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Priorities The 2008/9 priorities of GfE, brought by the denominational office holders, are: Below are previous key priorities of GfE. |
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Evangelising Contemporary Spiritulaities
Evangelising Contemporary Spiritualities On the Activities page you will see a report of the research, tour, books, events and website which all accompanied the GfE initiative called 'Church in a Spiritual Age'. One of the often untold and unacknowledged stories of our age is that, although people are going to church in fewer numbers, there is a greater and growing interest in spirituality. How do we connect with the 'Spiritual Age' as it has been called? What are the connection points and how can we communicate the spirituality of the Christian faith being more than just 'going to church?' GfE members have considered these questions in some depth and produced the website 'Church in a Spiritual Age' at http://www.ciasa.org.uk.org.uk. Although GfE now has new priorities to consider we shall keep the web site live and make occassional updates to it with relevant information. In particular, the book 'Equipping Your Church in a Spiritual Age' is still available and we have a few copies left at £9.99 with free postage and packaging. Contact the secretary of GfE for a copy. Church Planting and Fresh Expressions As seen elswhere on this website, a key priority which GfE has considered over the past few years is 'Church Planting' and 'Fresh Expressions'. Most churches have been involved in 'creating church with the unchurched' and this has been a major area of growth and new life, often midweek and with specific groups of people who form a new church. GfE was a partner in the major conference on this topic called Mission 21 and you can see a report of that conference by clicking here. Various key church leaders are discussing the possibility of holding another Mission 21, and we shall post news of that as and when publicity is available. Millennium Celebrations The turning of the new millennia offered the churches in England with an unprecedented opportunity to say something about hope and new life. Various networks collaborated closely and GfE was one which was keen to see the opportunities for saying what hope we have in Christ. Two million candles and prayers were distributed to local churches which held watchnight services. Most churches in the land did something to mark the occassion even if ot at midnight, some of course encouraged their congregations to be with, and pray for, people who do not go to church. Although the transition to the new millennia is way behind us, if anyone does want a free copy of the book produced to reflect on all of the lessons learnt, do contact the secretary as we have some copies left in the archive. The Decade of Evangelism /Evangelisation Although the Decade of Evangelism was primarily an initiative of the Church of England and the Decade of Evangelisation an iniatiative of the Roman Catholic Church, GfE had a key role to play in trying to coordinate the many and various national activities and initiatives. These were multiple, especially in 1994, and many churches were involved to various degrees. The Decade initiatives received a mixed press. As one Anglican ordinand put it 'We tried singing Shine Jesus Shine once, but that didn't work so we went back to normal'. Many others spelt it 'Decayed'. All kinds of lessons were learnt through the years and many good models of mission developed and resources which continue to be useful and of immense value today. |
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