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Minster Way Network

Background information

When the new estates of Molescroft were built around 2000, Beverley Minster Parish became concerned to cater for the pastoral needs of those who live there; a process of listening was inititiated (2002), together with other churches, to discern the needs and opportunities in this area; the Associate Vicar and his family moved to the Lockwood Rd estate (2004) and began to consider prayerfully the appropriate model of Christian witness. As they sought God’s guidance for the development of this, they became convinced that forming a community was at the heart of any meaningful outreach and service. (Described hereafter as “mission group” so as not to confuse it with the local community).

Whilst the Minster expressed and supported the initial “mission” vision in its 2000 Vision and Strategy document, it was St Leonard’s Molescroft that became the base for mission initiatives in the northern part of the parish.

Description of the MWN mission group

MWN was officially launched on 5 October 2005. A small group of families and individuals committed to Christian community and mission, some of whom had already been involved in a number of projects, began meeting together to consider how to enable faith to be accessible in an effective way to their local neighbourhood, and in particular the networks that relate culturally with it.
In 2007 it joined the Fresh Expression network: A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.

Mission statement

MWN is a growing network of individuals and households who honour Christ and whose aim is to participate in furthering his mission in our contemporary cultural context. We seek to do this, in partnership with local churches, by providing opportunities to build relationships which will enable spiritual growth, and by engaging with issues of social concern in order to build community.

Aims and objectives

to create a community which will encourage its members to grow in healthy relationships with one another and with God (through prayer, study and hospitality)
to engage creatively with our culture and express the Christian faith in relevant ways
to accompany those seeking faith
to support one another in our family and work situations

Vision and values

“Our purpose is to love people into God’s kingdom, to reflect His love, to go TO people where they are, to change the way people perceive the church and its message.”

Encouraging community through

Engaging with God in worship and prayer
Engaging with one another in community and discipleship
Engaging with the world in service and culturally relevant outreach

Membership

Degrees of involvement vary and there is no formal membership system at present. Commitment varies from financial, to prayerful, to active in a particular project or in a home group. Most of those expressing some form of commitment are members of existing churches in the area, and some continue to participate in worship there. Others either do not have church background and involvement, or are exclusively involved in MWN as their “church” community.

Funds are adminstered by a treasurer, and at present audited by the Minster.
MWN is a mission group answerable to Beverley Minster PCC and supported by a Reference Group consisting of the Vicar, 2 Church Wardens (one from St Leonard’s Molescroft), the Bishop of Hull, a Diocesan Adviser on Fresh Expressions of Church, and a representative of CMS.

Day to day leadership of the community is in the hands of the Associate Vicar who gathers volunteers for particular events or activities, and delegates responsibilities for different areas.

Activities

As it has “emerged” since 2007 MWN has initiated or been involved in:

School clubs at Tickton and Molescroft
Pebbles toddlers’ group and family service in partnership with St Leonards
Alpha (go to uk.alpha.org)
Skool’s Out community event on Lockwood Rd estate
Events to raise consciousness of global social issues (Freedom and Fairtrade, Compassion)
Listening service (at Lockwood Rd surgery)
MWN Cafe
Cafe-style worship for resourcing
Children’s club
Youth cell, and townwide youth initiatives

Present activities include:

Monthly cycle comprising a weekly Sunday meeting of Gathering (worship), EnergiZe (children’s club) Café – at Molescroft Parish Centre (click here to view map), and family service at St Leonard’s (10.42)
Weekly midweek meetings for study and worship (monthly replaced by “cluster” meeting with other groups.) Including youth, adults, post-Alpha, mums and babies, “God curry” (men in pub).
Outreach amongst children and youth from 0-18: Pebbles, EnergiZe (Bubbles, Shiners, Elev8), MWN Youth (Accelerate, Vibe and Bible Study)(go to www.mwnyouth.co.uk)
Listen-In

Reflection

MWN’s emphasis has shifted in these past 2 years from community outreach (“Go”) to community nurturing (“make disiples”). Our aim is to do both in a culturally relevant way.

Partnership with St Leonard’s in nurturing the faith of children and their adults – this has led to the employment of a part-time youth worker, and children’s activities
Involvement in the development of community space on Lockwood Rd by the Minster and other churches – this has now been abandoned, although other avenues of community service are being explored
Listening service in conjunction with Lockwood Rd surgery – the surgery can no longer support this, and alternative venues are being sought, such as Beverley Grange, Minster Quiet Room, and other surgeries. However, more trained listeners are now involved.
Training and resourcing for mission –through small groups and occasional bigger events for outreach and community building and service