What do we do?

The Council meets with staff regularly throughout the year. Social Responsibility also works in partnership with other Diocesan Boards and Councils and with volunteers from a number of Christian denominations in the broad arena of social justice including the ecumenical Church and Society Forum.

Recent co-working by CSR has been on the Tools Recycling Project, Sustainability Forum, Faith in Derbyshire research, Survivor Awareness training and Gathering, Conference on Disability and Supporting the Renewing Ministry Diocesan initiative.

Church and Society

The Christian Gospel has implications for the way in which our society is ordered and the Church needs to be able to speak clearly, relevantly and effectively about the values of the Kingdom of God.

Our Church and Society focus means that we work at getting involved at a range of different levels:

• At a regional level through the East Midlands Churches Forum which relates to the Government Office for the East Midlands Regional Assembly.
• At County level through the Derbyshire Infrastructure Consortium and Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership voluntary sector hub.
• We also support local engagement in Local Strategic Partnerships and other local governance partnerships.

By getting engaged we develop an understanding of the issues which confront our decision makers and, by reflecting on the Gospel, bring the values of the Kingdom of God into the process. We aim to be both challenging and relevant in this incarnational ministry.

Community Action

The Gospel is expressed in practical acts of love, working with local communities to meet real needs by putting church at the heart of community and community at the heart of church.

Our Community Action focus means that we:

• Support churches and groups of Christians in their community action and ministry.
• Are following up findings of the research report ‘Faith in Derbyshire’
• Provide training, or signpost to training opportunities, and resources useful to churches in community mission and ministry.

Priorities for Social Responsibility work
in the Diocese of Derby as agreed January 2005

Aim: To put Social Responsibility at the heart of mission and renewal in the Diocese

1) To raise the visibility of Social Responsibility in the Diocese
(Releasing new ministries and refreshing old ones)

by Officers:

• Creating training which enables parishes to be involved in the community.
• Participating in the Renewing Ministry process to encourage and support the development of local partnerships.

by Volunteers:

• Working on behalf of the council in liaison or alongside staff supporting specific short-term or medium-term initiatives.

by Council:

• Having a permanent agenda item “ideas for debates” in order to promote issues of social responsibility as potential items for debate in Diocesan Synod. Taking a lead in follow-up focussed papers / seminars.
• Individual members bringing to Council for discussion groups / initiatives that advisers or Council members may usefully collaborate with in line with current priorities

2) To increase communication and good relationships across the network (Enabling evangelism and witness)

by Officers

• Forming links with other advisors and officers in the Diocese and with the Cathedral to promote a shared approach to social issues and an integrated witness.
• Promoting opportunities in communities for people to witness through action, as well as words.
• Working with colleagues in other denominations in our common calling to serve in God's mission. (N.B. implicit in this is global / world mission)
• Encouraging publication of church community action to enhance churches credibility or demonstrate its commitment.

by Volunteers

• Working on behalf of the Council in liaison with or alongside advisers: providing up to date information; providing expertise to specific areas of work and informing planning of relevant work;

by Council

• Making the resources and scope of our work known through the Diocese. Starting with alliances with those engaged in social action activity, working with Portfolio Holders to bring their activities to the attention of the parishes.

3) To focus our work where it is effective – doing a few things well (Building confidence and growth in faith)

by Officers

• Providing central information and training from their many contacts (ecumenical and secular) and making them accessible
• Ensuring a continuing church presence at strategic and policy level.
• Being a catalyst and supporting parishes engaged with their communities, enabling them to link social action and evangelism.

by Council

• Promoting our resources to all Parishes so they are used rather than parishes continually ‘re-inventing the wheel’. Also by encouraging contacts at regional and county level. Reviewing annually the Officers' work programme in relation to the budget

More on Social Responsibility >>