About Casting the Net

Casting the Net is the programme of Mission and Growth which was approved by the Diocesan Synod in September 2008.

Casting the Net is a simple but powerful approach to congregational growth. Together we’ll think about our congregations as living communities of God’s people and take practical steps along the path towards growth.

Why is this so important?

We know that to build the Kingdom of God here in Scotland in the 21st century, our congregations need to embrace mission and growth. We need simple yet powerful processes for the work.

How can we recognise a healthy, growth-oriented church?

We have identified nine general characteristics (marks) of a healthy mission-shaped church: :

1. We worship in ways that renew and inspire.
2. We transform lives and communities.
3. We nurture faith through lifelong learning and mutual support.
4. We reach out to children and young people.
5. We use prayer, word and sacrament to experience God’s will.
6. We welcome newcomers and celebrate life events.
7. We share our faith by confident and sensitive evangelism.
8. We serve the community in practical ways.
9. We are ready to seek growth and CAST THE NET.

What kind of planning process is needed?

Using the ‘Nine Marks of a Mission-Shaped Church’ as a framework, Casting the Net asks each congregation to undertake a simple strategic planning process. The steps are for congregation and clergy, together, to:

Make time for an assessment of the congregation’s current position on each of the nine marks - a Mission Audit - then agree a strategy for growth guided by:

• Awareness of the congregation’s particular strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats.
• Knowledge of good practice in each of the nine areas.
• Awareness of diocesan policy.

Translate that strategy into a specific three year plan for growth, which identifies for each of the nine marks:

• what its relative priority will be and why;
• what will be done, by whom, when, to help the congregation grow in that area;
• how progress will be measured;
• what resources will be allocated to the area and where they will come from.

Make time at least annually to review progress against the plan’s aims and objectives, address any emerging difficulties and roll the plan forward by one year. Make time every three years for a deeper review of strategy.

The aim is not just to ‘tick nine boxes’. What matters is that clergy and people prayerfully work out together how they can best move towards enhanced health and growth, and then act upon that in a sustained way.

Why will Casting the Net make a difference?

First, it puts mission at the centre of our life and work, while taking a holistic view of congregational life in all its richness and complexity.

Second, it flows directly from the new Diocesan Vision and Strategy, and reflects the desire for growth that our congregations expressed overwhelmingly during the review.

Third, its approach builds on thinking, materials and work that have been applied successfully elsewhere.

But Casting the Net is also different from many other initiatives of this kind. It is not just something which the diocese asks congregations to do. Our aim is to structure and organise the diocese in such a way that diocesan resources are dedicated to supporting congregations as they engage with Casting the Net.

How can we make this a coherent approach across all aspects of the life and work of our Church?

Casting the Net will be accompanied and supported by:

Insights from work on Sources of Growth

• Helping congregations make informed choices about where their prospects for growth are likely to be strongest and how to allocate resources accordingly when developing plans.
• A number of groups and types of people were identified who are likely to represent stronger potential sources of growth. For each, a body of good practice has been brought together on how to engage with them, often illustrated by real-life stories of growth from around the diocese.

This Sources of Growth material is presented more fully on the Diocesan website at http://www.standrews.anglican.org and in Section 3 of the new Diocesan Policy document.

New diocesan structures and processes to help growth happen

Some adjustments to Diocesan structures and processes are essential to make growth a real priority in a practical sense. These include:

• The development of a small diocesan staff team who will work with congregations. At present we see this as providing support in three areas: the development of Mission Plans, training for ministry, work with children and young people.
• A new diocesan structure specifically designed to support these developments and to help the diocese to be more flexible and responsive. This will include a larger and more broadly-based Standing Committee with a strengthened remit to help individual congregations and the diocese as a whole put the strategy for growth into practice.

This is more fully explained in Section 4 of the new Diocesan Policy document.

New policy on Clergy and Lay roles, and training resources for all engaged in ministry

We shall help clergy and Vestries to work more effectively together in addressing the whole range of challenges which face our congregations.

• Ensuring training and support for laity who undertake ministry.
• Support to help clergy and laity work together in the most productive way possible, making the fullest use of the gifts available. A leaflet is being produced which sets out in clear terms the mutual responsibilities and expectations of Vestry, Lay Ministry, Clergy and Bishop.

This is more fully explained in Section 6 of the new Diocesan Policy document.

New policy on children, their parents and young people

Congregations are encouraged to take a holistic approach to ministry with children and their parents, recognising their importance as a source of growth and looking carefully at the range of needs and opportunities that exist.

• We shall continue to take every opportunity of sharing with other churches and with groups in the community in developing programmes for teenagers and young adults. The Scottish Episcopal Church’s Glenalmond Youth Weeks will continue to be an important opportunity for our young people to develop a sense of our own denominational tradition and life.
• Specialist diocesan staff will work with congregations across the diocese.
• We shall develop a range of resources to help congregations in this important area of ministry.

This is more fully explained in Section 7 of the new Diocesan Policy document.

Consistent and growth-oriented approach to organization of Charges and Clergy

• For the first time, we shall develop a process by which we can plan the future for our congregations and diocese.
• Casting the Net will help us to ensure that decisions in these areas are part of a well-considered and sustainable development plan for growth that meets the needs of the individual congregation and the long term health of the diocese as a whole.

This is more fully explained in Section 8 of the new Diocesan Policy document.

More information and support

Casting the Net is part of the new Diocesan Policy and Action Plan. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of the new policy, please talk in the first instance to your Rector. This website’s Casting the Net section makes available a growing body of material offering good-practice guidance and ideas for many aspects of congregational life.