Diocesan Children, Youth and Families Officer

The Diocese of Portsmouth has been awarded £5.3m by the Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry (SMMI) board to support delivery of its £8.75m rejuvenate strategy (Rejuvenate). Our diocesan-level vision and strategy provide a framework for the life and ministry of parishes, chaplaincies, and deaneries of the diocese. It speaks of a diocese longing to be “a rejuvenating community of Jesus-centred, Kingdom-seeking disciples”.

As a diocese we have been inspired by a vision of Christ’s Body, the Church. A prayerful community which seeks God’s Kingdom in and for the world. A community where older people are treasured as the Church of today (rather than yesterday) and younger people find their place and voice as the Church of today (rather than of tomorrow).tomorrow).

Over the past 2 ½ years we have seen the extraordinary growth of Anna Chaplaincy within our diocese. By God’s grace we trust this vital ministry will go from strength to strength in the years ahead. Rejuvenate, and the investment which has now been awarded to support it, applies our collective focus and energy to the challenge of connecting with younger generations that they might discover Jesus Christ and the Kingdom for themselves.

So, as a diocese we would like to double the number of children and young disciples in our churches and ensure there is a thriving ministry to children and young people within reach of every household across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We want to reverse the decline in attendance and to equip and encourage clergy and lay leaders in prayer and discipleship.

Our strategy for delivering Rejuvenate includes three main elements:

• to REVIVE the well-being and spiritual leadership of our diocese by growing a host of little communities (‘Cairns’) which create space for God’s Holy Spirit by prayerful reading of scripture, eating and studying together

• to REVITALISE and encourage our churches, to create pathways by which those currently unconnected to church can connect with the Christian message and make their journey towards becoming committed disciples.

• to RENEW the Church in areas where it currently has little presence, including the planting of new congregations and worshipping communities. Some of this work has already begun, with church planting over the past eight years creating new and growing churches in central Portsmouth, Southsea, Gosport, and Ryde. Hundreds of children, young people, students, and young families have joined thriving congregations at Harbour Church in Portsmouth, St Margaret’s in Southsea, Haven Church in Gosport, St Mary’s in Rowner, and All Saints in Ryde.