Mission Network News

Out of the ARC

Here's the latest newsletter from the Arthur Rank Centre:

ARC Newsletter

Headlines:

• Messy Discipleship in Rural Churches
• 'Creating a Good Volunteering Environment in the Church' (a two-page guide)
• Food & Fasting Resource
• Neighbourhood Planning Roadmap

 

 

Vicars with 2 churches

Lichfield Diocese has been working with James Lawrence to look at the issues of Vicars with 2 churches. They have distinctive issues to deal with which are not the same as multiple churches. CPAS are running a day for our clergy in this situation on Thursday 19^th September at Shallowford House (Stone, Stafford) from 10am to 4pm. The day will led by Graham Archer, their Director of Ministry who has personal experience of leading two churches, accompanied by two clergy from Lichfield Diocese who have been working with CPAS on this.

We have ten places which I can offer to other Dioceses –a maximum of two people per Diocese, so that you can come and experience this to see if it is something you wish to repeat in your Diocese. If you are interested please contact Mr Richard Barrett, Local Mission Research Assistant at mailto:[email protected]

Christianity.org.uk

Peter Graystone has been kind to give a video piece for www.cte.org.uk to encourage local churches to advertise www.christianity.org.uk. 

The video itself will remain live on Youtube at: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3X3H91c-3M 

If there is any way you can use this please do. It would be great if you could signpost people to it and get word out, especially for local churches to show in a service, church council, mission planning meeting etc.

Young Adult Conferences: What Would You Like To Say To The Wider Church?

Do take a look at this to see what those reaching young adults would like to say to the wider church.

http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/news/youngadults-widerchurch

Promoting Our Churches

The Guardian wants pictures and videos of vibrant and diverse church congregations as part of a new ‘witness’ site they have created online

Last week the witness site launched a new section called ‘Your Church Congregation’ https://witness.guardian.co.uk/assignment/519f90a9e4b0e392888615d8 which is open for contributions for the next month only, so don’t delay! The site aims to show the vast variety of worshippers that congregate in Christian communities. 

The Guardian say they want 'people rather than buildings' and are looking for as wide a range of people as possible who gather as Christians. 

(A reminder: if uploading photos of, or including, children please make sure you have parental permission.) 

Chaplaincy Intern Job Carlisle

CHAPLAINCY INTERN 

 FULL TIME POST 

FIXED TERM FOR 12 MONTHS FROM DATE OF COMMENCEMENT 

CARLISLE 

MINIMUM WAGE PLUS £7650 LIVING EXPENSES

 

ADVERT

Are you: 

• Excited about working in a university chaplaincy? 

• Ready to grow in the gifts of preaching, leading worship and pastoral care? 

• Considering full-time ministry in the Church of England? 

• Willing to work with the university chaplain in his Carlisle Deanery role of pioneering a new church aimed at 18-30s?

The University of Cumbria seeks applications for the role of Chaplaincy Intern for the academic year 2013-14, to be based in the historic city of Carlisle. You will make a crucial contribution within the ministry of the chaplaincy team, as well as having the opportunity to partner with the university chaplain in his Carlisle Deanery role of seeking to plant and grow a new church aimed at people in the 18-30 age-group.

The role is particularly suited to a recent graduate who may be considering full-time ministry in the Church of England or another province of the Anglican Communion.

The University is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Please note that the successful applicant will be required to undergo a Disclosure check (via the Criminal Records Bureau) and Clearance prior to confirmation of appointment.

Informal enquiries should be directed to: The Revd Matthew Firth (University Chaplain) email: [email protected], tel: (01228) 616184

The closing date for this post is Midnight on Monday 24 June 2013.

 Reference:

The University of Cumbria would encourage applications, where possible, to be submitted electronically via our e-recruitment system on following address: https://cumbriajobs.engageats.co.uk/ 

If it is not possible to apply electronically please contact the recruitment team:

Phone: 01228 616280

Email: [email protected]

Kings College Missional Ecclesiology

Message from Tim Ling

Dear Colleagues

I am writing to brief you on stage two of the Experiences of Ministry Project, i.e. the 2013 Experiences of Ministry Survey (EMS), and to ask for your help to promote participation. The survey was sent out on the 13^th June.

I am acutely conscious that over the last 12 months a range of surveys both local and national have been sent out – particularly the Church Commissioners’ Church Growth Research (http://www.churchgrowthresearch.org.uk/). There’s good news in that we have attempted to make sure that the various strands of work will inform one another and when it comes to reporting on the research this will be evident. However, I am also conscious of the dangers of survey fatigue. I am therefore particularly grateful for any support you can offer, e.g. putting it in newsletters and on your diocesan CMD pages.

The 2011 EMS was completed by over 2900 clergy, who each received a copy of the Respondent Findings Report (http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1373865/microsoft%20word%20-%20ems%20respondent%20report%202011%2024%2011%2011.pdf).

The research has produced a rich picture of clergy experiences of ministry that has helped to inform various strands of work. These have ranged from the recent national consultation on Self-Supporting Ministry (http://www.ministrydevelopment.org.uk/a_new_pattern_of_priesthood) to local briefings with Bishop’s staff teams, and in at least one diocese, using it as evidence to support the case to invest more in their clergy.

If you’re looking for suitable text to promote the survey or for answers to FAQs a lot of details can be found at: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/management/research/experiencesofministry.aspx

If you have any questions please do be in touch.

With all good wishes

Tim

P.S It also flagged up the importance of nurture courses in the ecology of church growth and in light of this we're including a supplementary question to capture some more detail.

Living the Christ Story in the 21st Century

Living the Christ Story in the 21st Century is a day conversation in York on Wednesday 3 July exploring the nature of mission of Christ in our fast-evolving cultures. It will be an opportunity for innovators and would-be innovators in mission in the North of England to gather, encourage each other, make links and share stories, questions and insights.  

The core of the day will be a series of short presentations by practitioners engaging in mission with imagination and authenticity in their own contexts, followed by Q&A and conversation. 

The day is organised by CMS Missional Communities Orders and Projects with the Spurriergate Centre in York and partnered by Fresh Expressions and Methodist Venture FX.  

Thanks to the generosity of the Spurriergate Centre and our venue - the Central Methodist Church York - there's no charge for the day. 
 
We think that this will be an inspiring day - a great opportunity to sense together where the Missio Dei* may be calling us, to share what you are doing, to inspire and to be inspired - and we hope that you can join us! 

*Missio Dei: the mission of God, the mission is God's mission

 Booking: http://livingthechriststoryyork.eventbrite.co.uk

Searching for the Angel of the North

A day conference for mission practitioners, church leaders, theologians and missiologists to reflect together 

• What is distinctive about the north of England? 
• What might be a proper and fruitful relationship between the North and South for the mission of God in England?
• Is there a Northern gospel?

 Key note speakers:

Prof Kate Pickett, University of York

Co-author of The Spirit Level

Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Sheffield

Formerly Team Leader of Fresh Expressions of Church

 

Date:      Thursday 24^th October 2013

Time:      10am for 10.30am, finishing at 3.30pm

Location: Bishopthorpe Palace York YO23 2GE

Cost:      £25, including refreshments and lunch

Bookings: [email protected]

Further information:         Gavin Wakefield [email protected]

                                                    Nigel Rooms   [email protected]              

 

Laughing With Tom

Street Angels - CNI Network June Newsletter

The June Street Angels - CNI Network Newsletter is on-line at:

http://www.sa-cni.org.uk/1/post/2013/05/june-sa-cni-newsletter.html

Break Out Pioneer Gathering

Wednesday 11th - Friday 13th September 2013.

High Leigh Conference Centre

The annual meeting place for pioneers
— an opportunity to be together, learn from each other and interact with our main speaker Stuart Murray, as we engage with the vital issue of discipleship.

For more information:

www.breakoutpioneer.org.uk

Download Breakout-2013

Fresh News about MSI and MSM

In response to requests from Missioners the widely used mission shaped intro course is now available in published form. The whole course presented in a 130 page book with accompanying dvd-rom is available for £10 with participant's workbooks available for £4 each (or £3.50 each when ten or more are ordered). The dvd-room includes all the PowerPoint material. To find out more or to buy please visit www.freshexpressions.org.uk/shop For those who prefer the downloadable version, this will continue to be available free of charge.

The in depth one year learning journey mission shaped ministry has now been experienced by over 3000 people in eight countries (now including Barbados, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa). Continuously updated in the light of feedback and fresh learning msm has recently been augmented with a worship companion with creative ideas for worship, prayer and further reflection produced by Olive Fleming-Drane.

The outcomes of msm are continually monitored. 90% of respondents say that the course has produced at least one of the following six outcomes:

• start a fresh expression of church (26%);
• develop an existing fresh expression of church (32%);
• apply the principles of msm to their present 'inherited' church (58%);
• clarify a call to pioneer ministry (20%);
• grow in support or oversight of a fresh expression of church (38%);
• grow in discipleship or Christian ministry (66%).

The Fresh Expressions team is now arranging msm courses for 2014. If you are interested in having a course in your area please contact Andrew Roberts [email protected]

Engaging- Milton Keynes June 8th 2013

‘Engaging’, an exciting day event for Christians seeking to understand and engage with contemporary spirituality and spiritual seekers, will be coming to Christ the Cornerstone Church, Milton Keynes, this June. The day will include exploration of who spiritual seekers are, together with explorations of how the church can adapt its form and practice to engage with contemporary spirituality.

The event features three well known practitioners in the field of engaging with contemporary spirituality. Ian Mobsby, Anglican priest, an Associate Missioner with the Fresh Expressions team and founder of the Moot Community at the Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary in the City of London; he is involved in  mission with spiritual seekers in the City of London.  Steve Hollinghurst, from the Church Army, has a great deal of experience of youth mission work and has carried out research into contemporary spirituality. Andrea Campanale is the creator of Sacred Space where the arts are used to explore spirituality, and has pioneered mission outreach work at Mind, Body Spirit Fairs.

Talks and workshops will be provided on issues such as spirituality in today’s culture, meditation and prayer as a medium for mission, how people use language in contemporary spirituality, and how we might speak of the Christian faith to spiritual seekers.

‘Engaging’ lasts from 10am-4pm on Saturday 8^th June at Christ the Cornerstone Church, Central Milton Keynes. It costs £15 and £10 for concessions including a buffet lunch.

Event organiser, Katharine Crowsley says ‘We are looking forward to an interesting and stimulating day that will provide the opportunity to think about how we engage with those beyond the reach of traditional church in contemporary society.’

Rob Winn, VentureFX pioneer missioner for the Methodist Church says ‘I’m really glad to be part of the team organising this event. Contemporary society has a keen interest in all things spiritual and it’s essential that Christians feel confident to engage in those conversations.’

Revd. Cate Williams, Anglican Minister in Woughton Ecumenical Partnership, Milton Keynes says:

‘This is an important issue for Christians to explore. Many around us are seeking a spiritual path in life but not finding that traditional church resources are helping them. We need to think about why this is and how we can connect with the questions they are asking.’

For more information please visit: www.engagingevent.info

Table Talk for Uni Students

Table Talk for Uni Students is a conversational game that aims to create space for friends to talk with friends about the bigger questions of life. With no "right" or "wrong" answers and no agenda to 'convert' anyone this pre-pre Alpha resource was created on the basis that "people do not want to be told what to believe but rather have a conversation" and "people want to know if it works more than if it is true".

Each game contains six big questions... and for each of the big questions (you do one big question at each get together) there is a two minute introduction to be read (by anyone at the table) and sixteen smaller question cards - each card has a question on it that relates to the big question. 

With regard to how you play table talk. Six to eight people gather at a table - some form of social lubrication is enjoyed - they choose which of the six big questions they are going to discuss - someone reads the two minute introduction - sixteen question cards are placed face up on the table - anyone at the table picks up one of the cards and poses the question to the group - when the group is ready someone else picks up another question card and poses that question to the group. Groups normally last between 30-45 minutes and answer three or four questions. 

The six big questions in the Uni Students pack are: 

Relationships: How do you relate to others?

Identity: Who am I?

Life's Unfair: Is there any justice in the world?

Purpose: What do you want to do with your life?

Wellbeing: What makes you happy?

Choices: How do we make a decision? 

Table Talk costs £24.99... with discount for bulk orders 

It is important to note that this is a draft version..... we are more than happy for people to make suggestion on how it can be improved... 

More information available at: www.table-talk.org

A Poem About Messy Church

The below poem was posted on the C of E website last week.

Sunday morning,
on the BBC news was the Lord,
hearing about his latest mission,
and praise I have to award.
Change to the church,
yes there will be uproar,
this is a great forward lurch,
and I see no flaw.
So numbers can grow,
there is no need for liable,
because "God" is now going with the "flow",
indirectly getting children closer to the bible.
Let children play,
learning is better when it's fun,
who knows, there might be a crime delay,
less kids turning to the gun.
I am going to publicize,
in fact I am going to be the Lord's preacher,
because saving me was "Gods" exercise,
and I am truly a grateful and humble creature.
Bring your children along,
the "Messy Church" gets the young involved,
play and sing a song.
And this is the key to the church never being dissolved.

Leadership Conversation

Tim Ling invites applications from 15 people to join “A Leadership and Missional Church Conversation with Pat Keifert” at Church House Westminster on Friday 28 June (10.30 for 11am until not later than 3pm).  He apologises that this date excludes any who will be at the AAEN conference, but dates available with overseas visitors are inevitably limited… 

“In advance of the Ministry and Mission network joint conference in July here’s a good chance to get the conversations about the interface between mission and ministry development started.  Building on the work of Leslie Newbigin and others many of us are aware of the missional church movement which now has several manifestations around the world. This day event is for diocesan senior staff, directors of mission and ministry, mission enablers and theological educators to share together our own experience and interest in leading and developing missional churches and congregations in UK. 

Helping us will be Lutheran pastor and theologian Pat Keifert from Church Innovations in US (http://www.churchinnovations.org). Pat, has for over 20 years has been enabling deep cultural change in congregations for what he calls the New Missional Era (see his key text We are Here Now), both in US, South Africa, Europe and most recently UK. The three-year Partnership for Missional Church process (not programme!) has been running in the dioceses of Bath & Wells, Southwell & Nottingham and Leicester (alongside St. John’s College, Nottingham) over the past few years and some of those involved in delivering PMC will be present to share their experiences. The process also holds out the possibility of reconnecting the ‘academy’ with the local church and has been generative of innovative theological thinking.

 This conversation is limited to 15 places - to book yours please [email protected] as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Festive Angels

I met Andy Nicholson at Spring Harvest and he is running “Festival Angels” during his local Leeds festival.

He was looking to connect with others who are doing similar work around the country in other festivals?

Do you know anyone working at a festival near you and could you check with them about giving their details to Andy. That way a network that could encourage and share experience could be created. 

Andy Nicholson : [email protected]

Thank you all

Rachel

Study Day and Commissioning Service

The College of Evangelists Study Day and Commissioning Service

Thursday 16^th May 2013

at the Wilson Carlile Centre,

Cavendish Street, Sheffield S3 7RZ

 

10 am onwards                     Gather for tea, coffee and catch up 

11 am                                         Study Session with Robin Gamble: Copying Jesus!

Robin says:  “Evangelists, like all other ministers, need heroes, models and good people to copy.  In recent years I have discovered that the ultimate evangelist is Jesus himself; we can learn from him, be encouraged and affirmed by him and model ourselves on him.”

12.30 pm                              Lunch and Members’ Meeting

2 pm                                       Commissioning Service and Eucharist. Preacher:  Mark Bailey 

3.30  pm                                Tea and depart 

Lunch will be provided for you – but to make sure you don’t miss out, please let Jenny Lowery know that you will be there:  [email protected] or telephone 01226 891213.