Anglican Parish of Kingston

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Opportunities & future directions

The Parish recognises that there is much more that could be 'done' for God's Kingdom in our local community. 'The harvest is plentiful,' and the Parish sees many opportunities for spreading the Gospel. There are, however, barriers which need to be overcome in God's strength and time.

Community profile and respect: The parish and its leadership team have developed a strong public profile and we believe they are very highly regarded throughout the community. Significant opportunites exist to capitalise on this reputation and to minister to the community. As these opportunities are embraced, the parish will need to release lay people into ministry roles. The releasing and mobilising of the Body of Christ will be a key issue in any church family growing and meeting these greater needs.

Members of the church family need to be continually challenged to leave their comfort zones in the Lord's service, mindful that it is God's Church and not our Church and His will and desire for us is paramount.

Population change: Whilst the average age of the community continues to increase, the flavour of the Kingborough region is definitely 'family.' A key issue for the parish is the ability to reach families in relevant ways with God's love. APOK needs to be flexible in its approach to different family situations and prepared to develop and adapt programs to suit all family types.

The aging population provides another area of opportunity. Whilst we see some of the traditional organisations within churches decline due to aging membership , the development of aged and hospice care in the community provides an opportunity to Christians to minister to those in great need in the evening of their life. The loneliness and isolation of aging provides an area of ministry opportunity for the parish, and the tailoring of services to suit the traditions of this age group, and the offering of relevant and meaningful worship, discipleship structures and programs and outreach opportunities to cater for the tastes of this and all other segments of the population.

The worship style at 9.30 services is an attraction to many, especially youthful participants. APOK is aware that 'new' worship styles may need to be developed to continue relevancy to the unchurched community.

Fellowship: A home group structure provides the potential for discipling and outreach. To achieve this, the home groups will need to be coordinated and focussed on the aspects of fellowship and growth for those in the church family. Training and opportunities for spiritual growth will need to be provided for those in leadership in these small groups.

Children and Families: Given the population of the Kingborough region and the number of families attending the Churches, this area is seen as a major opportunity for ministry.

The current resourcing of this area may need to be reviewed and strengthened i.e. coordinator(s)/Chifam Committee.

The church also needs to be vigilant in this area as we deal some of the most vulnerable people in the community. Issues such as leader accreditation and safe play areas need to be addressed.

There has been a strong Youth program for over 25 years, however, given the number of 'young' families in the parish and community, the parish will need to focus on the full age-spectrum of children and their needs.

Welcoming and first impressions: The church is fortunate in that the reputation for being a vibrant place of worship draws newcomers in. As we prepare for newcomers to enter our midst we must be prepared to spend time in welcoming and nurturing, encouraging people to find friendships and real relationships.

Outreach/ministry in local schools: The local government schools have embraced the presence of the church within the school grounds most notably with the Chaplaincy at the local Secondary School (through the Youth Pastor) and educational programs run at the local primary school.

The Parish has an opportunity to provide much needed spiritual input and focus for a large number of young people. We need to be constantly open to how God wants to support this mission.

Outreach to community groups: An initiative of the Priest-in-Charge is a ministry to the horse community in the district adjoining St Luke's, Sandfly.

Physical property constraints: The church building of St Clement's provides great opportunity for public performance in God's house. The building has in the past been used for musicals and Christian concerts. The building lends itself well to these events and therefore provides a great opportunity for evangelism through the performing arts.

The lack of a proper meeting-place for parish social events has long been an issue. The construction of a purpose built-parish hall will enable the parish to develop further the fellowship and outreach ministries. The project has Parish approval and is at the development approval stage.

Interdenominational ministry: There is a strong Christian presence in the Kingston area with at least six well-supported churches. Opportunities exist for the churches of the area to pool resources to further the Kingdom. The parish must be involved in cooperation and communication and be flexible in how we relate to the other parts of God's universal church.

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