Locating new areas to deploy – I think this is crucial, so I was pleased to see that there was an emphasis on encouraging team leaders to be proactive in this (as well as often very busy steering groups).Ultimately, it is in the team leaders best interests to also be looking to serve potential team leaders because that will also bolster the support and connectivity for existing teams in a city.
Continue to deploy teams in proximity to others, wherever possible – this was great to see, as well.There has been some debate in Glasgow as to the appropriateness of geographical proximity in cities with lower population densities than London.But Esther and I chose Possilpark deliberately because of the existence of a similar (non UE) team in the community next door.This has already opened up missional opportunities and overlap in schools work in the area, and also the opportunity for personal accountability between members of the two teams.I am convinced that the level of intimacy and practical support that teams can offer one another increases with geographical proximity…and walking distance is actually key here.We need to think locally in terms of team proximity as well.I think that teams deployed in the North East, East or South of Glasgow will not really be able to provide real support for Esther and I in the North.
Ask hard questions of any “potential team leaders with existing commitments to particular locations before endorsing their sense of calling.”This is absolutely essential, and only something that a Steering Group can do.Questions need to include:
·What level of statistical research have you done?
·Why this area?What specific aspects have drawn you there?
·What do you know of future development and demographic trends for your area?
·What relationships have you already established in the area?
·Have you spoken to key existing gatekeepers (church and otherwise) in your area?
·Have any existing church leaders actually given you a “Macedonian call?”
·What types of ministry do you feel it is likely will open up for you in this area, given the demographic and fabric of the community?Are these areas of ministry that you feel called to personally?
·What have potential team members indicated to you about their calling to the area?
·Is this area under-churched? Can you provide evidence for this?
Draft a list of questions to be considered when selecting a suitable locality
- here’s the list Esther and I made.
Need - Statistics of Church Attendance and SIMD
Location of local pastors who are willing to have a team
Cluster of UE plants in same area
Existing relationships
Future demographics and population trends
Team idiosyncracies – e.g calling to multi-cultural areas
Prayerful guidance from team prayer walk
Passion for the area
If you love to sail, maybe you should be living near the ocean.If you love urban culture, maybe you should be living in a large city.If you love cows and fields, maybe yours should be a rural Church plant.Don’t go somewhere because the demographics look good.Go somewhere because your heart is there.
Deploy at least one team in any city before setting up a steering group
I think this is an excellent recommendation, because it will ensure that the basis of any work in a new city will be grassroots, and set the correct tone for local UE culture.Team leaders should have a strong influence in who appoints Steering Group members.There should be a strong aspect of relationality built into both the choice of team leaders and Steering Group members, and everyone should have the opportunity to explore the meaning of the values and how they are understood in the organisation.Ideally, new teams in new cities could be formed by team members from other cities, as happened in Manchester, ensuring continuity of values (in my opinion).
Deployment
Locating new areas to deploy – I think this is crucial, so I was pleased to see that there was an emphasis on encouraging team leaders to be proactive in this (as well as often very busy steering groups). Ultimately, it is in the team leaders best interests to also be looking to serve potential team leaders because that will also bolster the support and connectivity for existing teams in a city.
Continue to deploy teams in proximity to others, wherever possible – this was great to see, as well. There has been some debate in Glasgow as to the appropriateness of geographical proximity in cities with lower population densities than London. But Esther and I chose Possilpark deliberately because of the existence of a similar (non UE) team in the community next door. This has already opened up missional opportunities and overlap in schools work in the area, and also the opportunity for personal accountability between members of the two teams. I am convinced that the level of intimacy and practical support that teams can offer one another increases with geographical proximity…and walking distance is actually key here. We need to think locally in terms of team proximity as well. I think that teams deployed in the North East, East or South of Glasgow will not really be able to provide real support for Esther and I in the North.
Ask hard questions of any “potential team leaders with existing commitments to particular locations before endorsing their sense of calling.” This is absolutely essential, and only something that a Steering Group can do. Questions need to include:
· What level of statistical research have you done?
· Why this area? What specific aspects have drawn you there?
· What do you know of future development and demographic trends for your area?
· What relationships have you already established in the area?
· Have you spoken to key existing gatekeepers (church and otherwise) in your area?
· Have any existing church leaders actually given you a “Macedonian call?”
· What types of ministry do you feel it is likely will open up for you in this area, given the demographic and fabric of the community? Are these areas of ministry that you feel called to personally?
· What have potential team members indicated to you about their calling to the area?
· Is this area under-churched? Can you provide evidence for this?
Draft a list of questions to be considered when selecting a suitable locality
- here’s the list Esther and I made.
If you love to sail, maybe you should be living near the ocean. If you love urban culture, maybe you should be living in a large city. If you love cows and fields, maybe yours should be a rural Church plant. Don’t go somewhere because the demographics look good. Go somewhere because your heart is there.
Deploy at least one team in any city before setting up a steering group
I think this is an excellent recommendation, because it will ensure that the basis of any work in a new city will be grassroots, and set the correct tone for local UE culture. Team leaders should have a strong influence in who appoints Steering Group members. There should be a strong aspect of relationality built into both the choice of team leaders and Steering Group members, and everyone should have the opportunity to explore the meaning of the values and how they are understood in the organisation. Ideally, new teams in new cities could be formed by team members from other cities, as happened in Manchester, ensuring continuity of values (in my opinion).