Mission Network News

Parish Strategy document

For a systems-minded guy like me the parish strategy document below, and the process outlined in it, is a model of its kind - well worth commending to parishes who are wondering whether it's worthwhile strategising, and what a strategy might look like.

Download pcc_strategy_proforma.doc

Fresh Expressions DVDs - flyer

This from Norman Ivison at Fresh Expressions - he writes:

We are often asked for publicity material for our two DVDs.  Please could you circulate the attached and ask those missioners who have an electronic diocesan mailing to pass it on?

Click here to Download fe_dvds_flier.pdf

Malcolm Herbert

From Bristol diocese Malcolm (DDO and "Mission-shaped Church" staff contact) writes:

Just to say that I shall be moving at the end of August to be Vicar of Holy Trinity Hounslow with St Paul and St Mary (parish church, two church plants, a possible youth congregation in a fourth plus congregations in Urdu and Russian etc etc). Really exciting. If I can be of any service from there to you and the network please get in touch.

Prayers go with Malcolm on this exciting move.

Clean up PowerPoint campaign - latest

Here's the latest from my Clean up PowerPoint campaign. As St Paul almost said, "I thank God that I use PowerPoint more than all of you" - but I'm having a little crusade to stop the church dying of it.

So go visit Presentation Zen website to see how the twentieth anniversary of PowerPoint is being received by the excellent Garr Reynolds.

Worth checking out Garr's blog regularly for lots of hugely helpful hints on presentation.

Rob Frost

Prayers, please, for Rob and Share Jesus International at this time.
Rob writes:

Dear Friends

Thank you for your friendship and support over the years.  I thought I would write with some important personal news, because I would prefer to contact you directly than for you to hear through other networks!

On Friday last week I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, quite a serious form of skin cancer.  It is  anticipated that I will have the melanoma removed within two weeks, and further tests, scans and treatment will probably follow.

I am writing to my praying friends to invite you to stand with me in this situation.  Prayers for my immediate family, Jacqui, Andy and Chris and my dad Ronald would also be appreciated.

If you want to make contact, please feel free to do so through my PA Linn via email: [email protected] , but we will be sending out regular updates through my email prayer letter all you have to do is click on this link,

http://sharejesusinternational.com/mailing/edit.php

Enter your email address …. and follow the prompts and  we will let you know news about how the treatment goes when there is anything to report!

As you can imagine I am trying to get my head around my work schedule over the next few weeks, and to try to work out what I need to cancel and when!  I decided not to go to the USA this week, and the doctors have confirmed the wisdom of that decision. Your prayers for wise decisions in this will be gratefully received.

This news is not private or confidential, so feel free to forward this email on if you wish to do so.  I belong to so many different networks, I really don’t know how to do this in some kind of ordered way – so we will just anticipate that the different grapevines will work!

I am in good spirits, I feel strong in the Lord.  I have already received prayer from several good friends, and am optimistic for the future.

Many thanks

Rob Frost

Shane Claiborne - New Monastics

Worth listening to this podcast with Shane Claiborne. The US understanding of "New monasticism" is very holistic and helpful.

"Shane Claiborne is an original voice, a creative spirit, in a gathering movement of young people known as the "new monastics." With virtues like simplicity and imagination, they are engaging great contradictions of our culture — beginning with the gap between the churches they were raised in, the needs of the poor, and the "loneliness" they find in our culture's vision of adulthood."

Redefining Christian Britain: Post 1945 Perspectives

Dean of Bristol Robert Grimley recommends this new book: here's the blurb. More here

"Redefining Christian Britain" brings together distinguished writers from a number of fields - history, sociology, theology - to reassess the role of Christianity in Britain. This is an area that has been of increasing public debate and interest in recent years, but the debate has followed rather predictable grooves. This book seeks to do something different, by looking at the impact of Christianity over a wide range of areas of national life - religion and the media, religious art, religion in literature, religion in schools, religion and economics and so on. The book has been born out of a frustration at existing writing on religious change in Britain, which has tended to over-concentrate on church attendance figures, rather than look at the more diffuse and dynamic influence of religion on public and private life. "Redefining Christian Britain" will open up new areas of inquiry including religious architecture, church music, debates on sexuality and women's ordination, public rituals like royal weddings, the 'sacred' memory of World War II, multicultural education, and the role of Christian narrative in children's literature. Many of these topics are areas of current debate in the media. Some have been the subject of specific academic studies. But no book, until now, has attempted to bring them all together. The book is organised around three themes: authenticity, generation and virtue. These themes offer a distinct and original conceptual framework within which to address the study of modern Christianity. This is an essential book for anyone interested in modern religion and modern British society, and will appeal particularly to students of history, sociology and religious studies as well as religious professionals.

Urban Expression

Just a reminder about the excellent work of Urban Expression, which is ten years old this year. See their website at http://www.urbanexpression.org.uk

Also check out their new Grove booklet - they write:
To coincide with our 10-year celebration event we are delighted to announce the publication of Juliet Kilpin and Stuart Murray's Church Planting in the Inner City: the Urban Expression story (Grove Books, 2007).
Telling the story of Urban Expression from its launch in 1997, this short book also reflects on the recent history of urban mission and church planting, the distinctive features of church planting in the inner city and the resources needed by urban church planters. It does not present Urban Expression as a 'success story' (whatever that might mean) but as an ongoing journey of discovery rooted in our core values of relationship, humility and creativity.
To order your copy (£2.95 including postage in the UK), please contact [email protected]
Alternatively, you can buy Church Planting in the Inner City: the Urban Expression story AND Urban Church: a Practitioner's Resource Book (edited by Steve Latham and Michael Eastman) for £10.00 (instead of £12.95).

Future Church Conference

News of the Future Church conference in November, hosted by Mission Accompaniment Scotland network. Details and a booking form are below.

MISSION ACCOMPANIMENT IN EMERGING CHURCH
and
MISSION ACCOMPANIMENT IN TRADITIONAL CHURCH IN A CHANGING CONTEXT

An opportunity to further our understanding of these expressions of church; to explore the similarities and differences in these two areas of mission accompaniment and identify the skills and resources needed.
The event will be woven together in worship and theological reflection.

Download future_church_2007_programme.doc
Download booking_form_future_church_2007.doc

Canon Mark Brown

Another blow for our network! Mark Brown and his family are moving on from Southwell and Nottingham to begin a new chapter in their ministry, as Mark becomes Vicar of Tonbridge Parish Church in the Rochester diocese. Mark will be licensed there on September 27.
This is great for the people of Tonbridge, but Mark will be sorely missed by the missioners' community for his wisdom, experience, and for a constant stream of helpful resources such as "On Course" (see below). Our prayers are with him, Allison and the children as they prepare for this new beginning.

Just to underline Mark's creativity as a producer of resources, here's a pdf of "On Course", the new Southwell and Nottingham mission resources booklet. Concise information and brief, helpful reviews of about 25 different resources of all kinds, and enormously valuable to parish clergy and other local church leaders. Mark is also writing to missioners about this. More details are available from him at [email protected]

Diocesan Missioner and Residentiary Canon - Blackburn diocese

From Simon Bessant in Blackburn:

Would you be willing to put the advert for my replacement out on the mailing please?
http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/vacancies/20070621missioner.pdf

The job will be a good one as our MAP process makes a superb context for developing the work further. The MAP team is excellent, the new officer will have quality colleagues to work with.

More information from the Bishop of Lancaster,
tel 01524 799 900, email [email protected]


A Word version of the information is here:

Missioner advert.doc

As I've said before we'll miss Simon very much - but he's leaving a diocese that's actively moving forward in mission, and an ace job for someone. Please pass the word around.

Passion narrative - Holy Week 2008

Jim Currin at GfE has this excellent news:

Millions will consider Jesus next year …

I have just returned from the Churches Media Council conference and heard the appointed producer speak about the above major production which is now well under way.

He says that it can be public knowledge that the BBC plan to show peak time half hour episodes of the whole passion narrative after EastEnders throughout Holy Week in 2008.

His intention is to be as accurate as possible to the Biblical narratives and include the Resurrection and appearances on Easter day.

The purpose will be to retell the great story as it has been written so many will ask questions.

This is a time when the churches can pray for the production team headed by Nigel Stafford-Clark, and provide a positive voice for the BBC. It will also be a major evangelistic opportunity that needs some careful thought, prayer and planning. What an opportunity for millions to consider Jesus. How can we repond?

Do pass around your area so as many people as possible know that this is on the horizon.

I understand the pod cast of the session will be on www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk sometime next week.

Foundations 21 - new prices

This from the Foundations 21 team at BRF:

New Prices for Foundations21

INDIVIDUAL subscriptions are only £59.99 per year!
For overseas subscriptions, please add £7.50 for postage and packaging.
UK subscribers can pay monthly at £5.99.
GROUP subscriptions (2 or more people) are now available at £49.99 per annual subscription.
Subscribers outside the UK, please add £7.50 for postage and packaging.
Monthly subscriptions for groups are available in the UK at £4.99 per person.
And finally – get your CHURCH on board with Foundations21 and subscribe at the special church annual rate of £39.99!
Once your minister has obtained a church account number with Foundations21, all church members can take advantage of this special rate.
For more details, check out www.foundations21.org.uk and click on Church Subscriptions.
Why not forward this email to your minister and see if it could work for your church?

Warm regards
The Foundations21 Team

What is Foundations21?

Foundations21 is:

web-based - using your own computer

for new and mature Christians who want to be more effective disciples of Christ

a combination of personal exploration and interaction with other people

a mix of Bible exploration, web-based activities and personal application

Find out more at www.foundations21.com.

45-Day Trial of Foundations21 is also available, allowing you access to the learning environment and providing all the media to explore Room 1 - Jesus. Experience Foundations21 for 45 days for £7.99.

Parish Nursing Symposium

Please share news of the Parish Nursing symposium to be held in September at Hothorpe Hall.
As the blurb says:

Come and meet parish nurses, learn how the parish nursing projects are continuing, listen to inspiring speakers, including Ann Morisey, author of ‘Beyond the Good Samaritan’ and ‘Journeying out’, as Key note speaker on Monday and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Hothorpe Hall

Flyer and booking form are here:

P nursing.doc

Booking form.xls

HOPE 08 resource manual and update

This manual will shortly be available through Wesley Owen bookshops at £2.99, or direct from STL for a special price of £2. I'll be emailing missioners with details of how to order in bulk for your parishes - STL will be happy to handle your mailing lists for a very reasonable charge. Email coming soon!
More on the book at http://www.authenticmedia.co.uk/AuthenticSite/product/9781860246135.htm

Plus here's an update from HOPE's Ian Chisnall and Fritha Wheeler:

www.hope08.com

Dear friends

Welcome to our second E:News - there's only six more before Hope08 hits a street near you!

Over the last month, we've been hearing really encouraging news of people planning to bless their communities in creative and innovative ways. So much so, that we're having a hard time selecting items to put in this e:news. Click on the links below to find out what we've managed to include...

Our resource book 'HOPE - Great Ideas' is going to be out in a month. It's 160 pages of exclusive copy from people who are passionate about word and action mission. Check out the website throughout June for a sneak preview, and to get hold of a copy.
Our new editions of DVDs have come through. They now come with subtitles, and we have a Welsh language version which you can order from the office.

We've been meeting with regional advocates, the people who are pushing Hope08 into being in an area near you. We discussed plans, swapped ideas and are learning how we can be more effective in resourcing this grassroots initiative.

One of these ways is through making sure our website is flexible, and shaped around plans as they develop. With this in mind we'd love for you to start sending us your ideas. We want the website to serve you and your community, so let us know what you're planning for 2008!

You can email us at [email protected], and keep an eye on the '2007, a Year of Preparation' section of the website.

Yours,

Fritha - on behalf of the Hope08 Team

More links:

Report Findings:

A new report has highlighted ways in which Mission through Word and Action can be most effective. Hope08 is providing resources to incorporate these findings... More ...

Hope08 races ahead!

The Hope08 logo is part of the livery on the Christians in Motorsport Ferrari 430... More ...

Hope08 and Rural Areas

Do you produce a church newsletter or parish magazine? Then Parish Pump is for you! More ...

Back to Church Sunday - update

From Church House Communications:

Back to Church Sunday takes off across the country – 1700 churches sign up
More than 17,000 people are expected to return to church in September as Back to Church Sunday expands to take in 1700 churches across England. Resources to invite a friend Back to Church and to welcome them on Sunday, September 30th are now being delivered to more than one in 10 of the Church of England’s churches.

With 19 dioceses taking part this year, the 1700 churches involved is a tenfold increase on the 160 churches that took up the venture when it began, in Manchester, in 2004.

Participating dioceses coordinate the delivery of resources and will be running ‘welcome workshops’ for local churches throughout the summer. This year, the dioceses involved are Bath and Wells, Birmingham, Blackburn, Chelmsford, Chester, Coventry, Derby, Ely, Exeter, Guildford, Lichfield, Manchester, Oxford, Peterborough, Ripon and Leeds, Rochester, Southwark, Southwell and Nottingham and Wakefield.

On past records, participating churches welcome back an average of 10 former worshippers each, meaning that 17,000 people could come back to church in one day in September; equivalent to one per cent of the total monthly attendance of the Church of England.

Recent research revealed nearly three million people would consider going to church with ‘the right invitation’.

The Bishop of Manchester Nigel McCulloch said: "Inviting people into church is as important as taking the Gospel out to them. With three million ready to consider a personal invitation, the growth of Back to Church Sunday could prove one of the most effective aspects of the Church's witness."

The venture is sponsored by Traidcraft, who print and pack the resources and are sending them to participating churches this week. Resources include posters, invitation, balloons and welcome team t-shirts.
More at www.backtochurch.co.uk

Anglican Cell UK relaunch

Anglican Cell UK are now in partnership with CMS and have just re-launched their website with details of new ministry available, including profiles of 20 consultants available to help.

Visit it at www.anglicancelluk.org

Worship pattern questionnaires - a request from John Gooding

John Gooding writes from Guildford:

We have several parishes that are considering a review of current Worship service patterns and styles to consolidate and prioritise resources for mission and growth. Many are considering designing a congregational survey questionnaire and before they re-invent a wheel, could you canvas Missioners for copies of existing survey questionnaires being used in other dioceses?

Contact John with news of what's happening where you are -

Revd John Gooding
Director for Mission, Evangelism and Parish Development
Guildford Diocese
Quarry Street
Guildford
Surrey GU1 3XG
Tel: 01483 790309
Email: [email protected]

New Encounters on the Edge - cafe church

Church Army press release on George's latest:

In the latest edition of the Encounters on the Edge series of booklets, George Lings, director of Church Army’s Research Unit, explodes some of the myths that exist about café church.

There is no arguing that cafés have become increasingly popular in recent years, with the rise of chains such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee. As George writes, “…the English have gone beyond drinking their coffee indoors in private. Now all our towns have spots with chairs, little tables on the pavements and people wrapped in their coats pretending they live in Paris, Rome or Madrid.”

With this in mind, many churches are turning to café when tasked with developing a fresh expression. This edition of Encounters on the Edge, called Café Church 1: Café, croissants and Christ? – looks in detail at two such experiments: Soul Café in Derby and The Well in Sheffield.

George then challenges some of the myths that exist about café church, such as:

1. There is one thing called café church (not true: café church is deceptively diverse)
2. Café church is a magic solution (not true: one form of fresh expression of church cannot cover the spread of what may be needed)
3. Café church can do all things needed to make Christian disciples from non- and de-churched people (not true: George’s research shows that it is only one vital part of a larger process).

If you are interested in the phenomenon of café church, run one yourself or are interested in starting one up, Encounters on the Edge 33 is a must-read.

And the story does not stop there. Soon to come is Encounters on the Edge 34 – Café Church 2 – which will look at the issues around churches renting secular premises and starting cafes in order to serve/build community and provide a way in for evangelism.

Encounters on the edge 33, Café Church 1, is now available and is priced £4.00. To order copies, contact the Sheffield Centre on 0114 272 7451, or email [email protected]

Mission-shaped Cathedral

News from Alan Hargrave at Ely Cathedral of a conference with this title. It looks good. Full details on this flyer: