The 2009 Missioners Conference "Aliens in a foreign land" is almost here (June 30-July 3, in Merville, France). Participants will have received their conference booklet by now. If you have any questions about practical matters, email Sarah at nmea.support@c-of-e.org.uk.
Based on football's "Manager of the Year" this is your chance to vote for the diocesan missioner who in your opinion, has made an outstanding contribution to the mission agenda in 2008/9. As usual we'll announce the winner at the Missioners Conference. If you're attending the Coference you can vote in person there. Otherwise send an email to nmea.support@c-of-e.org.uk with your nomination...
George Fisher has this info re the next Fellowship for Parish Evangelism conference:
Talking the Walk
The 2010 Fellowship for Parish Evangelism Conference is at Swanwick from 25-27th January on the theme of “Talking the Walk” with Keynote Speaker Eric Delve. For more details and booking form go to: http://www.lichfield.
FPE is a network of evangelical Anglicans whose priorities are to:
· provide a place for fellowship and mutual support for those involved
in the ministry of evangelism.
· envision, equip and encourage one another in this ministry.
· be a catalyst for the exchange of ideas and strategies.
· mentor and equip new evangelists.
· explore the exciting developments of contemporary church and
innovative evangelistic endeavour in the UK and around the world.
· be a prophetic voice on evangelism to the church.
New members are welcome. You can try us out by coming to the Conference before signing up as a member. For more details of FPE go to: http://www.lichfield.anglican.
Check this out:
Two new resources from Mike Collyer. He says:
Please find attached my latest document for distribution and publication for those it might interest.
Download Discovering Faith in Later Life No. 9 Abbeyfield Kent Society
'Delivery of spiritual care in residential establishments is now an important part of improving the quality of life for senior frail people. Caring for the whole person not just their physical needs is essential. Care homes now have to provide evidence that this is indeed the case. An individual’s care plan forms part of the evidence that is required by the regular inspection of care homes by the newly formed Care Quality Commission (CQC). In this paper Mike explores two examples in Kent where this requirement is taken seriously. It provides some insight of best practice that could be modeled by corers and ministers alike'.
Also we have released Research Bulletin No.4. The idea behind these bulletins is to give people a flavour of what we are discovering in our research, and headlines of what is contained in some of our larger publications.
You can download a PDF copy free from our website by following this link: http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/
Here's an excerpt from the introduction:
"We are pleased to offer a research bulletin looking at fresh expressions of church among some of the vulnerable people on the margins of our society. Whether issues concern the non-manipulation of children, the reverence of the elderly or the nurturing of the soul within the outwardly-disabled person, our research prompts us to believe that there are significant examples of fresh expressions to counter the accusation that fresh expressions are for the middle-class. Moreover, the fresh expressions movement would do well to note the depth of love, respect and humility needed in working with vulnerable people. In more mainstream mission contexts we overlook them at our peril; these are basic human needs that concern us all."
Reflections from Nick Brotherwood, Team Leader of Fresh Expressions Canada. Read the whole thing at http://institute.wycliffecollege.ca/?p=1075
From Exeter diocese David Muir sends this:
A little local attempt to explain the Fresh Expression agenda to more conservative rural communities, who are still genuinely puzzled about why the rural church has seen such whole-scale demise. Done on a shoe-string… Currently playing on a loop at the local museum’s exhibition of the 1100th anniversary diocesan celebrations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
David
Rev David M Muir
Pioneer Minister in the Okehampton Deanery
Course Leader, The Pioneer Disciple
The Rectory, South Tawton EX20 2LQ
01837 840867, 07854 845067
okehamptonpioneer@btinternet.
The Meaning of Pioneer Ministry
Pioneer ministry is a new initiative by the Church of England and the Methodist Church to make contact with the 70% of the population who have no firm connection with the church. Many people have an interest in Christian faith and values but do not want to express it in traditional ways. Pioneer ministers help to develop new ways of being the church alongside the traditional ones. Hundreds of these ‘Fresh Expressions’ have sprung up across the country, giving people the opportunity to belong to the Christian faith in a different way. The churches in this area have appointed David Muir to help them establish similar opportunities in this part of Devon.
In Bristol diocese their missioner Paul Rush is recovering from a major operation. He writes:
Gavin Wakefield sends details of this post in York diocese. As he says:
Cleveland Archdeaconry Training Adviser and
Adviser for Parish Evangelism and Church Growth
As a member of the Diocesan
Training Team, the Adviser will provide encouragement and training in support
of evangelism and church growth in parishes, deaneries and, where appropriate,
chaplaincies across the diocese.
In collaboration with the
other members of the Training Team, (s)he will ensure that the laity and clergy
of the Archdeaconry of Cleveland have the appropriate skills and support
offered to enable them in Christian mission and ministry.
The training aspects of the
post are to be integrated with first-hand involvement in parish ministry, and
so the post includes ministry as an associate priest in designated parishes.
From Jim Currin at the Group for Evangelisation:
Over at ACPI Bob and Mary Hopkins have news of this study day with Eddie reflecting on the lessons of his new book "ChurchMorph - how megatrends are reshaping Christian communities".
