About Grace City Church
Location: Waterloo, Sydney | Context: Inner-city Urban | Denomination: Anglican | Leadership: One senior leader plus ministry team |
Grace City Church, Waterloo
As a church plant in inner city Sydney, Grace City’s approach is described clearly in strategy and intention by its leader Tim Clemens.
Acknowledging the transient nature of inner-city suburbs, Tim has worked to build a collaborative team of leaders, many of whom are young adults. There are clear pathways for fostering churchgoer’s sense of belonging and level of involvement, from feeling welcomed and forming belonging, to serving and being involved in the church. Programs including the “On Board” strategy, lead people through a process of discerning their personal commitment and contributions to the realisation of the vision of the church.
Learning from others is also evident. As this team approaches any new strategy or idea, they seek not to reinvent the wheel, but to listen to the lived experience of other churches and leaders in order to learn from their wisdom. When taking risks and innovating with new ideas, this culture of learning from lived experience continues to enable the team to evaluate, reflect, re-shape and re-adjust their activities appropriately.
The development of new leaders is also a key to the growth of this church’s many ministry areas. Each area of ministry has a leader delegated to its realisation and the senior leadership team meet regularly to review the growth and goals of each area. The leadership style is relational, energetic and inclusive of both men and women, of younger and older, of diverse cultural backgrounds, in roles deemed suitable for each person.
Conversations with the leaders show that much about this church is intentional, also taking advantage of strategic partnerships with other ministry development programs, for a supply of interns needing ministry experience.
Attracting many young families, the facilities are also intentionally planned to offer space for children, parents and young adults to gather in purpose-fit rooms. The technology is evident with many screens around the café space and worship areas. It’s clear that the modern church facility with its industrial shop-front style entry, serves the style and goals of this church, seeking connection with the next generations. The space embodies a vibrant, youthful style of connection, accessible to anyone walking by on the busy street. The goal as Tim describes it is to ‘tangibilise the intangibles’ within the space.
As a church plant, this pastor speaks about having a big vision, a harvest sized vision, and being forward-thinking in all their approaches for the future.
Stories from Grace City
Browse through some of the stories and wisdom that leaders of Grace City shared with us, on how they enliven their ministry and church life.