Property

Mission-motivated development means discerning God’s mission and aligning this with property development so it is consistent with the Church’s calling and purposes.

It is important to consider if the property will:

• enable public worship.
• help build relationships between Christians and their neighbours.
• enable the telling of stories of faith and faithfulness.

Property is deeply connected to people and a key attribute of mission-motivated development is really evaluating how the property facilitates healing, reconciliation and renewal.

A proposal to acquire, develop or divest a property should enable activity that is genuinely missional as understood by the criteria outlined in the Getting started form and the Presbytery discernment form.

The church entity must be able to demonstrate how the development will assist them at a personal level to participate more fully in the mission of God.

Any property can be used as a source of funds, either through lease income or realising capital growth at the time of sale or divestment. A key task is determining the mission rationale for indirect use of property and to plan and manage a property portfolio for a specific period to achieve this.

Mission v congregation identity

Congregational identity is determined by its nature and mission purpose. Therefore, a key task is to establish with clarity the particular mission motivation for any property acquisition, development, value enhancement or divestment.

Some congregations are beginning to see a dependence on buildings is not necessary to the definition of “church”. For example, there are congregations that:

• move to a different site every few years and are known by their work rather than their location.
• have merged or divested themselves of their historic and grandiose place(s) of worship in order to worship in more modest facilities and thereby freeing their financial resources for mission.

Property Mission Enabling Policy

The PMEP is about reconfiguring or developing a Church property to sponsor or support discerned and agreed mission purposes.

Download explanation document here

The document above is designed as a supplementary appendix to another document, Understanding the Practice of Mission Motivated Development.

Download UPMMD document here

Property for Mission Workbook

The PMW provides a Church council with a clear process to deliver suitable objectives for a major property plans/works application.

The Property for Mission Workbook includes six inquires, each matched to a practical planning exercise. The six inquiries are:

• Mission commitments and activities overview.
• Property requirements - spaces and places.
• Property audit and user priority.
• Funds and finance.
• Property for mission assessment.
• Vision for property.

The inquires are supported by a suite of appendices, including the Major Strategy Review’s Mission Principles and a session plan to engage these.