Our Mission
A clear and thoughtful framework for how Edinburgh New Town Church lives its faith in the heart of the city.
Edinburgh New Town Church is a congregation shaped by worship, care, and engagement with the life of the city. This Mission Plan sets out how we seek to live that calling more clearly in the years ahead, bringing greater focus and intention to what we already do.
Grounded in faith and rooted in place, it reflects a shared desire to serve with compassion, act for justice, and nurture peace in all we do.
Our Vision
We seek to be:
A place of welcome and listening, where the love of Christ is encountered in word and deed
A community that works for justice and nurtures peace, locally and globally
A faith family that lives with compassion, serving the city and caring for one another
A shared life that reflects different cultures, languages and ways of being church
This vision is not abstract. It is a practical framework for how we live, worship and serve together in the years ahead.
Two Guiding Actions
This Mission Plan is shaped around two closely related actions, helping us to live as a church that is attentive to people and engaged with the life of the city.
Care for People
Establish a Pastoral Hub Team of elders and members trained for listening and presence.
Create regular Pastoral Hub Spaces in the church building: welcoming times each week.
Develop a Digital Pastoral Presence, offering online prayer, listening, and contact for those who cannot attend in person.
Make Connections with businesses and parish, reminding the city that we are here for everyone.
Integrate pastoral care into worship, including blessings for carers, public prayers for the city, and recognition of life transitions.
Ensure pastoral initiatives are attentive to accessibility and inclusion, drawing on Albany Deaf Church experience where possible, by introducing inclusive technology and BSL lessons.
Support elders and volunteers through regular reflection and theological learning sessions
Justice and Peace
Form a Mission Group with a coordinating and enabling role rather than oversight of all activity, made of representatives from existing groups.
Focus on one Focus Area priority per year.
Host Faith and Public Life events, encouraging reflection and civic dialogue on peace and justice issues.
Hold an Annual Peace and Justice Service, drawing together worship, music, prayer, and public witness.
Create regular opportunities to come together to discuss topical and complex issues from a Christian perspective.
Connect existing ministries the Café, Lunchtime Talks, Amnesty, Christian Aid, Portico events, and music, with this justice focus.
Continue and develop partnerships with local and national agencies such as Fresh Start, Bethany, and Christian Aid.
Ensure Albany is present and represented in planning and implementation.
Regularly integrate justice and peace themes into preaching, prayer, music, and seasonal worship