Our Vision
The Diocese of Sheffield is called to grow a sustainable network of Christ-like, lively and diverse Christian communities in every place which are effective in making disciples and in seeking to transform our society and God’s world.
Our strategy
The 3Rs – Renewed Released Rejuvenated – strategy was launched in autumn 2018 to provide specific aims on the journey to the vision. Following consultation with churches across the Diocese, 2019-20 saw the development of a detailed implementation plan for each ‘R’ and successful application for national church funding to support for this plan.
Thanks to the prayerful intentionality of people across our diocese we’ve travelled a long way since 2018 with God blessing us significantly. Statistics for Mission data for 2023 and 2024 shows that a small majority of our churches have been holding steady or growing – this is a shift from the majority of churches declining.
Following a refresh of our strategy in 2023-24 we are aiming for 90% of our churches to be growing or holding steady by the end of 2031. In March 2025 we secured £17.5 million from national church to support our endeavours up to the end of 2028, with a further £18.3 million in principle to follow 2029-31 (pending a review of progress). For more information about what we heard in the strategy refresh consultation please check out the slides at the bottom of this page.
We will be good stewards of this funding to resource visionary mission and ministry across all geographies and traditions in our Diocese. This funding will enable the development of significant existing work including support for focal ministry and lay ministry, expansion of our Centenary Project, Resourcing Churches programme and continuing practical support regarding buildings and parish finances. In addition, we are embarking on new work that will support more teams to revitalise parishes, as well as becoming more intentional in resourcing social justice and community transformation activities.
The strategy also involves a definite focus on prayer, on developing new congregations and on everyday discipleship through the Lights for Christ initiative.
Renewed – to receive the Light of Christ
Renewed as a people of prayer
Encourage and support dependence on the Holy Spirit to envision and equip the Church through:
- Mobilising our prayer community for intercessory prayer
- Intentional times of focused prayer, e.g. Thy Kingdom Come, Deanery & Mission Area needs.
Renewed as followers of Jesus
Growing confident Christians who know that they are a Light for Christ through:
- Churches being able to access a range of resources for discipleship including Personal Rule of Life, seasonal, and household resources.
Released – to walk in the Light of Christ
Released through ministry resourcing
Intentionally resourcing our parishes and Mission Areas serving our lowest income communities and encouraging Mission Area collective approaches to Common Fund, continuing the transformation journey through:
- Targeting of Low Income Communities (LInC) funding. We’ve successfully campaigned for this to be increased
- Growing Common Fund through having a Mission Area approach to meeting ministry costs
- Deploying Interim Ministry teams to prepare Mission Areas for Oversight Ministry.
Released through ministry support
Coaching support and practical support to sustain and develop mission and ministry in all our places through:
- Coaching support for clergy (stipendiary and self-supporting) and key lay leaders (when there is a vacancy) from Associate Archdeacons
- Mission Area Support tuned to the needs of the Deanery including generic resources for church life as well as bespoke help.
Released through ministry development
All Mission Areas and Congregations to have designated leaders and opportunities for leader development in each place through:
- All Mission Areas having designated Oversight Ministry
- Every congregation to have a designated Focal Minister and each church to have identified Lay Ministers, often commissioned locally
- High retention of curate and Focal Ministers due to good support and opportunities for ministry
Rejuvenated – to reflect the Light of Christ
Rejuvenated to transform our society and God’s world
Commitment to social justice and community transformation through:
- Racial Justice roadmap delivery
- Net Zero Carbon roadmap delivery
- Equipping our people to speak out against prejudice and connect with their communities
- Expansion of Parish Nursing.
Rejuvenated to be younger & more diverse
A flourishing children and young people’s ministry in reach of all young people through:
- Phase 2 of the Centenary Project to reach more children young people and families including Church in Schools to support a flourishing children and young people’s ministry in the reach of all young people
- A worshipping community part of every significant social housing estate
- Drawing on examples of good practice, develop models to better reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Rejuvenated to witness & grow
Growing stronger networks to share expertise and support revitalisation across our Diocese through:
- Support planting and grafting churches, and churches wishing to receive a graft, to prepare for a new partnership to revitalise mission and ministry to the local community
- Develop a network of churches with expertise in particular areas of ministry to resource other churches in those ministries
- Grow our Community of Evangelists to support all places to share the Good News.
Slide Presentation
Download our slide deck presentation to help you understand and communicate our Diocesan vision & strategy.
What can I do?
Keep up to date with what’s happening across the Diocese by signing up to the e-bulletin and check out our socials and Network Magazine.
Your Associate Archdeacon-Transition Enabler and Area Dean have information shared at deanery events on what the new funding and refreshed strategy mean in your patch. Please contact them for more information. Alternatively, do contact Alex Shilkoff who will be happy to talk to you!
Other resources that can help you are Mission Action Planning and Mission Area Support.
Weekly news from across the Diocese – we are always happy to receive your stories
A process of bite-size steps to help the church survive, thrive and multiply
Mission Area Support operates to help and serve people in the parishes in various aspects of church life.