Vision and Values
In September 2004, a large number of people from our church family took part in an 'away day', during which we talked and prayed about our Vision and Values. We defined our Vision as:
"revealing the heart of Jesus in the heart of the city"
Working Out our Vision
How will we reveal the heart of Jesus in the heart of the city? There are four areas in which we can see this vision worked out:
Worshipping God
... in vibrant and expectant worship with a diversity of styles
Reaching Out to Everyone
... to our existing relationships and through making new contacts
Caring for One Another
... through developing a healing community of acceptance and love
Equipping God's People
... through resourcing, training and encouraging the use of gifts and abilities
Our Values
Our 'Operational Values' outline the way in which we travel together in the direction God has called us - these can become agreed ways of working together so that we can be committed to one another as God's people at All Saints. A question you might like to ask is, "Do I want to be part of a church which holds these values?" A more challenging question is, "Am I willing to commit to them personally?"
We are committed to running the church and living with one another as transparently as possible. James (5:12) says: "Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no', no." John's letters have much to say about the value to our fellowship of walking in the light, rather than the darkness of hiding things away or distorting the truth (See 1 John 1:5-7) We can expect openness and honesty to build our relationships with each other and contribute to our being a healing community. A commitment to this value will inhibit the spread of rumour, gossip and misunderstandings. Conversely we can expect closed attitudes and dishonesty to damage people and relationships.
We want to be real with one another and with those outside, including owning up to our strengths and weaknesses, our unity and our differences. This is about being willing to be vulnerable. Pretending will lead others to think we, are better than we are and they may think that cannot be part of such a group. Pretending prevents us from sorting out what needs to be sorted out or recognising where we need to practice love and compassion with one another. We are learning to leave our masks behind! Paul writes - "by the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
If we are going to be open and honest with each other and real about ourselves we will also need to practice real generosity which bears with one another and accepts one another as we are. We will need to learn to be good forgivers! We will also seek to model the example of God who has poured himself out for us so freely. People's experience of encountering us as God's people should be one of experiencing grace and not one of having demands placed upon them (for money or anything else). Key texts here are the words of Jesus: "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34) and again: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
We are not all the same and not all perfect - but if we are committed to being honest we will not only need to show real generosity but also to rejoice in our diversity. This can be a strength, not a weakness, and will become so increasingly as we learn to celebrate rather than to fear or to scorn our differences and then even to be willing to embrace that which we have not previously encountered. These are opportunities for personal and corporate growth. This will also be worked out through our commitment to work with other Christians across the churches of Worcester. Paul says: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you." (Romans 15:7) and the Psalmist declared: "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! ... For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133)
We aim for excellence in everything we do for each other, for God and for those to whom we reach out. This is not to discourage anyone from taking first steps in ministry or to make mistakes unacceptable or a cause of destructive criticism. It is about giving real value to one another and to the God whom we serve. "So ... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)