As each deanery begins their Fit for Mission journey, they’ll recognise the importance of collaboration and local decision-making in shaping their future path. Kerry Dodd, a congregation member at St. Andrews, Clubmoor, located in the future parish of Christ Our Hope Liverpool, is a lay leader whose been actively involved in Fit for Mission in her local community. Here, she shares her experience of her involvement with the right buildings team and portfolio ministry.
Kerry first heard about Fit for Mission through her work on the Deanery Synod. Inspired by the discussions she saw an opportunity to address the challenges facing Churches today. “I loved the idea of us all coming together rather than struggling individually,” she said.
Her journey began with a focus on accessibility, and through her role on the Diocesan Disability Advisory Group, Kerry joined the Right Buildings Team. “My angle was making sure that buildings were accessible for people,” she explained.
Over time, Kerry became involved with other aspects of the programme and with encouragement from her Area Dean at the time, Emma Williams, Kerry joined the Fit for Mission Programme Board to contribute as a diversity champion. This opportunity allowed her to bring a fresh, younger perspective and to support efforts to make the Church more inclusive.
In addition to her work on the right buildings team and the Fit for Mission programme board, Kerry has also been part of the shadow PCC and contributed to social justice initiatives through portfolio ministry.
At times, the process has been challenging. Kerry noted that the time it’s taken to implement changes has been difficult for some. “I didn’t realise how contentious coming together would be for some people” but despite these challenges, Kerry sees the behind-the-scenes work like developing policies and creating partnerships as crucial for long-term success.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the journey has been building relationships with people from other churches. “It’s been great getting to know so many new people and seeing how we can work together to make a difference,” Kerry said.
One of the successes has been the Eco Champions group, part of the portfolio ministry focused on social justice. “I’ve felt really called to do something within social justice, but I couldn’t really pinpoint exactly because there are so many causes that I’m quite passionate about so we started by asking people to bring ideas of what they were passionate about, and the environment came out on top,” Kerry and her colleague Andrew Edwards then started a group to help churches work through the Eco Church programme. The group has since grown into a collaborative network, with representatives from various churches and partners coming together to share ideas and encourage one another.
This collaboration has made a challenging process feel more manageable. “On your own, it can feel overwhelming, but when you bring people together who share your passion, you can support each other and make real progress,” she said.
For Kerry, the real impact of Fit for Mission lies in its ability to share resources and build stronger communities. She’s seen how shared clergy and support have helped parishes during times of need and how these efforts are creating a more connected and resilient Church. “The fact that we’ve been able to share the resources of each other has been really beneficial,” Kerry noted, emphasising how this can make a real difference
Kerry encourages participation to those unsure of getting involved. “You get out of it what you put into it,” she said. For her, the experience has been both challenging and deeply fulfilling. “The connections I’ve made and the work we’ve done together have been incredibly meaningful.”
To find out more about Fit for mission topics, you can watch these videos, here or visit the website, here.
