Messy Vintage: 52 sessions to share Christ-centred fun and fellowship with the older generation
Messy Vintage: 52 sessions to share Christ-centred fun and fellowship with the older generation
Authors
:
Katie Norman
and Jill Phipps
£8.99
Inclusive, creative and Christ-centred worship for older people
Being ‘church’ with older people in care homes, congregations and the community
| Title | Messy Vintage: 52 sessions to share Christ-centred fun and fellowship with the older generation |
| Authors | Katie Norman and Jill Phipps |
| ISBN | |
| Description | Being ‘church’ with older people in care homes, congregations and the community Messy Vintage is Christ-centred and creative, full of celebration and hospitality and open to all, aspiring to include people of all ages while specifically reaching out to older people. A typical session involves hands-on creative activities to explore a Bible story, a short celebration with story, song and prayer, and refreshments. Whether you’re just getting started with Messy Vintage or looking for new session material, this book offers practical advice and resources to help you reach out to the older people in your community. ‘The Messy Vintage team always make me feel welcome – they are worth their weight in gold.’ ‘We love Messy Vintage. It’s like a breath of fresh air!’ |
| Details |
|
Being ‘church’ with older people in care homes, congregations and the community
Messy Vintage is Christ-centred and creative, full of celebration and hospitality and open to all, aspiring to include people of all ages while specifically reaching out to older people. A typical session involves hands-on creative activities to explore a Bible story, a short celebration with story, song and prayer, and refreshments.
Whether you’re just getting started with Messy Vintage or looking for new session material, this book offers practical advice and resources to help you reach out to the older people in your community.
‘The Messy Vintage team always make me feel welcome – they are worth their weight in gold.’
Messy Vintage participant
‘We love Messy Vintage. It’s like a breath of fresh air!’
Care home social activities coordinator
Katie Norman is the pioneer of Messy Vintage in Jersey, taking the approach into churches and care homes, as well as hospital units for people living with advanced dementia.
Jill Phipps is BRF’s National Coordinator for Messy Vintage.
Messy Vintage is a gem of a book and a must have resource for all those who have the privilege of sharing the Gospel with the older generation who are so easily forgotten, and whose capacity to play and have fun is often overlooked.
Katie and Jill have produced a book that unites hearts and hands prayerfully and practically. Inspiring and celebrating the gifts of creativity and conversation.
The prayers are simple but profound. Each of the 52 Scripture readings and reflections are a good length providing a structure that is helpful but not limiting. It has the potential to nurture, to comfort, to reassure and all through prayer, play and fun!
I am sure this super book will touch all who use it as they journey together, reflecting on the love of God, the faithfulness of Christ and the creative energy of the Holy Spirit.
Lynne Chitty, writer
Transforming Ministry (Autumn 2021). Review by Laura Hillier
Transforming Ministry Autumn 2021. Review by Laura Hillier
Messy Vintage is an extension of the highly successful work of Messy Church for families. This formula has proved a great success both in care homes and in the community, catering for those for whom attendance at a church service may be difficult or inappropriate. The book consists of 52 chapters with outline plans for gatherings, each based on a short Bible passage. The final section has ideas for celebrating the main festivals of the church’s year. A preliminary conversation is followed by a creative activity and a time of celebration ending with a prayer and a hymn. There are detailed instructions for the craft activity backed up by a website which provides templates and photographs. The authors recommend that where possible refreshments are served, perhaps afternoon tea attractively presented with flowers, cake stands and china cups. This book will prove an invaluable resource to those with sufficient time and energy to devote to such a worthwhile cause. Advance preparation is crucial: a helpful appendix provides guidance for care homes and volunteers which can be downloaded from the website.
Reviewed by Laura Hillier
Preach (issue 27 Summer 2021). Review by Sue Hamer
Messy Vintage is a small book packed with enthusiasm and ideas. Written for those in churches who have a desire to befriend the older generation, it contains 52 detailed programmes of activities to share. The sessions are clearly explained and include a Bible passage, a creative activity, ideas for discussion and suggested hymns to sing before the tea and cakes are served. Each session is easy to follow, providing everything required for up to two hours of fellowship and enjoyment. They can be used as a set programme to follow or as a starting point for developing your own creative ideas.
The accompanying website is clearly organised and easy to navigate, it contains the downloadable materials required for the creative activities and additional ideas for special events (not covered in the book). There are also useful admin documents to print and advice on how to run an event.
Messy Vintage groups are being run successfully in the community and in care homes. The authors have shared some lovely insights into the responses of a few of the participants at some of these events. It is encouraging to read of how Messy Church and subsequently Messy Vintage grew out of a church that needed a new lease of life and became a place where people ‘can celebrate in comfort, with Christ-centred fun, fellowship and food’.
If you have a heart to share the love of God and have some fun with older folk and if you have a team of like-minded people to work with you, then Messy Vintage will be a true source of inspiration and support to you.
Reviewed by Sue Hamer.
Review by Dawn Saunders, Chair of the Channel Islands Methodist District
Messy Vintage is a resource churches should invest in. The Messy Vintage sessions are written in a way that helps to creates a warm and fun environment designed for the older generation, although they are suitable for all ages. They begin with a bible story and a theme. The sessions are so clearly laid out and user friendly, you won’t need an expert team to run them. There is also a really comprehensive introduction to share the ethos of Messy Vintage and instructions on how best to run the sessions in different contexts.
There is just the right number of varied activities on the menu, with ample material for all, whether you are used to church activities or have never been. Through the well thought out programme of fifty-two sessions everyone can enjoy the fellowship and be fed through the experience. All the seasons of the year are catered for and details could be adapted if necessary, to fit the context. You don’t have to have cake stands, china tea sets and embroidered tablecloths, but if you have someone who would just love to provide those things, then hand the job over! There’s a chance for everyone to shine!
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who would love to share the word of God alongside activities in any setting.
Reviewed by Dawn Saunders Chair of The Channel Islands Methodist District
The Irish Methodist Newsletter February 2021. Review by Stephen Skuce
Many of us will be aware of the craft led approach of Messy Church, and the numerous directions this can be taken. Messy Vintage is another of these that promotes the approach among an older generation, both within church contexts and also in care homes and other settings.
There are two things that drew my attention here. Firstly, it’s always good to see Methodism leading the way. The author Katie Norman pioneered Messy Vintage in the Methodist Church in Jersey and in this book we get a Messy Vintage activity for each week of the year. Everything needed for the event is here, and in one small volume we get 52 excellent and proven sessions that are straightforward to use.
The second detail that struck me was the argument that in some places we shouldn’t put on a Messy Church or Messy Vintage, we should become a Messy Vintage Church. It’s a change of emphasis. Katie Norman points to the Messy Vintage community being the church, and the activities that support it being done excellently to honour all participating. ‘Creativity, for the predominantly older generation for whom Messy Vintage is aimed, can seem daunting, with such a vast array of abilities to cater for. However, it has been our experience over the past 10 years that it is not so much the craft itself that is important but the time spent creating it together and the conversations that ensue’ (p16).
As an example of an activity, week 32 considers Jesus saying ‘I am the gate’ (John 10:9). In addition to prayer and worship ideas, there is a suggested conversation about playing ‘hide and seek’ and what might have been discovered behind curtains and in wardrobes. We are shown where to find the video clip where Lucy steps through the wardrobe in the film of CS Lewis’ classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the craft activity uses a gate template and getting people to paint the most beautiful scene they have ever seen or imagined around it. Then follows a show and tell where participants talk about their images. This is all concluded by some reflection that Lucy entered into a wonderful new world, but one with lots of problems. In that world good ultimately overcomes evil, but only after Aslan has sacrificed his life for others. The aim of this session is to share the good news of salvation.
Trying a Messy Vintage approach is well within the abilities of all of us and our churches. I wonder if any of us will seriously contemplate what it might mean to be a Messy Church, rather than just do Messy Church activities.
Review by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western district, the Methodist Church in Ireland
Church Matters. Paul Beasley-Murray
This will meet a real need – although as I know from my mother’s experience there is also a real need for older mature Christians to go ‘deeper’.
Related
{"id":14779802157436,"title":"What Would Jesus Post?: A Biblical approach to online interaction","handle":"what-would-jesus-post-a-biblical-approach-to-online-interaction-1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIf Jesus had access to the internet, what would he post? And, as importantly, what wouldn't he post? This book asks the intriguing questions of those who engage with the internet, which biblical principles inform its use, and how might Christians steward their online presence?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Robertson is vicar of South Ossett, West Yorkshire. He has ministered in rural, suburban and urban deprived parishes and, as a graduate in Biblical Studies, he is primarily a Bible teacher. He has written several books, as well as daily Bible readings for BRF.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnvil vol 36 issue 1. April 2020. Review by Mary Kells\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis short and accessible book applies biblical principles to online life, reminding the reader that being online is not ‘downtime’ from faith, but an arena, rather, in which faith can be enacted, and in which it can also be tested. It is only towards the end that we discover that the book was written as a result of a damaging online experience. The book is designed for individuals, parents, youth and church leaders and could be used in a group or by individuals. It identifies three generations of online users: the tech-immigrants, pre-dating the advent of the World Wide Web in 1990, and more comfortable offline; tech-assimilators, who have learned to make use of online resources; and the tech-indigenous, who have never known anything else. The book is intended for all\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethree groups, spelling out basic concepts to facilitate the tech-immigrants, but challenging the tech-indigenous to re-think their online behaviour. A key question is: are we being conformed to online culture, or prepared to be a transformative presence, reflecting counter-cultural Christian values?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe individual chapters spell out the nature of the online environment and its temptations and consequences, including such perils as trolls and digital porn, and offer helpful tools and biblical resources. Each chapter follows the same simple structure, combining reflection and action. The chapters begin by outlining a particular issue or challenge, then suggest specific Bible passages which address it, and finish with a set of questions, for discussion, reflection or to prompt action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a book one would wish were not necessary, as its premises at one level seem so obvious, and yet, it clearly is. It encourages everyone to recognise online life as a powerful reality, but one that must be integrated into the greater reality of a life lived in God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eRev Dr Mary Kells, St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times. 31 August 2018. Review by Bryony Taylor\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a simple guide to thinking biblically about one's online interactions. I imagine that it would be helpful for church leaders who are realising that they need to engage with the internet and all the attendant issues that might affect people's discipleship, but who might not know where to start. If you already use social media and the internet a great deal, you may find it a little simplistic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book covers a wide range of themes, such as prayer, taking a sabbath, gossip, pornography and bullying, and then looks at what they might mean online. The aim is to help the reader think 'What would Jesus post?', updating the '90s slogan for the next generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobertson makes an interesting point about hypocrisy that, as online lives blend with offline lives, it is becoming harder to live a double life -- and that is a good thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore could have been said about the benefits of the internet and social media for pastoral care and discipleship: for example, the way in which the housebound and those with mental health problems and disabilities have access to church communities online; or the way in which apps, such as the YouVersion Bible app or PrayerMate, can support spiritual development. Neither of these apps is mentioned in the chapter on prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobertson helpfully explains what the book is and is not. Unfortunately, he does this in the afterword rather than the introduction; so it is a good idea to read the afterword first. The book is structured in such a way that the reader can dip in and out of it easily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few relevant chapters could be used as material fo ra small group Bible study, or even a short course. I would recommend it to a congregation who, perhaps, are feeling a generational divide around the use of technology and would like a way of approachig discipleship in this area together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Reverend Bryony Taylor is the author of 'Sharing Faith Using Social Media' (Grove, 2016) and a priest in the diocese of Derby.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlog review by The Revd Kate Wharton 01.09.18\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a really interesting book to read and review. There are so many conflicting thoughts and opinions around about social media and the whole online world. Some people think it's the best thing since sliced bread, a fabulous gospel opportunity, a way to reach out and spread the good news and connect with people you wouldn't otherwise meet. Some people think it's the work of the devil, all about spreading lies and hate and evil, bringing out the worst in people and distracting us from the real work of the kingdom. The truth, inevitably, probably lies somewhere in between those two extremes. Like many things, social media and the internet can be used for good or for evil, and there are plenty of people and organisations doing both of those things.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt would be easy to assume that the Bible has nothing to say about the online world - after all computers and electricity couldn't even have been dreamed of during the time the Bible was written, let alone the internet. But it's vital as Christians that we consider what God thinks about all aspects of life, and that we weigh up what we do and say and think in the light of what we know to be true. This is what theology does - it enables us to look at an aspect of life in our world and to consider it within the gaze of God, asking ourselves what he wishes to say to us about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is what David Robertson has sought to do in this new book: \u003cem\u003eWhat Would Jesus Post? - A Biblical Approach to Online Interaction\u003c\/em\u003e. Personally, I'm a big fan of social media, as you'll know if you follow me, and have been assailed by multiple posts on anything from chocolate to church to squirrels to fencing to gin to Jesus... and much more! So, I was fascinated to read what David Robertson had to say, and to see what he thought Jesus would have made of the world of social media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy own view is that Jesus would have been all over social media - he was never one to shy away from a chance to interact with people, after all. He was always where the people were - even when that meant being in a place that the 'good', righteous, religious people felt that he shouldn't have been. Of course, Jesus would have used his social media accounts without sinning, as he did everything - unfortunately that's something I can't claim to have always managed, and I doubt whether any of us have. But in 2018 I simply don't think that we can declare the whole online world to be morally bankrupt and declare that we want nothing to do with it. The internet isn't going anywhere, and I believe that we need to understand it and engage with it - in a way that's shaped around and formed by what we know to be true of God's kingdom rule. So, what might that look like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really liked how practical the book was, and that it's structured in such a clear and readable way. It constantly refers back to the truths and wisdom of the Bible, and it is also totally up to date and relevant to 21st century life and culture. There are helpful tips about how we can all make better use of social media in our kingdom ministry, and there are also important challenges as to just how we come across, how we engage, how we interact. We're reminded to 'pray before posting' and to think about the responsibilities as well as the opportunities that come with having a 'personal digital pulpit.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall advice from this book is that it's important for Christians as individuals, and for churches as organisations, to engage on social media, and to make the most of all that is offered by it. But crucially we're also encouraged to be wise, discerning, humble, hospitable and generous as we do so. There's also a really important and interesting challenge about our overuse of\/reliance on all things online, and an encouragement to consider an occasional 'digital sabbath.' Ultimately, we're reminded that we are 'stewards of a digital footprint.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall I think this is an important and timely book for Christians. I haven't come across anything quite like it before and it definitely gave me a lot of food for thought. 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And, as importantly, what wouldn't he post? This book asks the intriguing questions of those who engage with the internet, which biblical principles inform its use, and how might Christians steward their online presence?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Robertson is vicar of South Ossett, West Yorkshire. He has ministered in rural, suburban and urban deprived parishes and, as a graduate in Biblical Studies, he is primarily a Bible teacher. He has written several books, as well as daily Bible readings for BRF.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnvil vol 36 issue 1. April 2020. Review by Mary Kells\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis short and accessible book applies biblical principles to online life, reminding the reader that being online is not ‘downtime’ from faith, but an arena, rather, in which faith can be enacted, and in which it can also be tested. It is only towards the end that we discover that the book was written as a result of a damaging online experience. The book is designed for individuals, parents, youth and church leaders and could be used in a group or by individuals. It identifies three generations of online users: the tech-immigrants, pre-dating the advent of the World Wide Web in 1990, and more comfortable offline; tech-assimilators, who have learned to make use of online resources; and the tech-indigenous, who have never known anything else. The book is intended for all\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethree groups, spelling out basic concepts to facilitate the tech-immigrants, but challenging the tech-indigenous to re-think their online behaviour. A key question is: are we being conformed to online culture, or prepared to be a transformative presence, reflecting counter-cultural Christian values?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe individual chapters spell out the nature of the online environment and its temptations and consequences, including such perils as trolls and digital porn, and offer helpful tools and biblical resources. Each chapter follows the same simple structure, combining reflection and action. The chapters begin by outlining a particular issue or challenge, then suggest specific Bible passages which address it, and finish with a set of questions, for discussion, reflection or to prompt action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a book one would wish were not necessary, as its premises at one level seem so obvious, and yet, it clearly is. It encourages everyone to recognise online life as a powerful reality, but one that must be integrated into the greater reality of a life lived in God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eRev Dr Mary Kells, St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times. 31 August 2018. Review by Bryony Taylor\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a simple guide to thinking biblically about one's online interactions. I imagine that it would be helpful for church leaders who are realising that they need to engage with the internet and all the attendant issues that might affect people's discipleship, but who might not know where to start. If you already use social media and the internet a great deal, you may find it a little simplistic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book covers a wide range of themes, such as prayer, taking a sabbath, gossip, pornography and bullying, and then looks at what they might mean online. The aim is to help the reader think 'What would Jesus post?', updating the '90s slogan for the next generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobertson makes an interesting point about hypocrisy that, as online lives blend with offline lives, it is becoming harder to live a double life -- and that is a good thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore could have been said about the benefits of the internet and social media for pastoral care and discipleship: for example, the way in which the housebound and those with mental health problems and disabilities have access to church communities online; or the way in which apps, such as the YouVersion Bible app or PrayerMate, can support spiritual development. Neither of these apps is mentioned in the chapter on prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobertson helpfully explains what the book is and is not. Unfortunately, he does this in the afterword rather than the introduction; so it is a good idea to read the afterword first. The book is structured in such a way that the reader can dip in and out of it easily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few relevant chapters could be used as material fo ra small group Bible study, or even a short course. I would recommend it to a congregation who, perhaps, are feeling a generational divide around the use of technology and would like a way of approachig discipleship in this area together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Reverend Bryony Taylor is the author of 'Sharing Faith Using Social Media' (Grove, 2016) and a priest in the diocese of Derby.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlog review by The Revd Kate Wharton 01.09.18\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a really interesting book to read and review. There are so many conflicting thoughts and opinions around about social media and the whole online world. Some people think it's the best thing since sliced bread, a fabulous gospel opportunity, a way to reach out and spread the good news and connect with people you wouldn't otherwise meet. Some people think it's the work of the devil, all about spreading lies and hate and evil, bringing out the worst in people and distracting us from the real work of the kingdom. The truth, inevitably, probably lies somewhere in between those two extremes. Like many things, social media and the internet can be used for good or for evil, and there are plenty of people and organisations doing both of those things.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt would be easy to assume that the Bible has nothing to say about the online world - after all computers and electricity couldn't even have been dreamed of during the time the Bible was written, let alone the internet. But it's vital as Christians that we consider what God thinks about all aspects of life, and that we weigh up what we do and say and think in the light of what we know to be true. This is what theology does - it enables us to look at an aspect of life in our world and to consider it within the gaze of God, asking ourselves what he wishes to say to us about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is what David Robertson has sought to do in this new book: \u003cem\u003eWhat Would Jesus Post? - A Biblical Approach to Online Interaction\u003c\/em\u003e. Personally, I'm a big fan of social media, as you'll know if you follow me, and have been assailed by multiple posts on anything from chocolate to church to squirrels to fencing to gin to Jesus... and much more! So, I was fascinated to read what David Robertson had to say, and to see what he thought Jesus would have made of the world of social media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy own view is that Jesus would have been all over social media - he was never one to shy away from a chance to interact with people, after all. He was always where the people were - even when that meant being in a place that the 'good', righteous, religious people felt that he shouldn't have been. Of course, Jesus would have used his social media accounts without sinning, as he did everything - unfortunately that's something I can't claim to have always managed, and I doubt whether any of us have. But in 2018 I simply don't think that we can declare the whole online world to be morally bankrupt and declare that we want nothing to do with it. The internet isn't going anywhere, and I believe that we need to understand it and engage with it - in a way that's shaped around and formed by what we know to be true of God's kingdom rule. So, what might that look like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really liked how practical the book was, and that it's structured in such a clear and readable way. It constantly refers back to the truths and wisdom of the Bible, and it is also totally up to date and relevant to 21st century life and culture. There are helpful tips about how we can all make better use of social media in our kingdom ministry, and there are also important challenges as to just how we come across, how we engage, how we interact. We're reminded to 'pray before posting' and to think about the responsibilities as well as the opportunities that come with having a 'personal digital pulpit.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall advice from this book is that it's important for Christians as individuals, and for churches as organisations, to engage on social media, and to make the most of all that is offered by it. But crucially we're also encouraged to be wise, discerning, humble, hospitable and generous as we do so. There's also a really important and interesting challenge about our overuse of\/reliance on all things online, and an encouragement to consider an occasional 'digital sabbath.' Ultimately, we're reminded that we are 'stewards of a digital footprint.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall I think this is an important and timely book for Christians. I haven't come across anything quite like it before and it definitely gave me a lot of food for thought. I'm very much pro all things internet (well, most things...!) but this has given me some important new ideas, and questions to ask, for which I'm grateful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKate Wharton is Vicar of St. Bartholomew's Church in Roby, Liverpool, and Assistant National Leader of New Wine England\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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What Would Jesus Post?: A Biblical approach to online interaction
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{"id":14779491549564,"title":"Blended A Call to Reimagine Our Church Family: Rethinking how we can be church together","handle":"blended-a-call-to-reimagine-our-church-family-rethinking-how-we-can-be-church-together-1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eChurch as we know it is changing... with conversations and initiatives bubbling up around how our churches can be truly intergenerational, functioning in close and loving community as the body of Christ. Eleanor Bird speaks into the debate with a challenge to rethink our work with all ages from the ground up, offering practical observations drawn from her experience of developing children's and youth ministry in a local church context, together with a biblically based framework for how this thinking can be taken forward in your church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleanor Bird is Head of Children and Youth Ministry at St Chad's Romiley in Greater Manchester, overseeing all ministries with two to 19-year-olds. She has been involved in children's work leadership since she was twelve and in full-time ministry since the age of 21, leading children's venues for New Wine and workshops and seminars for leaders across the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleanor Bird is Head of Children and Youth Ministry at St Chad's Romiley in Greater Manchester, overseeing all ministries with two to 19-year-olds. She has been involved in children's work leadership since she was twelve and in full-time ministry since the age of 21, leading children's venues for New Wine and workshops and seminars for leaders across the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn order for us to see nations changed, we need to see the full body of Christ rise up together across all ages, to walk and minister shoulder to shoulder. Blended invites us to see that it is not only necessary, but possible. No matter what size community or denomination we belong to, this book gives us ways of seeing and doing church together with a new heart that will reap great rewards for the kingdom. Rachel Turner, author and speaker\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethodist Recorder 13 May 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eHERE'S another of those paperbacks whose title alone makes you believe it might provide the answer to all the challenges facing the life of your local church. \u003cem\u003eBlended - A Call to Reimagine our Church Family\u003c\/em\u003e by Eleanor Bird (brf, 8.99), subtitled 'Rethinking how we can be church together', is about investigating a 'new way of being God's family'. And in the ensuing 14 chapters there is much to give church leaders a lot of food for thought. When you realise that the author is 'head of children and youth ministry' at a thriving Anglican church in Romiley, Greater Manchester, overseeing all ministries with two- to 19-year-olds, you have a good idea of what it is all about. In fact, this book could be the answer to your prayers!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Singleton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Well magazine. The Methodist Church Summer 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eBlended\u003c\/em\u003e, Eleanor Bird invites us to reimagine a new way of being Church together: a Church that no longer divides by age lines but instead embraces being a community of different generations. For too long, she says, Christian communities have been separated; children, youth and adults each following their own programmes. Her vision is one where the lines drawn between these groups become blurred; rubbed away to become a more unified and connected body of believers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe focus of Bird's book is the times when church communities gather for worship. Her philosophy is built on four key values: \u003cbr\u003enot calling Church 'work; '\u003cbr\u003egiving everyone in church equal influence; \u003cbr\u003etraining when apart, for the times we gather as Church; \u003cbr\u003emaking the most of the times we gather to experiment and explain what's happening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese building blocks underpin all that Church is and does. They serve to create a community that thrives in worship, both when together and apart. So the times when groups pursue their own programme are seen as vital opportunities to prepare and develop understanding for when all gather together. She advocates a model in which style and content are gradually merged, helping worship times become increasingly seamless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis emphasis on worship (in the narrow sense of sung worship and teaching) is central in developing a more cohesive church community. Bird makes the case for church to embrace its whole spectrum of family, yet the question remains what form this may take beyond Sunday services. What the features of a blended church might be outside of these times is the next natural field to explore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBird's personal testimony and experience are threads throughout the book, this adds an authentic dimension when she recounts how her own faith and understanding developed. As readers, we're urged to join her on this road of discovery that sees God's kingdom grow in our churches and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGail Adcock, Methodist Family Ministry Development Officer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","published_at":"2024-10-30T09:18:15+00:00","created_at":"2024-10-30T09:17:22+00:00","vendor":"Eleanor Bird","type":"eBook","tags":["Church life","Glassboxx","Leadership","Oct-15"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":53604747215228,"title":"eBook","option1":"eBook","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857461179","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Blended A Call to Reimagine Our Church Family: Rethinking how we can be church together - eBook","public_title":"eBook","options":["eBook"],"price":899,"weight":166,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857461179","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/269.png?v=1730980304","\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/270.png?v=1730980336"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/269.png?v=1730980304","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":63001482494332,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/269.png?v=1730980304"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/269.png?v=1730980304","width":1303},{"alt":null,"id":63001489670524,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/270.png?v=1730980336"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/270.png?v=1730980336","width":1303}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eChurch as we know it is changing... with conversations and initiatives bubbling up around how our churches can be truly intergenerational, functioning in close and loving community as the body of Christ. Eleanor Bird speaks into the debate with a challenge to rethink our work with all ages from the ground up, offering practical observations drawn from her experience of developing children's and youth ministry in a local church context, together with a biblically based framework for how this thinking can be taken forward in your church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleanor Bird is Head of Children and Youth Ministry at St Chad's Romiley in Greater Manchester, overseeing all ministries with two to 19-year-olds. She has been involved in children's work leadership since she was twelve and in full-time ministry since the age of 21, leading children's venues for New Wine and workshops and seminars for leaders across the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleanor Bird is Head of Children and Youth Ministry at St Chad's Romiley in Greater Manchester, overseeing all ministries with two to 19-year-olds. She has been involved in children's work leadership since she was twelve and in full-time ministry since the age of 21, leading children's venues for New Wine and workshops and seminars for leaders across the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn order for us to see nations changed, we need to see the full body of Christ rise up together across all ages, to walk and minister shoulder to shoulder. Blended invites us to see that it is not only necessary, but possible. No matter what size community or denomination we belong to, this book gives us ways of seeing and doing church together with a new heart that will reap great rewards for the kingdom. Rachel Turner, author and speaker\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethodist Recorder 13 May 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eHERE'S another of those paperbacks whose title alone makes you believe it might provide the answer to all the challenges facing the life of your local church. \u003cem\u003eBlended - A Call to Reimagine our Church Family\u003c\/em\u003e by Eleanor Bird (brf, 8.99), subtitled 'Rethinking how we can be church together', is about investigating a 'new way of being God's family'. And in the ensuing 14 chapters there is much to give church leaders a lot of food for thought. When you realise that the author is 'head of children and youth ministry' at a thriving Anglican church in Romiley, Greater Manchester, overseeing all ministries with two- to 19-year-olds, you have a good idea of what it is all about. In fact, this book could be the answer to your prayers!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Singleton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Well magazine. The Methodist Church Summer 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eBlended\u003c\/em\u003e, Eleanor Bird invites us to reimagine a new way of being Church together: a Church that no longer divides by age lines but instead embraces being a community of different generations. For too long, she says, Christian communities have been separated; children, youth and adults each following their own programmes. Her vision is one where the lines drawn between these groups become blurred; rubbed away to become a more unified and connected body of believers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe focus of Bird's book is the times when church communities gather for worship. Her philosophy is built on four key values: \u003cbr\u003enot calling Church 'work; '\u003cbr\u003egiving everyone in church equal influence; \u003cbr\u003etraining when apart, for the times we gather as Church; \u003cbr\u003emaking the most of the times we gather to experiment and explain what's happening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese building blocks underpin all that Church is and does. They serve to create a community that thrives in worship, both when together and apart. So the times when groups pursue their own programme are seen as vital opportunities to prepare and develop understanding for when all gather together. She advocates a model in which style and content are gradually merged, helping worship times become increasingly seamless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis emphasis on worship (in the narrow sense of sung worship and teaching) is central in developing a more cohesive church community. Bird makes the case for church to embrace its whole spectrum of family, yet the question remains what form this may take beyond Sunday services. What the features of a blended church might be outside of these times is the next natural field to explore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBird's personal testimony and experience are threads throughout the book, this adds an authentic dimension when she recounts how her own faith and understanding developed. As readers, we're urged to join her on this road of discovery that sees God's kingdom grow in our churches and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGail Adcock, Methodist Family Ministry Development Officer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e"}
You may also like:
Blended A Call to Reimagine Our Church Family: Rethinking how we can be church together
£8.99
Digital eBook Only - Church as we know it is changing... with conversations and initiatives bubbling up around how our...
{"id":14779334885756,"title":"Resourcing Rural Ministry: Practical insights for mission","handle":"resourcing-rural-ministry-practical-insights-for-mission-1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry offers an in-depth exploration of the key aspects, challenges and opportunities of mission in a rural church. Relevant for ordained and lay leaders alike, the book covers subjects ranging from encouraging evangelism in a multi-church group to making best use of church buildings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContaining a wealth of real-life case studies and suggestions for follow-up, this ecumenical publication draws on the expertise and resources of the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC), which has served the spiritual and practical needs of the rural Christian community for over 40 years. This book contributes to ARC's Germinate programme of training, development and support for rural multi-church groups of all denominations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry was first developed by Simon Martin as Training and Resources Officer at the ARC. Additional chapters have been contributed by the Revd Caroline Hewlett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne and the final text has been prepared and edited by Jill Hopkinson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide is rooted in the reality of rural life with all its opportunities and challenges. Experienced rural practitioners share stories and resources which will inspire and equip those Christians, lay and ordained, who are working together in the very varied rural communities in Britain. Simon Martin and the other contributors have provided an invaluable resource for all who are engaged in rural mission and ministry, which I hope will be widely read and used.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Revd Ruth Gee, BA, M Litt, President of the Methodist Conference 2013 - 2014, Chair of the Darlington Methodist District \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want an inspiring read, this book is for you. This is a can-do book for whatever your context may be. I found it faith-building and full of fantastic stories, innovative ideas and best practice throughout its pages. This book is a must for anyone passionate about seeing the gospel transform their community, whether an individual, lay preacher or church leader, and will inspire creativity, energy and enthusiasm to make a real difference in your setting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Roy Crowne, Executive Director, HOPE \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFundamentals of Christian faith and being church are story, relationships and being disciples. This book is packed with helpful resources and background theology that speak into all of these areas and will aid the rural church to be a vibrant and relevant presence in today's society. This is a 'must read' book for clergy, educators, lay leaders and anyone who has a heart for rural mission.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Revd Peter Ball, Mission and Training Officer, Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA really useful, affirming, grounded, inspirational and practical resource book. Great for anyone in rural ministry, but with wisdom for those in lay and ordained ministry anywhere.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Lucy Moore, BRF Messy Church Team Leader \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA key message of this very useful and usable collection is that we can learn so much from the stories of what God is doing among us and through us. Read these contributions and you'll be excited by a wealth of experience, insight and resource. How to develop a learning culture is a hugely important question, and it is a vital issue for the rural church in regard to worship, discipleship and evangelism. This book is a significant contribution to that development, not least because of its consistent theme of learning from each other and learning together. I warmly commend it to all who long for the flourishing of the rural church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Rt Revd James Bell, Bishop of Ripon, Chair of the Rural Affairs Group of the Church of England General Synod \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry was first developed by Simon Martin as Training and Resources Officer at the Arthur Rank Centre. Additional chapters have been contributed by Revd Caroline Hewlett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne and the final text prepared and edited by Jill Hopkinson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePobl Dewi (Diocese of St David's) - June 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Arthur Rank Centre has been the churches' focus on rural ministry and mission for 40+ years. The accumulated knowledge on all matters affecting every denomination is unrivalled. The connections into every diocese and district has distilled much experience into this small book. The title and subtitle show how the commitment of ministry is to mission. The key questions are asked and answered. What support is available for rural congregations that have limited resources and few members? How do you resource small, dispersed rural congregations and their leaders, lay and ordained?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reliance on lay people is the norm in rural communities and churches. Clergy have to find their role, which can be very different from how it is in an urban church. The nature of church, its theology, worship, practical outreach and expectations are likely to be very different if there are less than a dozen regularly at worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose few laypeople are likely to be involved in many other community activities and their witness does not go unseen. The community in which the church is set has its own rhythms and customs. It is wise to understand these so that the life of the church respects those that are honourable and desirable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is no surprise that this book refers readers to larger resources on the website (www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk). The chapter on worship recognises how it is part of the breath of the community, even for those who do not join in. There are many who may use the church building for their own good purposes, such as meditation and prayer, at other times of the week. The chapter on evangelism refers to the Journey to Faith section. There is a useful critique of Fresh Expressions and Messy Church. The chapter on children and young people brings together several good examples of rural churches that have tried new ways of building relationships with this generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelationship is the key to rural ministry and mission. Many people have existing relationships and friendships and the church has to recognise these links so that its invitation to a new relationship with Christ is offered appropriately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChurch buildings have their own contribution to make in re-connecting church to community. Good examples abound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Canon Jeremy Martineau\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 29 April 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMULTI-AUTHOR books have their difficulties, but this is a book that will be widely appreciated and much read in rural parishes. The book was conceived and largely written by Simon Martin of the Arthur Rank Centre (the Church's presence at the centre of the farming and countryside world). Unfortunately, Simon became seriously ill before the completion of this book, and it was prepared for publication by Jill Hopkinson and other authors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the wake of \u003cem\u003eFaith in the City\u003c\/em\u003e (1985), the attention of the churches turned to rural matters, not least because of the animal-health problems of the 1980s. \u003cem\u003eFaith in the Countryside\u003c\/em\u003e (1990) seemed for a time to be the high watermark of the Church's concern with the countryside and its rural parishes. But in recent years there has been a steady flow of books on rural matters, among which this book now takes its place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBooks on the rural Church tend to fall into two categories: first, those that are essentially local histories, but which generalise about the state of affairs in the countryside; second, those about how to minister in rural areas which are full of accounts of how to confront the steady decline in rural church life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book contains little historical analysis of the development of rural parishes, but is full of accounts of pioneering work and how this has been achieved. Those in need of help as they seek to deal with the complexities of church life in rural communities should turn to this book, which is full of examples of 'what to do' and 'how to do it', many of them drawn from the Arthur Rank Centre's publication \u003cem\u003e Country Parish\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are chapters on discipleship and nurture; mission in the rural context; rural fresh expressions; worship in small churches; and the use and adaptation of historic church buildings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor generations, the central issue in rural parishes has been who 'owns' the church, 'not in the sense of legal tenure but in the sense of who makes the rules, determines the programme and the general direction and feel of that church'. There have been historic struggles between patrons, clergy, and churchwardens. But today many parishes have witnessed ownership struggles between the old resident community and recent arrivals who bring a different understanding of the nature of the church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch differences have to be reconciled, because, according to Martin, a successful rural church must be run by its congregation. While it used to be considered that the role of the laity was to help the clergy do what was essentially their job, Martin and his co-authors make it clear that the rural church will only thrive if it is run by the laity, and the role of the very few rural clergy is to encourage and equip the laity to do this job\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.In one church, a member of the congregation wrote on the wall 'This is my church.' This book makes clear that unless the laity, in every sense, own and take responsibility for the local church, it will die. Many will recognise the truth of this statement in the contemporary countryside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell is a former Bishop of Ely and President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurches Together in England - April 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is long overdue as it brings many of the resources for mission from the Arthur Rank Centre - which has resourced rural ministry and mission for 40 years - into one place. This is very welcome for clergy and lay people alike and from across the churches in England, especially as it is said that 1 in 6 of the population live in rural areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by national advisors and local practitioners alike, \u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e does exactly what it says, by providing a wide variety of ideas, resources, case studies and comment for anyone concerned with the rural context of mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApart from all the helpful information, what I like best about this book is the layout. Under straight forward titles and in short sections it is easy to find what you might be looking for. Whether it be Messy Church, Multi-Church Ministry, or rural aspects of Ministerial Training, it also includes examples of more unusual ministry e.g. Forest Church and various aspects of theological reflection e.g. Robert Warren's diagram of Doing, Being and Living.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e draws on various traditions including monastic and Fresh Expressions, as well as quoting examples from different denominations. It is a compendium or 'one stop shop' for those who want to address the challenges of the rural church - especially practically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a practical guide, some may say \u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e is light in terms of political and social critique, and that it could have drawn more on major works on ministry and mission before it. I would say its strength lies in covering the contemporary ground brilliantly and with just the right amount of information and reflection to encourage every reader in the task of developing understanding, discipleship and rural ministry to get on with the task better informed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll insights are positive, and difficult topics are not ignored. This is well illustrated in a quote from page 42: 'Multi-church ministry brings with it a great many joys and opportunities, in working with different communities and congregations. It also has its own tensions and complications and can be stressful for lay and ordained alike. We know that it is possible for some churches in rural multi-church groups to grow and to do so consistently over several years. We also know that many rural congregations have reduced in size and others maintain regular numbers attending'. What follows this quote is a chapter exploring the issues, with a pragmatic approach, based on research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this is a book for everyone in rural ministry. Full of ideas and encouragement, notes and anecdotes, resources and analysis that has been 'rural-proofed' to be relevant and helpful. Drawing on resources from the Arthur Rank Centre e.g. Country Way (p39) and Journey to Faith (p110), it draws on 40 years' experience and provides the reader with a wonderful overview, guide and mission resource all in one place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJim Currin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCTE Evangelisation, Mission and Media\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStaff member on the Churches Rural Group\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Door (The Diocese of Oxford) March 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is currently a group, established by the Diocesan Board of Mission, whose function is to consider a range of strategic initiatives to enhance the rural church, and this book is a welcome introductory resource for all those who have an interest in rural ministry and its expression in the 21st century. \u003cbr\u003eThe authors recognise the specific characteristics of rural ministry relating to context, culture and community and the need to be aware of the specific ways these impact on church life. In keeping with \u003cem\u003eLiving Faith\u003c\/em\u003e there are resources related to mission and ministry including chapters on worship, evangelism, discipleship, children and young people, and developing Messy Church. The book offers a range of ideas, initiatives and approaches in these and other areas, drawing on a range of denominations.\u003cbr\u003eOne of the most helpful sections is by Simon Martin who maintains that rural churches are particularly effective in showing Christ's compassion to those in need and also in what might be termed low level nurture and teaching. He is realistic about the appropriateness of using some resources in the rural context and offers helpful ideas and resources such as the sharing of stories and the use of the Arthur Rank Centre's Equipping for Rural Mission via \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.germinate.net\/go\/profiling\"\u003ewww.germinate.net\/go\/profiling\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003eAs he rightly states small rural churches are not failed larger ones. Rather they have a range of expressions, networks and routes into their communities that enables them to function as a little yeast, that, in the words of Saint Paul to the Galatians, 'leavens the whole batch of dough'.\u003cbr\u003eRegarding discipleship and nurture, as in other chapters, a number of resources are offered alongside comments and observations from those who have used them. Again there is a helpful degree of realism here to enable one to assess whether what one might offer is appropriate not only for the local context and communities, but also for the resources one has available. This book could well be used by members of rural multi-parish benefices, and within rural deaneries, as a vehicle for gaining fresh insights for rural ministry. By focusing on each chapter in turn, resources for discussing mission and ministry could be creatively and imaginatively explored. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Revd Charles Chadwick is the Parish Development Adviser in the Dorchester Archdeaconry and Leader of the Rural Strategies Steering Group.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethodist Recorder 29 January 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a small, but useful, contribution to counteract the old dictum, 'If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.' Encouraging all churches to believe in possibilities and experimentation, it is a book of 'realtime' stories from across the country, of folk just like you and I, not giving up. Men and women questioning and engaging their localities with bespoke attempts to reach out and reveal the something of the divine and the importance of spiritual reflection in all of our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven that, for the past 20 years or more, the polls and pundits are shouting that, in all our mainstream Churches, the active attendance in local churches of our neighbours is rapidly declining.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCounteract\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stories relayed within \u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry - Practical Insights for Mission \u003c\/em\u003eby Simon Martin with Caroline Hewett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne simply try and counteract the data so often solemnly presented at synods and conferences, but it cannot contradict the overall important trends being revealed. The 'number crunchers-crunching' suggest that our neighbours simply see no need of 'belonging' or 'embracing' the stories of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Martin and editor Jill Hopkinson from the Arthur Rank Centre, with friends and colleagues, offer throughout this book (203 pages) cameos of hope and experimentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe, in the Church, have become familiar with terms like 'fresh expressions' and 'messy churches', but perhaps not with 'Eastertingle' or 'Who let the Dads out' groups, ie the men who care for their little ones gathering together. Even a 'Forest Church' that explores worship in a landscape\/outside of a church building.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the book five pages point to other resources tried and tested - probably\u003cbr\u003esome useful and successful, others not so, but all venturesome and calling us to\u003cbr\u003etake courage!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnvisioned\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout this book it points to envisioned lay folk and clergy. One short paragraph struck me on p160 (Bar Nash-Williams united benefice of Stamfordham and Matfen): 'All the good plans and keen participation come to nothing if you don't start with the heart, it's your heart that says, 'It's worth it just for one child'. Its the heart that says, 'We do what we can and trust to God for the rest.' When you start with that attitude a tiny church can do good things with tiny resources.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmen to that. For we Methodists those words speak to our DNA of 'warmed hearts' and 'faithful service' to our God-given communities wherever you are. I commend this book to those who are seeking some ideas with a warm heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rev Canon Alan Robson is Lincolnshire agricultural chaplain.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eFrom \u003cem\u003eMETconnexion\u003c\/em\u003e. December 2015\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eIf you are looking for a practical understanding of the main issues, challenges and responses in rural ministry in Britain, this is the text for you. It's very accessible, straightforward and written by Simon Martin and others who are all associated with the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC) which seeks to equip the rural church for effective ministry and mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat I particularly like about this book is that it covers the main areas, at least as I understand them. Too many books on rural Christianity spend a lot of their time offering an analysis of the changing nature of rural communities, dealing with indices of rural deprivation, mobility and so on. This is important and helps us to understand the rural context in which we live out our faith and minister. But, too often they don't offer enough direct suggestion as to what we might actually do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chapters consider mission, worship, evangelism, messy church, fresh expressions, worship, discipleship, young people and multi-church ministry. I particularly appreciate the separate chapters on mission and evangelism. Too often these areas are conflated and the result is that being involved with people outside of the believing community is considered to be evangelism. In reality that is mission which creates the opportunity for a more direct sharing of faith and a challenge to discipleship. This book very helpfully, in my view, gets this right.My one small criticism of this book is that it's a bit Anglican. That is fully understandable. The ARC (http:\/\/www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk\/) is a largely Anglican organisation with a Methodist\/United Reformed Rural Officer. The book refers to a lot of ARC resources and programmes which can be used for anyone, although at times there is more of an Anglican flavour. The chapter on 'multi-church ministry' is a good example where the Methodist norm is discussed but rather than strengths and weaknesses of a rural circuit being considered there is more of an introduction to how Methodists do things for others. I think more could be learnt by Methodists and others by a sharper critique of the current Methodist circuit.This is a very good book that enables us to better understand the challenges and possibilities in rural mission and ministry. It does point to the need to produce more material that helps Methodists and other non-Anglicans understand their nuanced context. This is a fine resource that will benefit many.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eRev'd Dr Stephen Skuce\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountry Way magazine - January 2016\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe all know that society is changing rapidly and that there is a real need for Christians to find new and innovative ways of ensuring that the story of Jesus and the love of God, for this world, and us as individuals can still be heard and responded to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is not always so easy is finding the right models and ways for doing so. Resourcing Rural Ministry is therefore a 'must have' on the bookshelf of all those who wish to think about what God is saying to the rural church in this generation. In many ways rural church life comes with some unique opportunities as well as often being at the heart of the many challenges facing rural communities in the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst no book can offer all of the answers, and each context is unique, Resourcing Rural Ministry will help people to think about their rural context, the story the rural church has to tell and then to look at the mission opportunities this provides through practical ideas. The fundamentals of the Christian faith and being church are story, relationships and growing as disciples. This book is packed with helpful resources and background theology that speak into all of these areas and will aid the rural church to be a vibrant and relevant presence in today's society. God provides us with many opportunities to be more missional in our approach and outlook toward church and community life, and this book is a useful tool to help us grasp those opportunities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeter Ball\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","published_at":"2024-10-30T08:02:38+00:00","created_at":"2024-10-30T08:01:33+00:00","vendor":"Simon Martin","type":"eBook","tags":["Church life","Glassboxx","Mission","Nov-15"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":53604691444092,"title":"eBook","option1":"eBook","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857462633","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Resourcing Rural Ministry: Practical insights for mission - eBook","public_title":"eBook","options":["eBook"],"price":899,"weight":232,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857462633","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/255.png?v=1730980290","\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/256.png?v=1730980369"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/255.png?v=1730980290","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":63001480364412,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/255.png?v=1730980290"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/255.png?v=1730980290","width":1303},{"alt":null,"id":63001497108860,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/256.png?v=1730980369"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/256.png?v=1730980369","width":1303}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry offers an in-depth exploration of the key aspects, challenges and opportunities of mission in a rural church. Relevant for ordained and lay leaders alike, the book covers subjects ranging from encouraging evangelism in a multi-church group to making best use of church buildings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContaining a wealth of real-life case studies and suggestions for follow-up, this ecumenical publication draws on the expertise and resources of the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC), which has served the spiritual and practical needs of the rural Christian community for over 40 years. This book contributes to ARC's Germinate programme of training, development and support for rural multi-church groups of all denominations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry was first developed by Simon Martin as Training and Resources Officer at the ARC. Additional chapters have been contributed by the Revd Caroline Hewlett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne and the final text has been prepared and edited by Jill Hopkinson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide is rooted in the reality of rural life with all its opportunities and challenges. Experienced rural practitioners share stories and resources which will inspire and equip those Christians, lay and ordained, who are working together in the very varied rural communities in Britain. Simon Martin and the other contributors have provided an invaluable resource for all who are engaged in rural mission and ministry, which I hope will be widely read and used.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Revd Ruth Gee, BA, M Litt, President of the Methodist Conference 2013 - 2014, Chair of the Darlington Methodist District \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want an inspiring read, this book is for you. This is a can-do book for whatever your context may be. I found it faith-building and full of fantastic stories, innovative ideas and best practice throughout its pages. This book is a must for anyone passionate about seeing the gospel transform their community, whether an individual, lay preacher or church leader, and will inspire creativity, energy and enthusiasm to make a real difference in your setting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Roy Crowne, Executive Director, HOPE \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFundamentals of Christian faith and being church are story, relationships and being disciples. This book is packed with helpful resources and background theology that speak into all of these areas and will aid the rural church to be a vibrant and relevant presence in today's society. This is a 'must read' book for clergy, educators, lay leaders and anyone who has a heart for rural mission.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Revd Peter Ball, Mission and Training Officer, Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA really useful, affirming, grounded, inspirational and practical resource book. Great for anyone in rural ministry, but with wisdom for those in lay and ordained ministry anywhere.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Lucy Moore, BRF Messy Church Team Leader \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA key message of this very useful and usable collection is that we can learn so much from the stories of what God is doing among us and through us. Read these contributions and you'll be excited by a wealth of experience, insight and resource. How to develop a learning culture is a hugely important question, and it is a vital issue for the rural church in regard to worship, discipleship and evangelism. This book is a significant contribution to that development, not least because of its consistent theme of learning from each other and learning together. I warmly commend it to all who long for the flourishing of the rural church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Rt Revd James Bell, Bishop of Ripon, Chair of the Rural Affairs Group of the Church of England General Synod \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry was first developed by Simon Martin as Training and Resources Officer at the Arthur Rank Centre. Additional chapters have been contributed by Revd Caroline Hewlett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne and the final text prepared and edited by Jill Hopkinson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePobl Dewi (Diocese of St David's) - June 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Arthur Rank Centre has been the churches' focus on rural ministry and mission for 40+ years. The accumulated knowledge on all matters affecting every denomination is unrivalled. The connections into every diocese and district has distilled much experience into this small book. The title and subtitle show how the commitment of ministry is to mission. The key questions are asked and answered. What support is available for rural congregations that have limited resources and few members? How do you resource small, dispersed rural congregations and their leaders, lay and ordained?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reliance on lay people is the norm in rural communities and churches. Clergy have to find their role, which can be very different from how it is in an urban church. The nature of church, its theology, worship, practical outreach and expectations are likely to be very different if there are less than a dozen regularly at worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose few laypeople are likely to be involved in many other community activities and their witness does not go unseen. The community in which the church is set has its own rhythms and customs. It is wise to understand these so that the life of the church respects those that are honourable and desirable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is no surprise that this book refers readers to larger resources on the website (www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk). The chapter on worship recognises how it is part of the breath of the community, even for those who do not join in. There are many who may use the church building for their own good purposes, such as meditation and prayer, at other times of the week. The chapter on evangelism refers to the Journey to Faith section. There is a useful critique of Fresh Expressions and Messy Church. The chapter on children and young people brings together several good examples of rural churches that have tried new ways of building relationships with this generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelationship is the key to rural ministry and mission. Many people have existing relationships and friendships and the church has to recognise these links so that its invitation to a new relationship with Christ is offered appropriately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChurch buildings have their own contribution to make in re-connecting church to community. Good examples abound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Canon Jeremy Martineau\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 29 April 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMULTI-AUTHOR books have their difficulties, but this is a book that will be widely appreciated and much read in rural parishes. The book was conceived and largely written by Simon Martin of the Arthur Rank Centre (the Church's presence at the centre of the farming and countryside world). Unfortunately, Simon became seriously ill before the completion of this book, and it was prepared for publication by Jill Hopkinson and other authors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the wake of \u003cem\u003eFaith in the City\u003c\/em\u003e (1985), the attention of the churches turned to rural matters, not least because of the animal-health problems of the 1980s. \u003cem\u003eFaith in the Countryside\u003c\/em\u003e (1990) seemed for a time to be the high watermark of the Church's concern with the countryside and its rural parishes. But in recent years there has been a steady flow of books on rural matters, among which this book now takes its place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBooks on the rural Church tend to fall into two categories: first, those that are essentially local histories, but which generalise about the state of affairs in the countryside; second, those about how to minister in rural areas which are full of accounts of how to confront the steady decline in rural church life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book contains little historical analysis of the development of rural parishes, but is full of accounts of pioneering work and how this has been achieved. Those in need of help as they seek to deal with the complexities of church life in rural communities should turn to this book, which is full of examples of 'what to do' and 'how to do it', many of them drawn from the Arthur Rank Centre's publication \u003cem\u003e Country Parish\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are chapters on discipleship and nurture; mission in the rural context; rural fresh expressions; worship in small churches; and the use and adaptation of historic church buildings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor generations, the central issue in rural parishes has been who 'owns' the church, 'not in the sense of legal tenure but in the sense of who makes the rules, determines the programme and the general direction and feel of that church'. There have been historic struggles between patrons, clergy, and churchwardens. But today many parishes have witnessed ownership struggles between the old resident community and recent arrivals who bring a different understanding of the nature of the church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch differences have to be reconciled, because, according to Martin, a successful rural church must be run by its congregation. While it used to be considered that the role of the laity was to help the clergy do what was essentially their job, Martin and his co-authors make it clear that the rural church will only thrive if it is run by the laity, and the role of the very few rural clergy is to encourage and equip the laity to do this job\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.In one church, a member of the congregation wrote on the wall 'This is my church.' This book makes clear that unless the laity, in every sense, own and take responsibility for the local church, it will die. Many will recognise the truth of this statement in the contemporary countryside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell is a former Bishop of Ely and President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurches Together in England - April 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is long overdue as it brings many of the resources for mission from the Arthur Rank Centre - which has resourced rural ministry and mission for 40 years - into one place. This is very welcome for clergy and lay people alike and from across the churches in England, especially as it is said that 1 in 6 of the population live in rural areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by national advisors and local practitioners alike, \u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e does exactly what it says, by providing a wide variety of ideas, resources, case studies and comment for anyone concerned with the rural context of mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApart from all the helpful information, what I like best about this book is the layout. Under straight forward titles and in short sections it is easy to find what you might be looking for. Whether it be Messy Church, Multi-Church Ministry, or rural aspects of Ministerial Training, it also includes examples of more unusual ministry e.g. Forest Church and various aspects of theological reflection e.g. Robert Warren's diagram of Doing, Being and Living.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e draws on various traditions including monastic and Fresh Expressions, as well as quoting examples from different denominations. It is a compendium or 'one stop shop' for those who want to address the challenges of the rural church - especially practically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a practical guide, some may say \u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e is light in terms of political and social critique, and that it could have drawn more on major works on ministry and mission before it. I would say its strength lies in covering the contemporary ground brilliantly and with just the right amount of information and reflection to encourage every reader in the task of developing understanding, discipleship and rural ministry to get on with the task better informed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll insights are positive, and difficult topics are not ignored. This is well illustrated in a quote from page 42: 'Multi-church ministry brings with it a great many joys and opportunities, in working with different communities and congregations. It also has its own tensions and complications and can be stressful for lay and ordained alike. We know that it is possible for some churches in rural multi-church groups to grow and to do so consistently over several years. We also know that many rural congregations have reduced in size and others maintain regular numbers attending'. What follows this quote is a chapter exploring the issues, with a pragmatic approach, based on research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this is a book for everyone in rural ministry. Full of ideas and encouragement, notes and anecdotes, resources and analysis that has been 'rural-proofed' to be relevant and helpful. Drawing on resources from the Arthur Rank Centre e.g. Country Way (p39) and Journey to Faith (p110), it draws on 40 years' experience and provides the reader with a wonderful overview, guide and mission resource all in one place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJim Currin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCTE Evangelisation, Mission and Media\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStaff member on the Churches Rural Group\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Door (The Diocese of Oxford) March 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is currently a group, established by the Diocesan Board of Mission, whose function is to consider a range of strategic initiatives to enhance the rural church, and this book is a welcome introductory resource for all those who have an interest in rural ministry and its expression in the 21st century. \u003cbr\u003eThe authors recognise the specific characteristics of rural ministry relating to context, culture and community and the need to be aware of the specific ways these impact on church life. In keeping with \u003cem\u003eLiving Faith\u003c\/em\u003e there are resources related to mission and ministry including chapters on worship, evangelism, discipleship, children and young people, and developing Messy Church. The book offers a range of ideas, initiatives and approaches in these and other areas, drawing on a range of denominations.\u003cbr\u003eOne of the most helpful sections is by Simon Martin who maintains that rural churches are particularly effective in showing Christ's compassion to those in need and also in what might be termed low level nurture and teaching. He is realistic about the appropriateness of using some resources in the rural context and offers helpful ideas and resources such as the sharing of stories and the use of the Arthur Rank Centre's Equipping for Rural Mission via \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.germinate.net\/go\/profiling\"\u003ewww.germinate.net\/go\/profiling\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003eAs he rightly states small rural churches are not failed larger ones. Rather they have a range of expressions, networks and routes into their communities that enables them to function as a little yeast, that, in the words of Saint Paul to the Galatians, 'leavens the whole batch of dough'.\u003cbr\u003eRegarding discipleship and nurture, as in other chapters, a number of resources are offered alongside comments and observations from those who have used them. Again there is a helpful degree of realism here to enable one to assess whether what one might offer is appropriate not only for the local context and communities, but also for the resources one has available. This book could well be used by members of rural multi-parish benefices, and within rural deaneries, as a vehicle for gaining fresh insights for rural ministry. By focusing on each chapter in turn, resources for discussing mission and ministry could be creatively and imaginatively explored. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Revd Charles Chadwick is the Parish Development Adviser in the Dorchester Archdeaconry and Leader of the Rural Strategies Steering Group.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethodist Recorder 29 January 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a small, but useful, contribution to counteract the old dictum, 'If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.' Encouraging all churches to believe in possibilities and experimentation, it is a book of 'realtime' stories from across the country, of folk just like you and I, not giving up. Men and women questioning and engaging their localities with bespoke attempts to reach out and reveal the something of the divine and the importance of spiritual reflection in all of our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven that, for the past 20 years or more, the polls and pundits are shouting that, in all our mainstream Churches, the active attendance in local churches of our neighbours is rapidly declining.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCounteract\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stories relayed within \u003cem\u003eResourcing Rural Ministry - Practical Insights for Mission \u003c\/em\u003eby Simon Martin with Caroline Hewett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne simply try and counteract the data so often solemnly presented at synods and conferences, but it cannot contradict the overall important trends being revealed. The 'number crunchers-crunching' suggest that our neighbours simply see no need of 'belonging' or 'embracing' the stories of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Martin and editor Jill Hopkinson from the Arthur Rank Centre, with friends and colleagues, offer throughout this book (203 pages) cameos of hope and experimentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe, in the Church, have become familiar with terms like 'fresh expressions' and 'messy churches', but perhaps not with 'Eastertingle' or 'Who let the Dads out' groups, ie the men who care for their little ones gathering together. Even a 'Forest Church' that explores worship in a landscape\/outside of a church building.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the book five pages point to other resources tried and tested - probably\u003cbr\u003esome useful and successful, others not so, but all venturesome and calling us to\u003cbr\u003etake courage!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnvisioned\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout this book it points to envisioned lay folk and clergy. One short paragraph struck me on p160 (Bar Nash-Williams united benefice of Stamfordham and Matfen): 'All the good plans and keen participation come to nothing if you don't start with the heart, it's your heart that says, 'It's worth it just for one child'. Its the heart that says, 'We do what we can and trust to God for the rest.' When you start with that attitude a tiny church can do good things with tiny resources.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmen to that. For we Methodists those words speak to our DNA of 'warmed hearts' and 'faithful service' to our God-given communities wherever you are. I commend this book to those who are seeking some ideas with a warm heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rev Canon Alan Robson is Lincolnshire agricultural chaplain.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eFrom \u003cem\u003eMETconnexion\u003c\/em\u003e. December 2015\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eIf you are looking for a practical understanding of the main issues, challenges and responses in rural ministry in Britain, this is the text for you. It's very accessible, straightforward and written by Simon Martin and others who are all associated with the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC) which seeks to equip the rural church for effective ministry and mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat I particularly like about this book is that it covers the main areas, at least as I understand them. Too many books on rural Christianity spend a lot of their time offering an analysis of the changing nature of rural communities, dealing with indices of rural deprivation, mobility and so on. This is important and helps us to understand the rural context in which we live out our faith and minister. But, too often they don't offer enough direct suggestion as to what we might actually do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chapters consider mission, worship, evangelism, messy church, fresh expressions, worship, discipleship, young people and multi-church ministry. I particularly appreciate the separate chapters on mission and evangelism. Too often these areas are conflated and the result is that being involved with people outside of the believing community is considered to be evangelism. In reality that is mission which creates the opportunity for a more direct sharing of faith and a challenge to discipleship. This book very helpfully, in my view, gets this right.My one small criticism of this book is that it's a bit Anglican. That is fully understandable. The ARC (http:\/\/www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk\/) is a largely Anglican organisation with a Methodist\/United Reformed Rural Officer. The book refers to a lot of ARC resources and programmes which can be used for anyone, although at times there is more of an Anglican flavour. The chapter on 'multi-church ministry' is a good example where the Methodist norm is discussed but rather than strengths and weaknesses of a rural circuit being considered there is more of an introduction to how Methodists do things for others. I think more could be learnt by Methodists and others by a sharper critique of the current Methodist circuit.This is a very good book that enables us to better understand the challenges and possibilities in rural mission and ministry. It does point to the need to produce more material that helps Methodists and other non-Anglicans understand their nuanced context. This is a fine resource that will benefit many.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eRev'd Dr Stephen Skuce\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountry Way magazine - January 2016\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe all know that society is changing rapidly and that there is a real need for Christians to find new and innovative ways of ensuring that the story of Jesus and the love of God, for this world, and us as individuals can still be heard and responded to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is not always so easy is finding the right models and ways for doing so. Resourcing Rural Ministry is therefore a 'must have' on the bookshelf of all those who wish to think about what God is saying to the rural church in this generation. In many ways rural church life comes with some unique opportunities as well as often being at the heart of the many challenges facing rural communities in the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst no book can offer all of the answers, and each context is unique, Resourcing Rural Ministry will help people to think about their rural context, the story the rural church has to tell and then to look at the mission opportunities this provides through practical ideas. The fundamentals of the Christian faith and being church are story, relationships and growing as disciples. This book is packed with helpful resources and background theology that speak into all of these areas and will aid the rural church to be a vibrant and relevant presence in today's society. God provides us with many opportunities to be more missional in our approach and outlook toward church and community life, and this book is a useful tool to help us grasp those opportunities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeter Ball\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e"}
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Resourcing Rural Ministry: Practical insights for mission
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{"id":14777126420860,"title":"Home by Another Route: Reimagining today's church","handle":"home-by-another-route-reimagining-todays-church-1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePaul Bradbury believes that a movement of the Holy Spirit is beginning to renew and reform today's church - a church marginalised and 'in exile'. Following on from Stepping into Grace, Bradbury takes the prophet's powerful image of dry skeletal human remains coming to life through the miraculous work of the Spirit of God to encourage and inspire the contemporary church to seek renewal through the Spirit. This is a compelling and prophetic book - a must-read for today's church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury is a pioneer minister in the Church of England. He leads a missional community, based in Poole, with a vision to connect with unchurched people and support and train others involved in new forms of church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo read Paul's lockdown blog click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/paul-bradbury-guest-blog\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is powerful stuff from Paul Bradbury holding out Ezekiel as an example for leadership and pioneer ministry in our times. He draws wonderful insights from this old Bible prophet for a church that has essentially been exiled. His writing is really well crafted with lovely turns of phrase and it's a book that is both a fairly easy read but also runs deep. I found it inspiring and challenging in equal measure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJonny Baker, Director of Mission Education, CMS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHome by Another Route uses the metaphor of exile to describe the place of the 21st Century Church in a post Christendom world. It argues that a new ecclesial narrative can be found by understanding who we were, the acceptance of what we have lost and through this the discovery of who we might be. This book offers a valuable framework for those seeking to pioneer a future expression of church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Ed Olsworth-Peter, National Adviser for Pioneer Development\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy creatively using metaphors of exile and home, along with insights from Ezekiel, Paul explores how exile can encourage our imaginations to rethink and retool what church might look like. I found this book to be challenging and hopeful for the place of the church in our world, encouraging a humble and decentered posture that might just make church more attractive to a generation that craves authenticity and integrity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCathy Ross, Lecturer in Contextual Theology, Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and MA Coordinator for Pioneer Leadership Training at CMS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times, 13 March 2020. Review by the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury has a vision for the future of the Church. His account recognises and accepts the reality of the chaotic, fluid culture of the West. In such a context, he says, ‘Perhaps… the most fruitful way to explore our place as the Church in the maelstrom of the world is to play with story.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bible is a good resource for playing with story – this complicated library of books which, certainly in the case of the Hebrew scriptures, has nothing direct to say about the preferred shape of the Christian Church. In its stories it is possible to find many echoes and pre-echoes of the way we might want to do things today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, similar reflections have found their home in the Book of Nehemiah, which can be read as a series of helpful hints on building a Church as well as building a wall. Managerial and devotional lessons – vision, perseverance, prayer, teamwork – can be found in Nehemiah for the Churches and their leaders, if you can skate over some of the less politically correct stories in that interesting book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBradbury, on the other hand, draws on bleaker stories – in particular the image of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. He seeks to discern the Spirit moving among the bones today. As he does so, he shapes an attractive vision of the Church – a light, innovative, relational community, counter-cultural in its radical sharing, critical of consumerism and of an instrumental obsession with growth and prosperity. He finds in Ezekiel both the motivation for his own preferred way of being the Church, and the reassurance that God’s inspired word prefigures the choices that he and his community have made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBradbury’s approach rhymes interestingly with that of more conservative defenders of the inherited parish system, those who ask us simply to hold our nerve in hope, faithful to that which we have received, not changing a thing, waiting for the bones to reconnect. Like them, Bradbury is critical of an anxious Church that simply wants to find a winning formula and clone it. Unlike them, he sees the need to explore a radical ‘re-imagination’ of the ways things are, and could be, when Christians gather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis book will therefore rattle many bones among those of us who explore and debate the renewing and reforming of the Church. For this reason, I recommend it gladly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Autumn 2019. Review by Rosemary Medhurst\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoes contemporary British Christianity, and the loss of influence of the church as an institution, have much in common with the experience of exile? This comparison focuses on Ezekiel, and particularly the vision of dry bones. ‘Can these bones live?’ is the question, and Ezekiel watches them restored. But God is doing a new thing, then beyond the structures of monarchy and temple, now beyond the structures of inherited church. Bradbury encourages us to venture out to participate in God’s initiatives – ‘missio dei’ – rather than continuing to try to pull people in. He warns provocatively against denial, even against overvaluing large busy churches, and promotes nurturing the various fresh expressions along the spectrum away from traditional church. This is a short book, but well supported by references, many from Brueggemann, including the health warning that ‘the usefulness of a metaphor for rereading our own context is that it is not claimed to be a one-to-one match’. Indeed, but an encouragement to share Ezekiel’s step into the unknown with the response: ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Rosemary Medhurst\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReform, May 2019. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Ruth Maxey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury is an Anglican pioneer minister who started a fascinating fresh expression in Poole – a missional community called ‘Reconnect’ that is living out a new way of being Church. He therefore brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to the topic of ‘reimagining today’s Church’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a misleadingly thin book, as the content is anything but thin! It’s heart is an in-depth analysis of the exilic period, with a particular focus on Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37. From this detailed biblical and historical analysis, Bradbury draws parallels with the context the Church finds itself in today. As Christian communities, we are also in exile, often looking back longingly and trying to recreate and maintain our old ways in a foreign land. We are often either in despair at the loss of the past, or looking to some kind of assimilation. Bradbury maintains that we need to see the creative opportunities that our present context offers us, as we allow the Spirit to work through us in new and exciting ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe phrase ‘home by another route’ comes from the story of the journey of the magi in Matthew’s Gospel. The magi do return home, but they are changed by their encounter and return by another route. The Church is also called to ‘return by another route’, we cannot simply try to do the old things better, we need to find another route. Bradbury rightly claims that ‘recreating Jerusalem in the landscape of Babylon is not an option’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs someone who is part of a community that is seeking to reimagine the Church, I was very much drawn to the topic. But this is not a practical ‘how to’ book, it is one to take time with, to chew over, to re-read. It is not a book for someone looking for simple answers on how to reimagine the Church today. This is a book for those who are prepared to think deeply and theologically about the context in which we find ourselves, and to look to the wealth of biblical tradition for wisdom and inspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRuth Maxey is a pioneer minister at Church without Walls, Milton Keynes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInspire, March 2019. Review by John Woods\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a readable reflection on Ezekiel’s Dry Bones passage in Ezekiel Chapter 37. The author sees the prophet as a pioneer, who has a fresh God-given take on what can be done on the present and the future. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaul Bradbury leads what he calls a missional community attached to the Church of England; he views the UK Church as a community in exile. By this the author means that the Church should operate within a society where Christianity does not provide the primary language or narrative for most people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBradbury finds a breath-taking hope of a homecoming in Ezekiel’s message to the exiles. Yet this homecoming, if it is to occur, might involve coming back by another route.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author provides a useful spectrum for assessing the nature of church leadership: Church Replicators, who repeat that which has always been done; Pioneer Adaptors, who use things like Messy Church and Café Church to create fresh zones for people to explore Christianity, and Pioneer Innovators who use more explorative, low-key ways to get alongside those who are seeking to make sense of life, God and the universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI found this book to be a stimulating read but wondered if at times it fell between the stools of being an academic or a popular treatment. I think I would also have liked a little bit more meat on the bones concerning how Pioneer innovators “venture into the edges of postmodern culture”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat said here is a timely invitation to reimagine the way we do church, that is open to the breath of the Spirit and seeks to be shaped to come alongside those beyond the “usual suspects”!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJohn Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter. Review by Stephen Skuce, \u003cspan\u003eDistrict Superintendent, North Western District\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe world has changed significantly over the past 50 years. The church has not necessarily changed as much. Consequently, the two are a bit more disconnected than they previously were. This isn’t a breaking news story but it’s how we understand and respond to this that is crucial. Paul Bradbury reflects on this with an understanding that the church today finds itself in exile, albeit that society has moved on and the church is somewhat marooned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEzekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is the thread that holds this book together. Each chapter takes a different aspect of the prophet’s vision, with the recurring questions as to whether the bones (or church) can live again. Based on his experience as a pioneer minister, Bradbury avoids platitudes or somewhat mechanical solutions. He views the problem as primarily a spiritual problem that needs a spiritual answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book’s title recognises that the church is not able to return to what it was. The visit of the Wise Men to Jesus changed their lives and following God’s warning, they went home by a different route. Bradbury argues that church restoration and renewal of the past is no longer for today, and we as the church need to find another route to our home, or place of peace, safety and prosperity. ‘Recreating Jerusalem in the landscape of Babylon is not an option’ (p.85). Those in exile start to understand how God is with them, not in the ways of the past which are gone, but in the new strange world they find themselves a bit reluctantly in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday people are still interested in spirituality and understanding who God is. They no longer focus this search on the church but rather follow numerous alternative ways. Indeed, perhaps this is now the norm and the church is one of the alternatives. This is all part of the uncomfortable place that is exile. Bradbury reflects on his pioneer ministry with the Church of England in Poole in southern England. I don’t think this shows us a model as to how to respond. It does show us one response and challenges us to find our own ways to respond to living in exile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUltimately ‘all our efforts at refounding, renewal, reform will be nothing unless they are built on a renewal of our reliance on God’ (p105). That is both our challenge and direction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Rev’d Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, North Western District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-10-29T09:28:41+00:00","created_at":"2024-10-29T09:27:32+00:00","vendor":"Paul Bradbury","type":"eBook","tags":["Church life","Feb-19","For churches","For individuals","Glassboxx","Spirituality"],"price":799,"price_min":799,"price_max":799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":53603551740284,"title":"eBook","option1":"eBook","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857466327","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Home by Another Route: Reimagining today's church - eBook","public_title":"eBook","options":["eBook"],"price":799,"weight":151,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857466327","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/210.png?v=1730980396","\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/211.png?v=1730980384"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/210.png?v=1730980396","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":63001504219516,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/210.png?v=1730980396"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/210.png?v=1730980396","width":1303},{"alt":null,"id":63001501303164,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/211.png?v=1730980384"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/211.png?v=1730980384","width":1303}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePaul Bradbury believes that a movement of the Holy Spirit is beginning to renew and reform today's church - a church marginalised and 'in exile'. Following on from Stepping into Grace, Bradbury takes the prophet's powerful image of dry skeletal human remains coming to life through the miraculous work of the Spirit of God to encourage and inspire the contemporary church to seek renewal through the Spirit. This is a compelling and prophetic book - a must-read for today's church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury is a pioneer minister in the Church of England. He leads a missional community, based in Poole, with a vision to connect with unchurched people and support and train others involved in new forms of church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo read Paul's lockdown blog click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/paul-bradbury-guest-blog\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is powerful stuff from Paul Bradbury holding out Ezekiel as an example for leadership and pioneer ministry in our times. He draws wonderful insights from this old Bible prophet for a church that has essentially been exiled. His writing is really well crafted with lovely turns of phrase and it's a book that is both a fairly easy read but also runs deep. I found it inspiring and challenging in equal measure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJonny Baker, Director of Mission Education, CMS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHome by Another Route uses the metaphor of exile to describe the place of the 21st Century Church in a post Christendom world. It argues that a new ecclesial narrative can be found by understanding who we were, the acceptance of what we have lost and through this the discovery of who we might be. This book offers a valuable framework for those seeking to pioneer a future expression of church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Ed Olsworth-Peter, National Adviser for Pioneer Development\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy creatively using metaphors of exile and home, along with insights from Ezekiel, Paul explores how exile can encourage our imaginations to rethink and retool what church might look like. I found this book to be challenging and hopeful for the place of the church in our world, encouraging a humble and decentered posture that might just make church more attractive to a generation that craves authenticity and integrity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCathy Ross, Lecturer in Contextual Theology, Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and MA Coordinator for Pioneer Leadership Training at CMS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times, 13 March 2020. Review by the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury has a vision for the future of the Church. His account recognises and accepts the reality of the chaotic, fluid culture of the West. In such a context, he says, ‘Perhaps… the most fruitful way to explore our place as the Church in the maelstrom of the world is to play with story.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bible is a good resource for playing with story – this complicated library of books which, certainly in the case of the Hebrew scriptures, has nothing direct to say about the preferred shape of the Christian Church. In its stories it is possible to find many echoes and pre-echoes of the way we might want to do things today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, similar reflections have found their home in the Book of Nehemiah, which can be read as a series of helpful hints on building a Church as well as building a wall. Managerial and devotional lessons – vision, perseverance, prayer, teamwork – can be found in Nehemiah for the Churches and their leaders, if you can skate over some of the less politically correct stories in that interesting book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBradbury, on the other hand, draws on bleaker stories – in particular the image of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. He seeks to discern the Spirit moving among the bones today. As he does so, he shapes an attractive vision of the Church – a light, innovative, relational community, counter-cultural in its radical sharing, critical of consumerism and of an instrumental obsession with growth and prosperity. He finds in Ezekiel both the motivation for his own preferred way of being the Church, and the reassurance that God’s inspired word prefigures the choices that he and his community have made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBradbury’s approach rhymes interestingly with that of more conservative defenders of the inherited parish system, those who ask us simply to hold our nerve in hope, faithful to that which we have received, not changing a thing, waiting for the bones to reconnect. Like them, Bradbury is critical of an anxious Church that simply wants to find a winning formula and clone it. Unlike them, he sees the need to explore a radical ‘re-imagination’ of the ways things are, and could be, when Christians gather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis book will therefore rattle many bones among those of us who explore and debate the renewing and reforming of the Church. For this reason, I recommend it gladly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Autumn 2019. Review by Rosemary Medhurst\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoes contemporary British Christianity, and the loss of influence of the church as an institution, have much in common with the experience of exile? This comparison focuses on Ezekiel, and particularly the vision of dry bones. ‘Can these bones live?’ is the question, and Ezekiel watches them restored. But God is doing a new thing, then beyond the structures of monarchy and temple, now beyond the structures of inherited church. Bradbury encourages us to venture out to participate in God’s initiatives – ‘missio dei’ – rather than continuing to try to pull people in. He warns provocatively against denial, even against overvaluing large busy churches, and promotes nurturing the various fresh expressions along the spectrum away from traditional church. This is a short book, but well supported by references, many from Brueggemann, including the health warning that ‘the usefulness of a metaphor for rereading our own context is that it is not claimed to be a one-to-one match’. Indeed, but an encouragement to share Ezekiel’s step into the unknown with the response: ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Rosemary Medhurst\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReform, May 2019. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Ruth Maxey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury is an Anglican pioneer minister who started a fascinating fresh expression in Poole – a missional community called ‘Reconnect’ that is living out a new way of being Church. He therefore brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to the topic of ‘reimagining today’s Church’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a misleadingly thin book, as the content is anything but thin! It’s heart is an in-depth analysis of the exilic period, with a particular focus on Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37. From this detailed biblical and historical analysis, Bradbury draws parallels with the context the Church finds itself in today. As Christian communities, we are also in exile, often looking back longingly and trying to recreate and maintain our old ways in a foreign land. We are often either in despair at the loss of the past, or looking to some kind of assimilation. Bradbury maintains that we need to see the creative opportunities that our present context offers us, as we allow the Spirit to work through us in new and exciting ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe phrase ‘home by another route’ comes from the story of the journey of the magi in Matthew’s Gospel. The magi do return home, but they are changed by their encounter and return by another route. The Church is also called to ‘return by another route’, we cannot simply try to do the old things better, we need to find another route. Bradbury rightly claims that ‘recreating Jerusalem in the landscape of Babylon is not an option’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs someone who is part of a community that is seeking to reimagine the Church, I was very much drawn to the topic. But this is not a practical ‘how to’ book, it is one to take time with, to chew over, to re-read. It is not a book for someone looking for simple answers on how to reimagine the Church today. This is a book for those who are prepared to think deeply and theologically about the context in which we find ourselves, and to look to the wealth of biblical tradition for wisdom and inspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRuth Maxey is a pioneer minister at Church without Walls, Milton Keynes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInspire, March 2019. Review by John Woods\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a readable reflection on Ezekiel’s Dry Bones passage in Ezekiel Chapter 37. The author sees the prophet as a pioneer, who has a fresh God-given take on what can be done on the present and the future. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaul Bradbury leads what he calls a missional community attached to the Church of England; he views the UK Church as a community in exile. By this the author means that the Church should operate within a society where Christianity does not provide the primary language or narrative for most people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBradbury finds a breath-taking hope of a homecoming in Ezekiel’s message to the exiles. Yet this homecoming, if it is to occur, might involve coming back by another route.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author provides a useful spectrum for assessing the nature of church leadership: Church Replicators, who repeat that which has always been done; Pioneer Adaptors, who use things like Messy Church and Café Church to create fresh zones for people to explore Christianity, and Pioneer Innovators who use more explorative, low-key ways to get alongside those who are seeking to make sense of life, God and the universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI found this book to be a stimulating read but wondered if at times it fell between the stools of being an academic or a popular treatment. I think I would also have liked a little bit more meat on the bones concerning how Pioneer innovators “venture into the edges of postmodern culture”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat said here is a timely invitation to reimagine the way we do church, that is open to the breath of the Spirit and seeks to be shaped to come alongside those beyond the “usual suspects”!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJohn Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter. Review by Stephen Skuce, \u003cspan\u003eDistrict Superintendent, North Western District\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe world has changed significantly over the past 50 years. The church has not necessarily changed as much. Consequently, the two are a bit more disconnected than they previously were. This isn’t a breaking news story but it’s how we understand and respond to this that is crucial. Paul Bradbury reflects on this with an understanding that the church today finds itself in exile, albeit that society has moved on and the church is somewhat marooned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEzekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is the thread that holds this book together. Each chapter takes a different aspect of the prophet’s vision, with the recurring questions as to whether the bones (or church) can live again. Based on his experience as a pioneer minister, Bradbury avoids platitudes or somewhat mechanical solutions. He views the problem as primarily a spiritual problem that needs a spiritual answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book’s title recognises that the church is not able to return to what it was. The visit of the Wise Men to Jesus changed their lives and following God’s warning, they went home by a different route. Bradbury argues that church restoration and renewal of the past is no longer for today, and we as the church need to find another route to our home, or place of peace, safety and prosperity. ‘Recreating Jerusalem in the landscape of Babylon is not an option’ (p.85). Those in exile start to understand how God is with them, not in the ways of the past which are gone, but in the new strange world they find themselves a bit reluctantly in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday people are still interested in spirituality and understanding who God is. They no longer focus this search on the church but rather follow numerous alternative ways. Indeed, perhaps this is now the norm and the church is one of the alternatives. This is all part of the uncomfortable place that is exile. Bradbury reflects on his pioneer ministry with the Church of England in Poole in southern England. I don’t think this shows us a model as to how to respond. It does show us one response and challenges us to find our own ways to respond to living in exile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUltimately ‘all our efforts at refounding, renewal, reform will be nothing unless they are built on a renewal of our reliance on God’ (p105). That is both our challenge and direction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Rev’d Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, North Western District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Home by Another Route: Reimagining today's church
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{"id":14777121636732,"title":"God's Belongers: How people engage with God today and how the church can help","handle":"gods-belongers-how-people-engage-with-god-today-and-how-the-church-can-help-1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThis book transforms thinking about church membership by replacing the division between 'members' and 'non-members' with a four-fold model of belonging. Based in extensive practical research, David Walker shows how 'belonging' can encompass a far wider group of people than those who attend weekly services. He examines belonging through relationship, through place and through events, as well as the traditional belonging through activities. He goes on to explore the opportunities for mission that emerge as a result - while also acknowledging the challenges posed for issues such as church financing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eContents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroduction: an aid for mission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart 1: How we belong\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 Belonging: a theological concept\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 Reliably regular: belonging through church activities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 People power: belonging through relationships\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 Only the once: belonging through events\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5 Location, location: belonging through place\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e6 The mystery of the missing vicar: an example of belonging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart 2: Belonging for mission\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e7 What's the difference? Understanding occasional churchgoers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e8 Together in mission: the Five Marks of Mission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e9 Paying the piper: what has become of Anglican governance and finance?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart 3: Who else is missing?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e10 Types and temperaments: what is Psychological Type?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e11 Models for motivation: exploring the world of Religious Orientation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e12 Never on Sunday: the opportunities and challenges of Sunday worship\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eForeword\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhenever the church gets to talking about numbers, sooner or later someone will protest that it is not all about bums on seats, is it? Well, yes and no. As this readable and insightful book from David Walker makes clear, belonging cannot simply be measured by your attendance record. There are multiple ways of belonging to any organisation or community, and especially the church. But if instead of 'bums on seats' the church talked about 'hearts being changed' or 'lives being transformed', and once we realise that there can be no impact in our local communities and wider society unless there are at least some people who not only belong, but whose belonging shapes and directs the whole of their lives, i.e. their hearts are being changed and their lives are being transformed, then we begin to see that understanding how people belong and ministering to people in their different ways of belonging is something worth thinking about. This book will help you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/BishopDavidWalker_480x480.jpg?v=1676497548\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-right: 10px; float: left;\" width=\"219\" height=\"269\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"margin-right: 10px; float: left;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/BishopDavidWalker_480x480.jpg?v=1676497548\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a Maths degree at Cambridge, David Walker trained in theology in Birmingham. He served in churches in the dioceses of Sheffield before becoming Bishop of Dudley in 2000 and then in 2013 Bishop of Manchester. He is involved in writing a continuing series of papers for peer review journals and the International Society of Empirical Research in Theology, using quantitative methods to analyse aspects of rural Anglicanism. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Rural Theology Association, the Church of England Ministry Council and one of the Church Commissioners for England. He has contributed chapters to a number of books including Changing Rural Life: A Christian response to key rural issues (Canterbury Press, 2004), Rural Life and Rural Church: theological and empirical perspectives (Equinox, 2012), Exploring Ordinary Theology: everyday Christian believing and the Church (Ashgate, 2013). He has written papers for (amongst other journals) Rural Theology, the Journal of Beliefs \u0026amp; Values and the Journal of Anglican Studies. In 2014 he was awarded a PhD from the University of Warwick for the studies on which this book will be based.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 21.7.17\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview by Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford of \u003cem\u003eGod's Belongers: How people engage with God today and how the Church can help\u003c\/em\u003e by David Walker and \u003cem\u003eReproducing Churches \u003c\/em\u003eby George Lings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce in a while, a book comes along that changes the way you look at things. Here are two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Walker's delightfully titled \u003cem\u003eGod's Belongers\u003c\/em\u003e analyses the different ways in which people express their belonging to church and their engagement with God, and suggests new strategies that will help the local church understand and provide for this belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on extensive research of church attendance at rural harvest festivals and Christmas carol services, the central thesis of this book is that regular churchgoing is not the only way in which Christian belonging is expressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn one level, this is completely obvious. Most churches, however, persist with a gold standard of 'every-Sunday-morning' belonging, and all evangelistic endeavour is geared towards achieving this. But, as Walker's well-researched and well-argued book unfolds, we find that belonging can be measured in other ways, and this is more to do with personality and circumstance than commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, the one who comes less often is not necessarily less committed. Someone whose primary belonging comes through relationships, and who wishes to express this in service, may never come every week. But his or her 'lived-out' discipleship, day by day, demonstrates a commitment equal to any weekly communicant. If weekly attendance is the only goal, this person's faith development may be stymied, and the church's ability and flexibility to grow in different ways diminished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePut this alongside the vastly changed pattern of work, leisure, and family life in Britain today, and the impact on church life is plain to see. Strategies for evangelism and discipleship need to work with the grain of these different types of belonging, not against them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe development of Fresh Expressions in the Church of England is one such example of helping people to belong differently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFresh Expressions of Church is not a stepping-stone towards the so-called 'real church' of Sunday morning. Worshipping in a variety of cultural styles, meeting in different places and different formats and at different times, Fresh Expressions have enabled the Church to broaden its reach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis has been a remarkable story of missional and ecclesiological enterprise, and, although many people have played a significant part in this story, none has done more than George Lings. His ministry as theologian, researcher and church-planter has provided the impetus and inspiration for the Church to try new things. He has also led the way in enabling the Church to reflect on and learn from these experiments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll this is brought together in \u003cem\u003eReproducing Churches\u003c\/em\u003e. Lings explains and develops the basic thesis that reproduction is inherent in what it means to be the Church, not merely an optional function that some may choose. In other words, for the Church to be the Church it must reproduce. Based, again, on extensive research and vast experience, this book is probably the best available handbook for understanding church-planting and Fresh Expressions, and seeing how the Church can become what it is meant to be be. Put these two books together, and every church will be rethinking its evangelistic strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArthur Rank Centre Resources. Review by Revd Elizabeth Clark, National Rural Officer for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this challenging book David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, argues that people belong to their community and to church in different ways. Some belong through activities and are often regular churchgoers and office holders in the church, the sort of person everyone knows and likes. This person helps others to relate to God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 'God's Belongers' these ways of belonging are offered as a framework within which we might consider how to shape and focus the mission of the church beyond 'people like us.' So often mission is based around the things that those already in the church are comfortable with. Walker challenges us to look at how we can do things differently so that other ways of belonging can be welcomed and accommodated, and people can grow in faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this book encourages us to look seriously at those not like us so that we can welcome them. It also challenges us to learn from others because 'the evidence we've found of a rich and complex pattern of belonging challenges the often implicit assumption that occasional church goers are 'nominal' Christians'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile 'God's Belongers' inevitably reflects Bishop David's Anglican perspective, his insights are more widely applicable are easy to translate for other denominational contexts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Elizabeth Clark, National Rural Officer for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader (Spring 2018). Review by Janice Price\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an important research based examination of how people belong to church. Based on two surveys taken in 2007 and 2009 in the Dioceses of Worcester and Lichfield, Walker outlines four ways - through people, places, one-off events and regular activities - that people belong to the Church. The samples were taken at rural harvest services and Christmas carol services and show information about the attitudes or regular churchgoers to those who attend occasionally. Walker argues that people, places or one-off events are co-workers with regular attendees and not objects of mission. He also asks whether it is possible to be a good Christian and not go to church very often. 'God's Belongers' is full of important questions and issues for PCCs, ministry teams and others to consider. It challenges stereotypes of the 'not-often-there' church attendees and deserves wide and careful consideration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Janice Price\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-10-29T09:26:13+00:00","created_at":"2024-10-29T09:25:05+00:00","vendor":"David Walker","type":"eBook","tags":["Church life","Feb-17","Glassboxx","Leadership","Mission","Torch Trust"],"price":799,"price_min":799,"price_max":799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":53603551445372,"title":"eBook","option1":"eBook","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857464682","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"God's Belongers: How people engage with God today and how the church can help - eBook","public_title":"eBook","options":["eBook"],"price":799,"weight":180,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857464682","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/208.png?v=1730980343","\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/209.png?v=1730980260"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/208.png?v=1730980343","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":63001491079548,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/208.png?v=1730980343"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/208.png?v=1730980343","width":1303},{"alt":null,"id":63001472074108,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/209.png?v=1730980260"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/209.png?v=1730980260","width":1303}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThis book transforms thinking about church membership by replacing the division between 'members' and 'non-members' with a four-fold model of belonging. Based in extensive practical research, David Walker shows how 'belonging' can encompass a far wider group of people than those who attend weekly services. He examines belonging through relationship, through place and through events, as well as the traditional belonging through activities. He goes on to explore the opportunities for mission that emerge as a result - while also acknowledging the challenges posed for issues such as church financing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eContents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroduction: an aid for mission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart 1: How we belong\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 Belonging: a theological concept\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 Reliably regular: belonging through church activities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 People power: belonging through relationships\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 Only the once: belonging through events\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5 Location, location: belonging through place\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e6 The mystery of the missing vicar: an example of belonging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart 2: Belonging for mission\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e7 What's the difference? Understanding occasional churchgoers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e8 Together in mission: the Five Marks of Mission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e9 Paying the piper: what has become of Anglican governance and finance?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart 3: Who else is missing?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e10 Types and temperaments: what is Psychological Type?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e11 Models for motivation: exploring the world of Religious Orientation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e12 Never on Sunday: the opportunities and challenges of Sunday worship\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eForeword\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhenever the church gets to talking about numbers, sooner or later someone will protest that it is not all about bums on seats, is it? Well, yes and no. As this readable and insightful book from David Walker makes clear, belonging cannot simply be measured by your attendance record. There are multiple ways of belonging to any organisation or community, and especially the church. But if instead of 'bums on seats' the church talked about 'hearts being changed' or 'lives being transformed', and once we realise that there can be no impact in our local communities and wider society unless there are at least some people who not only belong, but whose belonging shapes and directs the whole of their lives, i.e. their hearts are being changed and their lives are being transformed, then we begin to see that understanding how people belong and ministering to people in their different ways of belonging is something worth thinking about. This book will help you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/BishopDavidWalker_480x480.jpg?v=1676497548\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-right: 10px; float: left;\" width=\"219\" height=\"269\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"margin-right: 10px; float: left;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/BishopDavidWalker_480x480.jpg?v=1676497548\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a Maths degree at Cambridge, David Walker trained in theology in Birmingham. He served in churches in the dioceses of Sheffield before becoming Bishop of Dudley in 2000 and then in 2013 Bishop of Manchester. He is involved in writing a continuing series of papers for peer review journals and the International Society of Empirical Research in Theology, using quantitative methods to analyse aspects of rural Anglicanism. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Rural Theology Association, the Church of England Ministry Council and one of the Church Commissioners for England. He has contributed chapters to a number of books including Changing Rural Life: A Christian response to key rural issues (Canterbury Press, 2004), Rural Life and Rural Church: theological and empirical perspectives (Equinox, 2012), Exploring Ordinary Theology: everyday Christian believing and the Church (Ashgate, 2013). He has written papers for (amongst other journals) Rural Theology, the Journal of Beliefs \u0026amp; Values and the Journal of Anglican Studies. In 2014 he was awarded a PhD from the University of Warwick for the studies on which this book will be based.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 21.7.17\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview by Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford of \u003cem\u003eGod's Belongers: How people engage with God today and how the Church can help\u003c\/em\u003e by David Walker and \u003cem\u003eReproducing Churches \u003c\/em\u003eby George Lings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce in a while, a book comes along that changes the way you look at things. Here are two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Walker's delightfully titled \u003cem\u003eGod's Belongers\u003c\/em\u003e analyses the different ways in which people express their belonging to church and their engagement with God, and suggests new strategies that will help the local church understand and provide for this belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on extensive research of church attendance at rural harvest festivals and Christmas carol services, the central thesis of this book is that regular churchgoing is not the only way in which Christian belonging is expressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn one level, this is completely obvious. Most churches, however, persist with a gold standard of 'every-Sunday-morning' belonging, and all evangelistic endeavour is geared towards achieving this. But, as Walker's well-researched and well-argued book unfolds, we find that belonging can be measured in other ways, and this is more to do with personality and circumstance than commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, the one who comes less often is not necessarily less committed. Someone whose primary belonging comes through relationships, and who wishes to express this in service, may never come every week. But his or her 'lived-out' discipleship, day by day, demonstrates a commitment equal to any weekly communicant. If weekly attendance is the only goal, this person's faith development may be stymied, and the church's ability and flexibility to grow in different ways diminished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePut this alongside the vastly changed pattern of work, leisure, and family life in Britain today, and the impact on church life is plain to see. Strategies for evangelism and discipleship need to work with the grain of these different types of belonging, not against them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe development of Fresh Expressions in the Church of England is one such example of helping people to belong differently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFresh Expressions of Church is not a stepping-stone towards the so-called 'real church' of Sunday morning. Worshipping in a variety of cultural styles, meeting in different places and different formats and at different times, Fresh Expressions have enabled the Church to broaden its reach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis has been a remarkable story of missional and ecclesiological enterprise, and, although many people have played a significant part in this story, none has done more than George Lings. His ministry as theologian, researcher and church-planter has provided the impetus and inspiration for the Church to try new things. He has also led the way in enabling the Church to reflect on and learn from these experiments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll this is brought together in \u003cem\u003eReproducing Churches\u003c\/em\u003e. Lings explains and develops the basic thesis that reproduction is inherent in what it means to be the Church, not merely an optional function that some may choose. In other words, for the Church to be the Church it must reproduce. Based, again, on extensive research and vast experience, this book is probably the best available handbook for understanding church-planting and Fresh Expressions, and seeing how the Church can become what it is meant to be be. Put these two books together, and every church will be rethinking its evangelistic strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArthur Rank Centre Resources. Review by Revd Elizabeth Clark, National Rural Officer for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this challenging book David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, argues that people belong to their community and to church in different ways. Some belong through activities and are often regular churchgoers and office holders in the church, the sort of person everyone knows and likes. This person helps others to relate to God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 'God's Belongers' these ways of belonging are offered as a framework within which we might consider how to shape and focus the mission of the church beyond 'people like us.' So often mission is based around the things that those already in the church are comfortable with. Walker challenges us to look at how we can do things differently so that other ways of belonging can be welcomed and accommodated, and people can grow in faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this book encourages us to look seriously at those not like us so that we can welcome them. It also challenges us to learn from others because 'the evidence we've found of a rich and complex pattern of belonging challenges the often implicit assumption that occasional church goers are 'nominal' Christians'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile 'God's Belongers' inevitably reflects Bishop David's Anglican perspective, his insights are more widely applicable are easy to translate for other denominational contexts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Elizabeth Clark, National Rural Officer for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader (Spring 2018). Review by Janice Price\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an important research based examination of how people belong to church. Based on two surveys taken in 2007 and 2009 in the Dioceses of Worcester and Lichfield, Walker outlines four ways - through people, places, one-off events and regular activities - that people belong to the Church. The samples were taken at rural harvest services and Christmas carol services and show information about the attitudes or regular churchgoers to those who attend occasionally. Walker argues that people, places or one-off events are co-workers with regular attendees and not objects of mission. He also asks whether it is possible to be a good Christian and not go to church very often. 'God's Belongers' is full of important questions and issues for PCCs, ministry teams and others to consider. It challenges stereotypes of the 'not-often-there' church attendees and deserves wide and careful consideration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Janice Price\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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God's Belongers: How people engage with God today and how the church can help
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Digital eBook Only - This book transforms thinking about church membership by replacing the division between 'members' and 'non-members' with...