The Diocese of Leeds is delighted to have secured £3.9 million from the Church of England for Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence.
The Barnabas programme offers our churches resources and support at different levels, and is how we all work towards the diocesan vision of ‘Confident Christians, Growing Churches, Transforming Communities’.
The funding for Barnabas was announced at Diocesan Synod on Saturday, July 15 by the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines.
Bishop Nick commended Barnabas to Synod members, saying: “Our diocesan vision has not changed in the nearly ten years we have been the Diocese of Leeds.
“We want to grow confident Christians who consequently grow churches which help to transform our communities.
“This vision has been, and continues to be, at the very heart of the strategic direction of this Diocese.
“The challenges of the last three years and our emergence from the pandemic now provide a unique opportunity to reset and retell the story of how we will support this vision, strategically, and encourage the church to become – in the terms used nationally - simpler, humbler and bolder.
“In doing this, we have been encouraged by the example of the early church.
“Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Christians of the first century prayed for, equipped, mentored, taught and encouraged the local church.
“Integral to this approach was a man called Barnabas.
“Barnabas was intentionally and prayerfully sent out.
“He not only shared the gospel and taught the disciples, but he modelled how best to support others in doing the same thing.
“Barnabas exemplifies the approach we want to take as a diocese as we seek the Holy’s Spirit power, inspiration and guidance in ensuring that every church has an opportunity to move forward in mission, ministry and sustainability in a way that is intentional, prayerful and achievable.
“Rather than being top-down, this strategy places the onus on the local to ask how progress might be made – locally.
“So, I am pleased to be able to tell Synod this morning that two weeks ago the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board agreed to give the diocese £3.9 million to fully fund the first phase of the programme we are calling ‘Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence’.
“Barnabas sets an overarching strategic framework around which the diocese can intentionally be supportive of the missional needs of parishes and can bring a focus on revitalisation, growth and sustainability.
“It enables us to continue to respond to the missional and financial challenges which the diocese faces over the coming decade.
“This funding provides the wider foundation for supporting parishes right across the diocese as we use it to develop a long-term investment partnership rather than a series of ad hoc projects.
“There is much to do.
“Some elements of the Barnabas programme have begun but we are now able to accelerate this, and there will be much more coming out over the coming weeks and months.
“Please do take the time to engage with it and to make the most of the support that is being offered.
“And contact Jonathan Wood or Jude Smith if you wish to discuss details of substance or content further at this stage.”
The programme will help us to become more confident in our mission, leadership, future, and witness in a rapidly changing world, and will result in a parish system revitalised for mission, as well as younger and more diverse churches.
In Acts 11, the Apostle Barnabas encourages the early church to celebrate the good already happening, to put resources in the right places, and to accompany one another in mission.
This story underpins our approach: drawing on the wisdom of the parishes, recognising everyone has something to give, and reflected in strong relationships across the diocese.
Leaders and teams will be resourced and released to live as disciples for Jesus, through specific strands of support.
The seven support strands relate to: prayer, leadership development for clergy, next steps in mission, starting new congregations, help with buildings, stewardship and treasury support and help with governance.
Over the next two weeks we shall be sharing stories of the practical support Barnabas is offering, showcasing the short-, medium- and long-term help that will be provided.
Do watch this space in the coming days, weeks and months, as we go on this diocesan-wide journey together.
We have a website section dedicated to Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence, which can be found here.