Our Vision & Values

BIRO Vision: We believe that the essentials of our vision should be explainable in every day language, and encapsulated into a simple phrase that is easy to remember: 'Build Inward Reach Outward', or 'BIRO'. Jesus commissioned His followers to do what he had modelled for them: 'make disciples' and continue extending His Kingdom on Earth. So,'building inward' supports Christians so that they can 'reach outward'. 'Church' is expressed when and where Christians gather to support one another, be supported, and 'reach outward'. We don't believe, 'Church is an end in its self'!

Moving from this brief capsule definition to specifics:

The cornerstone of our underlying Vision & Values is 'ONE CHURCH FOR THE CITY'. This springs from our belief that God sees only one church: His Church, City-wide. And, that it consists of all His People, who gather in local expressions, in various places and districts. This vision, and the accompanying faith, empowers us to nurture relationships and work with other leaders and their churches who share this vision. We believe this Unity is not only very pleasing to God, but is practical and fruitful, enabling His people to do the work He has planned for them, which without each other they would be unable to do. As an outworking of this, for three years we shared a building with Christian Community Church - another expressions of the City-wide Church. We see this as 'living in the opposite spirit' to the dis-unity that has prevailed for hundreds of years, weakening The Church in Plymouth. We believe 'Inter-dependence' is the issue! By way of re-assurance, we do not propose merging of local churches, thus destroying God-given diversity.

Therefore, we are committed to seeing the City transformed by Jesus Christ..

Similarly, beyond Plymouth, Jesus Christ continues to be Good News to us! And we are committed to taking and demonstrating that 'Good News' to people anywhere in the World.
 

Values on which the vision is built:

• presence and power of the Holy Spirit
• thankful, repentant, worshipful hearts
• trusting, loving and supportive relationships
• life-style of giving
• servant leadership
• accountability
• every member equipped to function both as a hearer, and a 'do-er' of the Word, both carrying and 'being' Good News!
• importance of involving and empowering children and young people
• being a “sending church” – sending people, ministries and resources to serve the Kingdom of God
• working together with local churches, and with - an international family of churches (formerly known as C.Net). We are also a member of the Evangelical Alliance
• fulfilling our vision and outworking these values highlights the importance of meeting in small groups, as well as larger gatherings.
  .