Which way now?

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:15:00 +0000

As I have said in previous posts, two key questions the United Reformed Church must address are, what is our identity and what is our purpose? Or to put it another way, in the form that others may ask us, 'Who are you?' and 'What do you do?'

The United Reformed Church has a severe loss of identity and purpose, which though disabling, may be by design. Those within the church who still believe our short term goals should be further organic union, particularly at local level, envisage a church which fades away as a distinct denomination and simply joins with whoever is most appropriate locally.

However, another option is to re-invent ourselves as a distinct 'brand'. A small, reformed church, mainline AND progressive. Comfortable being itself, yet still wholly committed to ecumenical working wherever appropriate.

There seems to be two clear directions before us, I know which one I favour and believe will bear the more fruit.

Which do you favour? I'd really appreciate your comments and posts before I do more work/thinking in this area.

Finally, to aid your deliberations, below are excerpts from this years Catch the Vision report. Enjoy!

Catch the Vision Report 2006

There are no unity schemes on the far or near horizon. For thirty years the driving dynamic of the United Reformed Church has been unity. It has made us a movement, a pilgrimage, a people of no abiding city. But is God now asking something extra of us? Are we now being asked to balance our willingness to ‘die’ with a passion for ‘life’ and mission? CtheV 2006, 2.6

In a world where calls for unity receive no positive response, we could opt for the ‘homeopathic’ form of ecumenism. This is the ‘dilute until no one knows you’re there’ option, and it has a certain validity. Well, it says, pull down the shutters. That was an interesting experiment. Let’s sell off the silver and throw in our lot with the parish church or the Baptist meeting and strengthen the Christian presence. CtheV 2006, 2.7

Or we could opt for the ‘passion fruit concentrate’ version of ecumenism. That says, we might be a peculiar flavour, but the drinks cabinet would be much worse off without it. CtheV 2006, 2.8

‘We are not persuaded that our particular offering to the future great church and indeed to the future of Christian witness in our three nations will be best served by dilution’. CtheV 2006, 2.9

Historically we know about living a radical witness, … we know about reconciling diversity. We know what it is to be captivated by Scripture and have our lives turned upside down. It happens week by week and month by month. It’s electric and wonderful, and we don’t know why we don’t shout about it. We might be an odd flavour, but we’re a catchy one. People might get to like us. CtheV 2006, 2.10

Christ’s gift is not that we are either ‘united’ or ‘reformed’, but that we are ‘united and reformed’. CtheV 2006, 2.11

Let’s not be ashamed about being here. Let’s be ourselves. Let’s be glad to be ourselves. Let’s not apologise for being the United Reformed Church. Let’s celebrate God’s gifts, and think about possibilities and mission and growth. Let’s get confident, secure in the gospel. Our ultimate unity lies there after all, CtheV 2006, 2.12

[We see] both a God-given opportunity to leave behind the evangelical-liberal divide, and the possibility of a process of renewal which could gather the church into a community of difference makers for Christ’s sake. We have seen a vision. We intend to follow it, and make it the key feature of ‘Catch the Vision’ 2007. CtheV 2006, 4.5

Bags for Life!

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:20:00 +0000

On a blog about evangelism you may be surprised at a post about bags! But these are not just any bags, they can help you tell the story of the FIVE Marks of Mission!

I'll explain. It's the current big thing in supermarkets as they get all environmentally friendly to encourage us to stop using so many plastic carrier bags. First, all the big chains offered sturdier plastic bags that could be kept and reused, but now many stores are selling Jute or Canvas bags, which will last much longer and don't involve that nasty plastic stuff at all.

Great, but what's this to do with evangelism or the FIVE Marks of Mission?

Our local church had the idea of producing a Jute or Canvas bag with our church Logo on it. Not that this alone would ensure revival broke out, but would be just one small part of a strategy of raising awareness of the existence of the United Reformed Church. (see 'Logo's and Logos') However, as the planning for the project developed, several other ideas and considerations came into play. Could the material the bag is made of not only be something other than plastic, but could it be Fairtrade? If yes, should we put the Fairtrade logo on the bag as a witness to our support of that initiative? After all our church is very concerned and in involved with justice issues.

So, our simple bag idea had grown into something much more significant. A bag which tells the story, or rather is an aid to us sharing the story of the FIVE Marks of Mission.

So, here it is!

Imagine yourself shopping with this bag and someone asks you either about The United Reformed Church or Fairtrade. What can you share with them? You could share something about our church, what it is to be United, what it is to be Reformed and how Church is a group of people committed to God and each other, concerned with issues of Justice, Peace and Love.

If people want an example, flip the bag over and share something about the Fairtrade Movement, a real tangible way of explaining our faith.

Then point out how the bag itself represents the churches commitment to caring for the environment, the world that we believe God made and entrusted to us to be its stewards.

Finally, you could let people know that the bags are made by a company based in London and India, who help get people off the streets and into work making these bags in good conditions and for a fair wage.

In just a couple of minutes you will have shared with someone the FIVE Marks of Mission and what your faith means to you.

TREASURE - God's world, by using less plastic bags
TRANSFORM - a little part of the world through Fairtrade
TEND - for a small number of people in India who needed help
TELL - of what it is to be the United Reformed Church
and in doing all this
TEACH - a little bit of what it means to follow Jesus

You won't have a conversation like this every time you shop, but even if it just happens a couple of times, as TESCO says, Every Little Helps!

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If you would like to buy a small quantity of these United Reformed Church - Fairtrade bags just drop me an e-mail at the address on this blog. Alternatively, if you think your church (of whatever denomination) would like to do something similar, just e-mail me and I'll send further details of Canby and Freeset, the companies used.

The Unlikely Evangelist - the_five_marks_of_mission

Which way now?

Bags for Life!