Growing together in God’s ecology of renewal
STREAMS Communities are spaces where churches and leaders come together to discern, learn, and grow—paying attention to what God is already doing in their place.
Rooted in Scripture and shaped by the rhythms of the natural world, STREAMS recognises that healthy growth doesn't happen through pressure or programmes, but through cultivating the right conditions for life. Just as trees grow through seasons, so do churches.
A Different Way of Thinking About Growth
In the Bible, growth is never something we manufacture, it is something God gives. As the Bible reminds us:
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth."
STREAMS Communities help churches rediscover this truth. Rather than asking "How do we fix things?", we begin with a different question:
"What is God already doing here, and how can we join in?"
What Are STREAMS Communities?
Communities are small learning groups of clergy and lay leaders who:
- Meet regularly for prayer, reflection, and encouragement
- Share honestly about the realities of church life
- Learn simple, practical tools for renewal and mission
- Discern their current season and next faithful steps
- Receive quality and relevant input from experienced practitioners.
- They are not training courses or programmes to complete.
- They are relational spaces of trust, honesty, and hope.
Fallow.
The Fallow Stream is for churches that feel tired, stretched, or unsure what to do next. This is a season of rest, listening, and rediscovering purpose.
Rather than pushing for activity or growth, the focus is on creating space to reconnect with God, rebuild hope, and notice what He may already be doing beneath the surface. Churches in this stream often need encouragement, clarity, and a renewed sense of calling before taking next steps.
Fallow
The Fallow Stream is for churches that feel tired, stretched, or unsure what to do next. This is a season of rest, listening, and rediscovering purpose.
Rather than pushing for activity or growth, the focus is on creating space to reconnect with God, rebuild hope, and notice what He may already be doing beneath the surface. Churches in this stream often need encouragement, clarity, and a renewed sense of calling before taking next steps.
Cultivating
The Cultivating Stream is for churches beginning to regain energy and ready to take small, hopeful steps forward. This is about preparing the ground for growth—building simple discipleship habits, strengthening relationships, and trying low-risk new ideas.
Churches in this stream are not yet seeing significant growth, but there is a growing sense of possibility, and a willingness to experiment and learn together.
Regenerating
The Regenerating Stream is for churches where new life is emerging and there is a desire to grow in depth and strength. The focus here is on building healthy foundations—deepening discipleship, strengthening leadership, and developing systems that can sustain growth over time.
Churches in this stream are seeing fruit, but want to ensure it is lasting, resilient, and rooted in a strong spiritual and organisational culture.
Reforesting
The Reforesting Stream is for churches that are healthy, growing, and ready to look beyond themselves. This is a season of releasing, planting, and multiplying —raising up leaders, starting new worshipping communities, and extending mission into new places.
Churches in this stream have the capacity and confidence to send people out and play a wider role in growing the Church beyond their own context.
Discover the best Stream for your benefice
Streams is our unique operating system which values and supports every part of the Diocese in their mission by inviting benefices and leaders on a journey to develop and release their full missional potential.