Developing a Personal Vision

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making disciples developing leaders
growing churches
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research
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identified
key questions
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• What is important about a vacancy?
• What sort of churches are most vulnerable to
  losing people?
• What is the impact of vacancy length?
• What should we do to prepare for a vacancy?
• What can we do in the vacancy to help us thrive
  and grow?
• What helps us grow after a vacancy?

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what is important about a vacancy?
Overall, we are not losing people from churches
with a vicar in place, just from churches
struggling with vacancies. Bob Jackson
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what sort of churches are most vulnerable to
losing people?
over 100
new people
many living outside parish
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what is the impact of vacancy length?
Keep it short ideally around six months
over 100
people living outside parish
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what should we do to prepare for a vacancy?
grow leaders
share leadership
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what should we do to prepare for a vacancy?
hand over responsibilities
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what should we do to prepare for a vacancy?
MAP
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what can we do in the vacancy to help us thrive
and grow?
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key pieces of advice
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stay united and deal with conflict
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value the paid staff, but dont expect them to be
the vicar
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spread the load
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be clear about who is in charge
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dont stop changing
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look for quality and continuity in leading worship
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consider an interim minister
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organise the pastoral care
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the newcomers
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encourage regular attendance
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review the programme, but maintain it if you can
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communicate communicate communicate
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deal with transition, acknowledge emotions
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keep good relations with the patron, deanery and
diocese
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pray
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what helps us grow after the vacancy?

• Dont dump it all back on the new vicar
• Dont give up on the lapsed
• Be ready to change to grow
• Be ready for greater financial commitment

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bits of advice
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A vacancy its not a problem, its an
opportunity.
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further resources at www.grow-vacancy.org.uk
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making disciples developing leaders
growing churches