Deanery Missioner

Armley Deanery is the area of Leeds to the South of the River Aire. Though it has pockets of desirable residential housing, the Deanery has more than its fair share of 1950’s grey estates, tower blocks and tough inner city areas. For some it is perceived as a challenging and stressful place to exist, but for many who minister and live here, it is an area full of life, energy and vibrant community. My job over the next three year is to help 24 churches in 15 parishes to engage in mission.

So what is urban mission ? Well I could give you the twenty minute version or cut to the chase! Its simply to work with local Christians, to seek Christ, serve Christ, share Christ and see Christ working in our local communities. It certainly involves working for church growth, but above all its about being “Healthy church” able to show the love of Christ and live his life in ever changing city.

However we spin mission, there has never been more need for it. Numbers are falling, congregations aging, the share is rising, and clergy numbers are being cut. It looks pretty bleak. However amongst many clergy and congregations, there is a determination to acknowledge the situation, to face it with God’s help.

I am specifically working with churches in 3 areas.

The first is children’s and youth work. The Deanery is blessed with the largest Community Project in the Diocese in the most deprived area of the city at St Lukes Holbeck. We are working together to define the project’s mission, and to sustain the excellent work which has been going on at St Lukes Cares for 12 years. (see Website).

An organisation with an excellent track record on the toughest estates, is Kidz Klub(see Website). Churches in Wyther have recently raised £17,000 to start a Kidz Klub at Ven Bede which we are recruiting for now. Churches in Middleton are over half way in funding towards a similar piece of work in Middleton Primary School.

A recent mission project, has been to set up Integrate (see Website). Chris Verney and a large team of volunteers work with young asylum seekers and their families as they arrive in a new country and seek to settle into British life.

Related to this is the second area of work. Cross Cultural Ministry. I recently carried out a review on the large number of African led churches in the South and West of the city. The last count was 25 congregations, with possibly 1000 new worshippers from Africa and beyond. How do we relate to, encourage and learn from this fascinating new movement of people in the city? In the future if we ever planted a church in the Deanery, a knowledge of this increasingly cosmopolitan situation would be vital.

Finally – the nuts and bolts work of mission is in working with local congregations. Within our church communities how do we develop our gifts, how do we make the changing patterns of ministry into an opportunity instead of a threat? With the decrease in the number of clergy it is an chance to train resource and fully acknowledge the role of lay leaders in future mission. I am currently using the Healthy Churches programme to work with local congregations.

Please pray for my work. 3 years isn’t very long but its exciting working in initiatives. New areas of mission that God willing will last!

Alistair Kaye
Armley Deanery Missioner