First published on this website in December 2011

These notes are designed to encourage and support anyone who has a responsibility as a 'mission accompanier' or 'church consultant', helping a church to move forward in some way. There are five short sections:

• We're not consultants, we're ...
• Our role is to take a church out of its comfort zone
• A spectrum of views to move a church along
• Who do we think we are?
• What about our expectations of ourselves?

Each section makes five points. The notes conclude with a set of concerns and fears presented by one group of such consultants at a training session, and a reminder that we go in Christ's name.

As one point puts it, consultancy is only a means of helping people move on. It's no big deal in itself. It's a fancy term for travelling a short distance with people who would value some perceptive company.