and honest discussions about the ministry of the congregation will enrich the ministry and life of the congregation, the people and, ultimately, the wider church.

A congregational ministry review is also a way for every congregation to ask, ‘How are we going?’ It can be a time to celebrate what has been achieved in the previous year, identify and understand what can and might be worked on in the year ahead, and plan ways to move forward in ministry together.

Ministry Review trial

After talking with pastors and reviewing the findings of the Church Worker Wellbeing surveys, the College of Bishops, working with the Church Worker Support team, has developed a framework to implement and support a process of regular ministry review at a congregational or parish level. The Congregational Ministry Review process outlined in the framework document below is a step in that direction.

We know that the relationship between pastor and congregation is a sacred relationship in which both parties make covenants with each other. Taking time to examine these together as part of a ministry review will further enable affirmation of these mutual covenants and encourage and facilitate mutual ongoing support.

You may already be having these types of discussions, and formalising a process to record them in a review like this and forwarding a summary of these discussions to your district bishop will support the bishop in his care and oversight of both the ministry in the district and of the pastorate.

The review process is being trialled in mid-2023. This will help refine the review framework and the associated administrative processes, before formally launching the Ministry Review Framework and process across the church in 2024.

Pastors and their leadership teams are invited to review the framework document and have a go at working through the Congregational Ministry Review process using the available form. Please submit a completed review form by 31 August 2023 as part of the trial.

Your feedback on the review process by 31 August 2023 would also be appreciated.

Please contact us if you have any queries or concerns.