Church Policies and Documents
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questions and to offer your thoughts, comments and ideas on any topic, please email fathermartin@hotmail.co.uk
MISSION ACTION PLAN
Summary of objectives
A) Remain a growing, welcoming, inclusive, worshipping, open, and prayerful community.
B) Maintain our Eucharist-centred worship pattern, encouraging greater lay ministry and remaining open to exploring new possibilities within our worship pattern.
C) Further develop opportunities for spiritual development for all in the Parish, including through scriptural and liturgical learning.
D) Continue building our Electoral Roll.
E) Enhance our work with children and young people liturgically and socially.
F) Achieve our budget for income and expenditure and secure financial stability for our mission. Increase the number of people who give by standing order.
G) Ensure good communications with the wider parish.
H) Respond positively to the London Challenge II and the opportunities for growth and cooperation with our neighbouring churches of all denominations, especially the parishes of the Central Fulham Collaboration.
I) Extend further the mission and ministry of St Andrew’s within the wider community and develop the usage of our church buildings, especially as a community resource.
J) Develop the role of music in the life of St Andrew’
K) We affirm that environmental issues and caring for God's creation form part of our church's life and mission in our homes, our church and the wider world
Reflections on the MAP over twelve months up to Summer 2008 by the PCC
Over a period of about a year the PCC looked at each of the objectives above and discussed them. These notes add a little more detail to the vision of the MAP and should serve as further food for thought. The MAP is a live document not a set of commandments. Its purpose is to stimulate fresh missionary thought and action by the whole church community. Many of the PCC’s ideas noted here have been taken forward and our situation as we approach New Year 2009 has been radically transformed; the electoral roll has almost doubled, two members of staff have been taken on, and many new activities have been begun or have continued to flourish and grow. Objective K was added by agreement at the meeting of the PCC on 27th July 2008 (after the review was complete).
In the summer of 2009 we will be engaging in a major initiative of evangelism between Easter and Pentecost and the MAP is one of the tools which we can all use to make sure we have the gospel imperative to share the good news of Jesus Christ as our priority.
A) Remain a growing, welcoming, inclusive, worshipping, open, and prayerful community.
Stress was placed on the need to maintain St. Andrews reputation as a welcoming church. Newcomers to the Church should be spotted and encouraged to go into the Church Hall and be introduced to people there. This was incumbent on all members of the PCC and not just on the welcoming team. The Church's website should be displayed on the church notice boards so that passers-by who were interested might discover more about the church before visiting . As regards prayer, Fr. Martin said that "monthly prayer calendar" was nearing completion. Trevor Dawson recalled monthly prayer meetings which Diana Page used to organise which might be reconstituted. Jenkin Thomas recalled an especially moving "one-off " occasion held in the Lady Chapel at the time of the Elections in Iraq, praying for peace and a better future for Iraq, remembering the war dead on all sides, but
especially by name all the British war dead up to that time. Similar "one-off " events which had emotional resonance might be considered.
B) Maintain our Eucharist-centred worship pattern, encouraging greater lay ministry and remaining open to exploring new possibilities within our worship pattern.
It was suggested that greater variety might be introduced into St. Andrews liturgical practice. Nigel and Anne Heeler thought that the charismatic style of worship might be drawn upon to liven up worship and respond to different tastes. Why not have a charismatic inspired evening as a try out? Fr. Martin said he was open to variety, even in Eucharistic worship, provided St.Andrews's traditional Catholic ethos was preserved. It would be a mistake, however, to attempt to become another St. Paul's Hammersmith. He invited Nigel and Anne Heeler to set down their thoughts on paper.
Jenkin Thomas recalled that there had been in the past Bible Study Groups (one of which Nigel Heeler had chaired). At an earlier period he had attended an ad hoc monthly group which a former Church member, Francesca Eridani, had led.The group had discussed a different monthly spiritual theme suggested by Fr.David. Fr. Martin said that the current Lenten groups led by Chris Williams and Chrissy Eastwood were going well and that there might be spill over into new groups from them. As regards lay leadership, it was a matter of regret to him that St. Andrews had at present no qualified "Reader" or someone on a "Parish Evangelist" course.
Fr. Martin said in conclusion that he had found the exchange of ideas very helpful. It was important that the PCC should not get bogged down in house-keeping matters. It needed to find time to look at wider issues. He thought it would be a good idea in future to reserve the last half-hour of every PCC meeting for such wide-ranging discussion; with any item on the main agenda which had not been reached by that time postponed to the following PCC.
C) Further develop opportunities for spiritual development for all in the Parish, including through scriptural and liturgical learning.
The absence of young people (between the ages of 15-19 in particular) was discussed at
length. It was reported by Fr Martin that the Curate of St Peter's, Black Lion Lane, had had
great success in encouraging young people to attend church. A Pastoral Assistant for St
Andrew's would, however, cost too much, due to the high cost of living in the parish.
Anthony suggested that the new Administrator may be able to take on specific youth
projects. Carolyn explained that her previous parish in Cambridge had had great success
with a Goth Eucharist (a service using heavy metal music, candles and allowing the
congregation to dress in gothic clothing), although the demographic make-up of St
Andrew's may mean the service would not be suitable here. Chris reported that he is
trying to build up a team of young people, and hopes to offer an alternative to Children's
Church when the team are not serving.
Chris is also looking into the possibility of a day trip for the young people who attend
Church. He hopes to use the opportunity to find out what they really want from the
Church.
Diana reported that her monthly prayer plan is nearly complete.
Peter raised the possibility of more Bible study groups, and an Open Day once a month to
show people the Church.
Fr Martin told the meeting that he is still considering putting a new sign by the south door
of the Church. He told the meeting he would welcome any suggestions.
Confusion between pew sheets and Mass books was raised by Christoph. Fr Martin is to
ensure that all literature is clearly marked and coloured differently.
Diana raised the issue of daily reading books in Church. She is to look into the possibility of
making some available at the back of the church.
Tom agreed to look into getting a book stall and bookcases for the Church. He will liaise
with Fr Martin.
D) Continue building our Electoral Roll.
No specific discussion recorded in PCC minutes.
E) Enhance our work with children and young people liturgically and socially.
Work with children and young people. Mark R-S asked why the children's budget has been
underspent this year (£200 spent out of a budgeted £1,500). It was agreed that Children's
Church will spend more money. Chris wondered if more can be done to encourage
children's music. Christoph pointed out that funding is potentially available from the
Deanery Synod for Youth Development. Fr Martin said that the Standing Committee of the
Synod will be reporting back shortly. Fr Martin said that he is keen on having a children's
choir. He will explore ways to bring this about. Christoph asked for more posters. He will
speak to Fr Martin about this.
F) Achieve our budget for income and expenditure and secure financial stability for our mission. Increase the number of people who give by standing order.
No specific discussion recorded in PCC minutes.
G) Ensure good communications with the wider parish.
No specific discussion recorded in PCC minutes.
H) Respond positively to the London Challenge II and the opportunities for growth and cooperation with our neighbouring churches of all denominations, especially the parishes of the Central Fulham Collaboration.
Diana suggested that the London Challenge be announced in Notices on Sunday, and that
we sing the special hymn written for this.
There was discussion what interaction there is locally between St. Andrew’s and other
Christian non-conformist churches. Many of those present expressed enthusiasm for there
being some form of joint activity with such other denominations, although it was conceded
that, for liturgical and theological reasons nothing much more than a hymn-singing event
was likely to be possible. Christoph asked that St. Andrew’s be better represented at
Deanery Synod.
I) Extend further the mission and ministry of St Andrew’s within the wider community and develop the usage of our church buildings, especially as a community resource.
Developments such as the fruit and vegetable co-operative, the coffee mornings, a
welcoming Baptism policy etc. were all seen as steps in the right direction. This was also
likely to fit in well with the 2012 London Challenge. The question of toilets continued to be
a concern, and the possibility of temporary measures might have to be investigated.
J) Develop the role of music in the life of St Andrew’s.
No specific discussion recorded in PCC minutes.
K) Added after the completion of this review.
Policy at St Andrew’s, Fulham Fields, for the reception of Communion before Confirmation
1. The centrality and importance of the Mass
At St Andrew’s the celebration of the Mass is a central part of how we understand who we are as a community and how God is at work amongst us. Holy Communion is the principal sacramental means by which the Christian community is formed and through which we come into God’s presence.
2. First Communion
The reception of communion for the first time is therefore a very special occasion which should be marked by the whole community and should be prepared for by the new communicant with the guidance of the parish priest and the prayers and support of the congregation.
3. The place of Confirmation
The established pattern for reception of communion within the Church of England, and in the policies of the Diocese of London, is that it should normally be preceded by Confirmation. The diocesan policy states that ‘since communion before confirmation is a departure from our inherited norm it requires special permission. The agreement of the Area Bishop is required before a parish introduces the practice of admitting baptized persons to communion before confirmation.’
4. Children
Although the action of the Mass is mysterious and not open to an exclusively rational explanation the members of the PCC, in discussing the possibility of children receiving communion, felt that there was a stage of development below which it would be difficult for a child to receive adequate preparation to move towards an understanding of what is happening in the Mass. This stage would vary between different children but it would be rare for a child younger than 7 to be ready to receive a course of preparation. Therefore, in most cases, first communion might occur at age 7 or above, with confirmation following at a later age, perhaps 12 or 13.
5. Policy
It is the policy at St Andrew’s that all those who are to receive communion for the first time should be prepared carefully in advance. At the discretion of the parish priest, this preparation would be unlikely to be offered below the age of 7. All who are not confirmed would be encouraged to take that step and the youngest age for this, again with the discretion of the parish priest, is likely to be around 12 or 13. In giving this guidance the priest and PCC wish to stress that the ages recorded here are only a guide.
