A Simple Guide To Time To Change Together

This short course will help you discover how change has been taking place – we hope it provides simple and clear information about Time To Change Together.

1. What is Time To Change Together?

Time to Change Together (also known as TTCT) is about creating more sustainable ways for churches across Greater Lincolnshire to serve their communities, worship God and proclaim the gospel.

Every local church is at the forefront of whatever decisions are made to make this possible. Inevitably, many of these decisions will involve elements of change which may not always feel comfortable but are always essential.

We are all encouraged to pledge ourselves as active, positive and supportive members of one united body – choosing collaboration over isolation. We are called to build relationships, to form partnerships, to act generously.

As we continue to engage with this ever-evolving process, we will seek God’s guidance every step of the way. It will, at times, challenge our notion of how our faith is lived out in a changing world. What we do know is that our foundation in Jesus remains sure.

We pray that, through TTCT, all churches will receive the resources they need to realise their Godly ambition and mission.

2. Who is leading the change?

Your Bishops and the Parish Support Team (located at Edward King House in Lincoln) are working alongside trustees and various committees to ensure that TTCT and the future strategic direction of the Diocese is carried out – but we also acknowledge that local knows local best.

3. A range of changes…

Covenant Pledges Established

A new form of giving is introduced. Each parish in the Diocese is asked to decide what they are able to contribute towards the cost of stipendiary ministry across the Diocese of Lincoln.

This is a covenant pledge and is gathered together in the ‘common fund’. This money is then shared across the Diocese to ensure that stipendiary priests are available to the community of Greater Lincolnshire and we can plan a sustainable future together.

Crucially, when we give to the common fund through a covenant pledge, we may wish to consider this as an outpouring of generosity that goes towards helping the church develop across the whole county, not just focussing upon our own local community.

By working together and contributing to the common fund, we can work towards our ambition of having 100 stipendiary posts, located across the diocese.

Church Types Selected

Churches are asked to choose their church type based on five different possibilities.

Each church is always going to be unique but choosing a church type helps everyone to know what the church is aiming to be and do for their community. Church types also helps a Local Mission Partnership (LMP) to plan worship across the area and allocate resources (money, items and service) where and when they are required.

There are no advantageous positions and no matter which church type is chosen there is a series of expectations of what that type of church should exhibit and inhabit its church type.

Focal Ministry Introduced

A new form of local leadership is introduced with positive responses and encouraging uptake.

Focal Ministers are often lay people but occasionally ordained who are well-established and well-respected in their specific church. They are discerned by Oversight Ministers or Rural Deans and play an important role in bringing their local church community together.

They are trained to bring out the best in everybody’s activities for Christ within their specific church and community.

4. Vision recap

In 2023, a vision day familiarised ministers with the new shared ministerial roles that are available to lead churches into flourishing as collaborative, generous and missional worshipping communities.

The Vision Day was offered to share next steps since Deanery Partnerships had been defined as administrative subdivisions of the diocese, and Local Mission Partnerships established as collaborative families of local churches, each with a clear vocation expressed in its self-identified Church Type.

In this video, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, reflects on what was heard during that vision day.

5. What next?

As we look to the future of mission and ministry in the Diocese of Lincoln, we are setting out on a journey of discernment. It’s about walking together in faith, asking where the Spirit is leading us – listening to you and listening to God’s call to become the Church we are called to be.

Rooted in prayer, theology and local wisdom, this journey will shape a new decade-long Diocesan strategy.

At the centre of this journey is ‘Lord, Show Us The Way‘ – a period of shared reflection, prayer and honest conversation across our Diocese.

This process is an invitation for every church, group and person to listen first, before planning or acting. We want to honour the wisdom from every corner of the diocese, shaped by scripture and the Spirit.

We need to hear your voice, to ground our strategy in the reality of our shared experiences.