How Healthy Are We?
10 MARKS OF A HEALTHY PARISH
1. We Are Christ-Centred
We are Christ-centred in who we are and what we do as Anglicans. We know Jesus is always in our midst. We
continually turn to him as the Way, the Truth and the Life, and we work together as the Body of Christ.
2. We Make Disciples for Christ
As a church congregation and as individuals, we are deliberately active in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ
through the witness of our words and our daily lives.
3. We Offer Our Best in Our Worship of God
Our worship services are to the glory of God and are the best that we can offer him. Our worship touches our hearts
and is personally meaningful. Respecting and building on our Anglican tradition of worshiping God “in the beauty of
holiness” we seek not only to glorify God, but to encourage and edify those who worship with us.
4. We are Intergenerational and Multi-Cultural
We recognize that the future of our church depends on bringing new members into our congregation. In worship and
in parish life we invite, welcome and engage people from all age groups and cultural backgrounds. We are especially
aware of the importance of attracting young families, children and youth.
5. We Share Leadership and Responsibility
We use all the gifts that God has given to us as we strive to build up the Body of Christ, which is the Church. To that
end our clergy and our lay members share leadership responsibilities, and work well together.
6. We Give Generously for the Work of the Church
We recognize the need to give of ourselves and our resources, each according to our means, so that our church may
prosper and grow in the service of God. We accept and teach what the Bible tells us about faith, money, ‘first fruits’
giving and the generous offering to God of our time, talent and treasure.
7. We Share What God Has Given Us as We Reach Out to Others
God’s love in Christ is shown in our compassion for those in need, spiritually and materially. As a parish we reach
outside our local church(es) to help those around us and in our community(ies). Through our contributions to the
diocese and the national church, as well as other missionary and aid organizations, we show that love to the world.
8. We Want to Grow Spiritually and Numerically
We are addressing our members’ desire to know and love God more deeply through prayer, study and
encouragement. We are also striving to add to our membership both for our benefit and the benefit of those who are
not yet active members of the Body of Christ.
9. We Communicate Positively and Live in Harmony with One Another
We accept the Apostle Paul’s guidance that we “speak the truth in love.” Presuming good will in others, we respect
and see value in views that may differ from our own. We listen carefully and sympathetically to one another, and we
regularly share information and ideas within our diocese, archdeaconries and deaneries as well as in our own
parish/congregation.
10. We Know What It Means to be Anglican and We Share Our Diocesan Vision
We know what it means to be Anglican, and we know we are part of a larger church family. We do all we can to
support others within our diocese, through encouraging words and the sharing of our resources. As members of the
Anglican Church of Canada in the Diocese of Fredericton, we affirm our commitment to work together to accomplish
our shared mission, which is “to proclaim the Gospel for the making of disciples.”
Rural and/or Struggling Parish Task Force
Synod 2009
Diocese of Fredericton