In Luke’s Gospel Jesus tells the parable of the Barren Fig Tree:

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.

So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Luke 13:6-9

In this parable the focus is upon barrenness turning to fruitfulness. The owner wants to remove the tree that is failing to yield harvest but the gardener advocates for the tree and outlines an approach to fruitfulness.

His approach does not focus on the structure of the tree but instead focuses upon it’s culture. His focus is on the roots and the soil, not the plant and its branches.

Fruitfulness grows out of culture and not as the result of structure.

As a church we have taken time to explore and examine our culture and our shared ethos.

We have sought to focus upon that which is in the soil of the church and lies at its roots and foundations. In discerning and understanding the culture and DNA of our church we can begin to unlock the fruitfulness that lies within the soul of the church.

There are four values that lie at the heart of our church and shape our culture and approach to ministry: