Our strategy

Our vision describes the direction in which God is calling us. Our strategy helps us make choices about how we travel there together.

Background to Living Christ’s Story

The original Living Christ’s Story: York Diocese Strategic Plan 2021–2031 was accepted by Diocesan Synod in November 2022. Since then, our work, structures, and priorities have continued to develop as we have listened, learned, and responded to changing circumstances.

Our continuing focus is revitalised growth: deepening discipleship, reaching new people, growing healthy churches, and building sustainable foundations for mission.

What we want to see

We use four broad outcomes to help us understand progress towards our vision:

Confident leaders

We will equip more missional leaders who are confident, humble, collaborative, and expectant. This includes clergy and lay leaders, church officers, pioneers, volunteers, and people beginning to explore their calling.

Missionary disciples

We want to see people living and sharing their faith every day. Churches will help people encounter Jesus, choose to follow him, find belonging, grow as disciples, and help others begin their own journey of faith.

Renewal

Our churches will become younger and more diverse. We will listen to and include children, young people, families, and people from communities that are not currently well represented in our churches. We will strengthen existing congregations and explore new ways of being church.

Sustainability

We will develop sustainable parishes, deaneries, and diocesan structures. Good governance, generous giving, well-used buildings, simpler systems, and responsible stewardship will help release people and resources for mission.

Transformation Programme Board

The Living Christ’s Story Programme Board was created early in 2025 to review and monitor strategic direction. The Programme Board is accountable to Diocesan Synod and to the Archbishop’s Council which is also the Diocesan Board of Finance.

The Programme Board has the following membership:

Bishop of Selby – Chair	Chair of the House of Clergy
Diocesan Secretary / CEO	Chair of the House of Laity
National Vision & Strategy Consultant	An Area Dean
2 x Co-opted Members	A Lay Dean

In addition the following are in attendance at Programme Board meetings:

Director of Finance	Deputy Diocesan Secretary
Director of Mission & Ministry	Head of Communications
Head of Programme Delivery

The Programme Board gives a clear steer on delivery approaches to those leading projects and pieces of work aligned to Living Christ’s Story and to the revitalised growth strategy, and discusses general strategies and opportunities for planning and implementation.

It ensures projects remain aligned to strategic priorities, stay on track and deliver desired results. It seeks to ensure that work delivered is of quality and meets the agreed scope of the Living Christ’s Story vision and strategy.

The Programme Board works closely with the York Diocesan Leadership Team to resolve practical issues arising between the intersecting roles and responsibilities of those on the ground, enabling effective collaboration and holding the appropriate balance between Living Christ’s Story priorities and those of existing ministry and mission.