The Parish Profile was prepared for the process of appointing a new incumbent. It identified priorities for the future which built on the past but also on openness to developing further.

A Mission Action Plan is an expression of this - a plan which seeks to move a church community forward and not simply maintain its current activities, however good they may be.

The vision behind the proposals which follow is rooted in this concern, and is in the spirit of the direction of St. James’s Church over a number of years. The key words are:
• Development
• Growth
• Exploration
• New understanding
• Inclusive
• Involving
• Welcoming

We looked at what had been achieved in the past three years, and the construction of the West Porch stands out. It symbolises all of the above. Behind any vision for a church must be a vision of God. God is understood in the Christian tradition to be the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is seen as a community of love - one, but with distinctions. This is a dynamic understanding of God. God who is changeless, yet also relates to changeable beings. Our life as a church is rooted in God - God’s nature should be our nature.

Our Mission Action Plan should reflect this understanding of God. God does not ask us to remain the same but to step out on a journey with him that involves new discoveries and endless possibilities. With this in mind, the Parochial Church Council offers its thoughts for the future and its priorities for 2007-10.

Objectives for 2007-10
By asking how do we see St. James’ Church in 2010 the PCC identified an overarching aim for the next three years:
• A church community and local community brought closer to God

We then identified six broad themes:
• Worship
• Outreach
• Children and young people
• Communication
• Courses and events

Our aims for each of them are:
Worship
We aim to develop our forms of worship in order to make them more appropriate and helpful

Outreach
We aim to develop further contacts with the wider community, at home and abroad

Children and young people
We aim to give children and young people every opportunity to become involved in the Christian life by making it more attractive and accessible

Communication
We aim to develop channels of communication that support clear and consistent information and encourage dialogue

Learning and development
We aim to provide appropriate opportunities and resources for learning and developing within the Christian life

Environment
We aim to share our commitment to God’s creation by adopting measures to enhance and protect the environment

Look at the full Mission Action Plan