Together We Are Listening’ is a time to pray, to reflect, and to listen together to God and one another, as we begin to refresh our diocesan vision and strategy.
Bishop Joanne says "Since arriving in Suffolk, I’ve been struck by how deeply the Growing in God vision is embedded across our Diocese. As your Bishop, I have a valuable opportunity to pause, to listen afresh to you, and to hear with you what God is saying, and to be attentive to what is happening in the life of our communities. I warmly invite you to take part and to respond to some key questions so that we can better understand where we are as a Church now - our gifts, our resources, our challenges, and the opportunities ahead.”
This refreshed strategy will be rooted in Growing in God whilst recognising that some things may have changed and new opportunities may have emerged.
Together We Are Listening is an invitation to everyone in the diocese to engage in a rhythm of prayer throughout the process of listening and discernment that will shape our future strategy. To take part please follow the links and have a look at our resources:
Surveys
We have developed different surveys. Please follow the links below where you will find the survey in full to read through, as well as a link to complete the survey:
| Clergy Survey | You will need to be registered on Insight to complete this survey. | Click here: Together We are Listening Survey for Clergy - Insight CofE Suffolk |
| Clergy with PTO, Lay Ministers, Ordinands and Chaplains Survey | You will need to be registered on Insight to complete this survey. | Click here: Together We are Listening Survey for Clergy with PTO, Lay Ministers, Ordinands and Chaplains - Insight CofE Suffolk |
| PCC members Survey | Your Churchwarden and Treasurer have received the survey link and will need to be registered on Insight to complete this survey for you as a team. | Click here: Together We are Listening survey for PCC members - Insight CofE Suffolk |
| Congregation and public Survey |
Everyone can participate in this survey. It would be wonderful if you could share this link as widely as possible, so that we hear from as many voices as we can. |
Click here: Together We are Listening Survey - Insight CofE Suffolk |
We encourage input at any time over the summer and the final date to complete the surveys will be Friday 28 August. If you need support with Insight registration please email: insightsupport@cofesuffolk.org.
Downloads
Parish Briefing and Toolkit | PDF
Bookmark | PDF
Flyer | PDF
Poster | PDF
Our listening prayer:
Living God,
Speak to your Church in this season of listening and
deepen our life in Christ.
As we give thanks for the growth you have begun,
open our hearts to your voice
and lead us by your Spirit into the future you prepare.
Amen.
Breath prayer
Living God, open our hearts to your voice.
Bishop Joanne says "I appreciate you taking the time to participate in the first stage of this process. I know you are busy and that during the summer many will be taking time for rest. Even so, it feels vital that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Together, let us listen, discern, and step forward in faith.
Prayer events - save the date
Monday 6 July 7.00pm – 9.00pm led by Archdeacon Rich St Margaret’s Church, Leiston
Monday 13 July 7.00pm – 9.00pm led by Archdeacon David St Peter’s Church, Cockfield
Tuesday 28 July 7.00pm – 9.00pm led by Archdeacon Sam St Margaret’s Church, Ipswich
Saturday 18 July 11.00am – 1.00pm led by the Revd Canon Sharron Coburn, Online
More details to follow.
Next Steps
As responses come in we will discern key themes and, in September, start to share what we are hearing. These insights will shape the next stage of refreshing our diocesan vision and strategy as we discern what God is calling us to prioritise.