2008 NewsGfE Priorities for 2008: Proclamation ... Migration ... New Housing ... Virtual World |
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Movement of New Evangelisation needed: WCC General Secretary
Movement of New Evangelisation needed: WCC General Secretary For immediate release - 27/04/2007 12:29:09 PM Churches Together in England have launched a webiste: Church in New Housing Areas
challenge for the mission agenda. The Co-ordinating Group for New Communities has launched a new website to look at the three key issues of concern among church leaders:
We are keen for stories to be added to the site as we all learn from each others experience. Visit http://www.cinha.net Students and Evangelism Meeting Point 16/11/06 The CTE General Secretary, Rev Bill Snelson, welcomed the 24 guests to the office of Churches Together in England, saying that this was a very important and timely gathering. The Government hope that 50% of young adults will be in some form of further or higher education, and for CTE it was a ' privilage to have you here' as representatives from nearly all the major Christian groups were together to network and consider the common concerns. Bill's welcome After prayer and an Introduction to the days theme by the GfE moderator, Rev Dr David Spriggs, Rich Wilson of Fusion spoke to a paper called 'Students, Churches and Chaplaincies' and Agencies'. Hugh Shilson Thomas, speaking for the Chaplains from his position at the Church of England, agreed with the main points made and further described the chaplains role in a College Institution. As 'faith is on the agenda', and 'religion is often in the news' in the current climate he sees the main issue being the tension between equality and diversity. Will van der Hart from St Mary's Bryanston Sq in London described his work with a student congregation of 2000 and challenged the wider church to invest in student ministry, while Caroline Fielder from the China Desk of CTBI spoke of the number of Chinese students in the UK, often here because they could not get a place in China, with particular pastoral needs which cannot be met in an English context. Bryan Knell of Global Connections continued the theme of people travelling to study and learn, adding the value of short term exchanges, while Emily Mingay of the Salvation Army spoke of the new initiative of the Army called 'AloveUK'. Peter May of UCCF brought the group up to date with the issues facing Christian Unions under the heading 'Freedom of Speech' and the legal advice it is seeking in various places at present. Liam Purcel of SCM added insights about student work on and off campus before all the other guests added their contributions in discussion groups and plenary sessions. Some of the people present had not met before and everyone agreed it had been a worthwhile gathering in a) getting to know one another, b) exploring some of the issues and c) considering how to build on each other's work for the common good. It was particularly timely to meet as the long planned day happened to fall on the day the Government issues Colleges with guidelines about religious fundamentalists and the threat of terrorists being recruited on campus. Some discussion took place about follow up how local church leaders can have material which might help, a) their own young people going to college, b) the local congregation be aware of the ministry possibilities with students and c) build appropriate links with local collegs and agencies which might be able to further 'share the good news of Jesus Christ together'. This website will keep you up to date if any resources for the local church are produced, but in the mean time do visit the websites of the dfferent agencies who were represented on the day, some of which are linked in the text above. Posted by Jim Currin 22.111.06 Four Nations Forum for Evangelisation in Cardiff 29th and 30/11/06 Several members of GfE were among the 24 national evangelism represenatives from the major churches and some home mission agencies who came together in the annual Four Nations Forum for Evangelisation in November. 'Four Nations' here, refers to the four national Churches Together groups covered by Churches Together in Briain and Ireland, so folk came from Ireland, Scotland, England as well as the host nation, Wales. We met close to Cardiff airport with the excellent provsion of the conference facilties of Hebron Hall, and considered a full programme of home mission initiatives of common concern and interest. Following the material presented by Rev Steve Hollinghurst of the Church Army Sheffield Centre last year, members wanted to hear more about the spiritual interest of people outside church. In particular, we were aware of two pieces of reeach about 'Generation Y' so invited the respective authors Phil Rankin ('Buried Spirituality') and Bob Mayo ('Reaching Generation Y'), to join Steve Hollinghurst and John Baxter Brown, the Youth Officer for CTE, in conversation. The key difference in the research method was discussed: i.e. that much of what Phil had found as described as 'formational spirituality', whereas Bob's research was looking more for the 'trasnformational'. Phil had found that all of the young people he had interviewed were happy to talk about spirituality. Some even say it is 'cool to be spiritual'. This was illustrated by John who shared the story of one young woman who had tried to commit suicide but believed, though not a Christian, that God miraculously stopped her. The question is, even if 70% of the posulation pray as some research has shown, does it make a transformational difference? Does it cause the young people to join a Christian community or change their lifestyle?
Sion, Dafydd and David in conversation
Other Four Nations concerns and initiatives were shared, notably the developments in Christian Enquiry Agency and ReJesus; the Global Day of Prayer initiatives, HOPE in 2008, the CTBI Lent Course in 2008 which picks up on the theme of Spiruality discussed above etc. In addition, consideration was given to the 2010 celebrations in Edinburgh which will celebrate the founding of the modern ecuenical movement in 1910, as well as many of the more local initiaves which members shared as they gathered together in this annual conference. Posted by Jim Currin 05.12.06 The Nativity Story film: resources from CASE GfE colleagues in CASE (Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation) have produced the following news item: Dear Friends, The Nativity Story was recently premiered at The Vatican and received very good reviews. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, said: "It retells this event which changed history with realism but also with a sense of great respect of the mystery of the Nativity… a good cinematic" feature. Meanwhile, Archbishop Foley, Head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said: "It is nice to be able to have something religious for Christmas." The film chronicles the events that led up to the birth of Christ: the betrothal of Mary and Jesus, their arduous journey to Bethlehem, the finding of the stable, arrival of the shepherds and kings and so on. CASE is eager to support the Catholic community to use this film as a tool of evangelisation and to that end we have created a dedicated web page resource. Please do forward the following link on to interested parties: http://www.life4seekers.co.uk/the-da-vinci-code/TheNativityStory.html We also have a Christmas resources page which offers a host of materials, which have a specific focus on supporting parishes at this time of year. These materials can be found at: http://www.caseresources.org.uk/resources/downloads_christmas.html Clare Ward CASE Team Member
CASE was launched by the Bishops of England and Wales in April 2004 to support and resource dioceses, parishes, schools, groups and individuals in proclaiming the Good News of God's Love. For ideas and resources to enthuse, engage and equip evangelisation in the Catholic Church, see www.caseresources.org.uk Christian Enquiry Agency appoints new Director Gareth Squire is to succeed Jeff Bonser as the Director of the Christian Enquiry Agency and Promotions Manager for the ReJesus website. Gareth will work alongside Jeff in January and then continue as Jeff retires from the post he has held for 5 years. Gareth will also replace Jeff as a member of GfE, and be based in the same office at Churches Together in England, as Jim Currin, GfE Secretary. Jeff is delighted with the appointment of Gareth and believes that the work of CEA and ReJesus can only be strengthened as Gareth has been appointed to work full rather than part time.
Visit http://www.rejesus.co.uk and www.christianity.org.uk
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3 million new homes in England? That is one estimate and an enormous
