#Church Life & Community, #News, #Encouraged Action.
The renewed interest in religion in the UK, combined with a perceived renewed public interest in matters of faith, was the basis for the new CEO of Hymns Ancient and Modern, Sarah Sands, to state recently that the media has a responsibility to capture that interest.
Delivering the annual lecture of the Religion Media Centre, she expressed the view that people are genuinely interested, and open to religion “in a way that they probably hadn’t been for a generation.“
This chimes with comments made by the Archbishop of York in June, when delivering the keynote address at The Religion Media Festival at Central Hall, Westminster.
The archbishop argued that faith remained fundamental to public life and could not be treated as marginal or private. Furthermore, an understanding of faith is essential if we are to make any sense of the world around us, our national history and all that goes with it. “Religious literacy is essential for community cohesion.” Faith, lived well, “can be one of the main drivers for building the good and flourishing society we long for”.
His view is that the lack of public trust in the media can only be restored by a greater acknowledgement of the values which faith seeks to promote.
All of which raises the issue which we have touched on in the past, namely the relationship our churches have with their local media outlets, newspapers, local TV, radio, and social media.
It may be that relationship is currently limited to publicising services and events associated with the main Christian festivals.
How do we attempt to influence the thinking of people in our communities and those in local power that the Christian faith and a relationship with the risen Jesus can really bring positive change?
This is another area where we as administrators can motivate those in our churches responsible for outreach and ministry to take the issue seriously. The doors are opening; can we put our foot in them?
#Charity Governance & Regulation, #News, #Encouraged Action
Here’s a question to set the pulses racing. When was the last time that your church governing body reviewed all its key policies and procedures?
For many churches, this is the time of year when thoughts are turning to plans for the next financial year. With all that is involved in budget preparation and in identifying the resources needed to support the ministry and outreach, underlying policies and procedures can be overlooked.
These policies and procedures are fundamental to a church’s practical leadership and management, the major ones being:
All key church policies and procedures should be reviewed annually.
When did your governing body last review yours?
#Faith & Theology in Action, #News, #Encouraged Action
A key sentence in the Prime Minister’s speech to the Labour Conference last week was “Hope comes from honesty and we will have hope again.” He furthermore stated that it was “his job to represent hope.”
From a political perspective, it could be argued that Andy Burnham was simply stating what all politicians aspire to: providing hope in a better future for everyone in the country.
Every five years or so the electorate are subjected to promises of a better future, perhaps following a little financial inconvenience along the way.
Yet isn’t it the fundamental responsibility of our churches not just to represent hope, but to continually be a beacon of hope in our local communities in various practical and spiritual ways?
There is no doubt whatsoever that, with so many people feeling hopeless due to global uncertainties, financial hardship, chronic health issues, among other factors, hope can appear to be in short supply.
So do the people in our local communities see us as “representing hope” and exploring what it means to “have hope again”?
#Charity Governance & Regulation, #News, #Encouraged Action
Despite constant encouragement to maintain appropriately robust procedures to guard against the risk of theft, fraud or misappropriation of church funds, warnings go unheeded.
The latest example from one end of the Church of England spectrum is a former parish treasurer from Buckinghamshire who stole nearly £415,000.
Extensive advice on preventing fraud and misappropriation is readily available. Yet, sadly, it is frequently ignored due to complacency: “it couldn’t happen here.”
However, some basic considerations when reviewing the policies and procedures currently in place (or not) are as follows:
Whilst not exhaustive, if taken seriously, these should be effective deterrents.
When did your governing body last review its policies and procedures? How effective are they likely to be in preventing financial fraud, theft and misappropriation of church funds?
#Church Life & Community, #Opinion, #Encouraged Action
A continuing theme among all churches is how to attract younger members. This is regarded as essential for the Church, as an institution, in its attempt to be perceived as vibrant, relevant, and continuing to grow.
The apparent and oft-quoted recent rise in church attendance among 18-30-year-olds, combined with an intergenerational view of church that seeks to bring the generations together in mutual serving, sharing, and learning, can, if given undue prominence, have negative consequences.
There is substantial anecdotal evidence that older or senior church members may sometimes feel marginalised by an overconcentration of ministry among their younger counterparts.
The contributions and service of many years can go unacknowledged. When younger leaders are appointed without due sensitivity, it risks discontent among senior members of the congregation.
Chris Spicer, a UK-based preacher and teacher with more than 50 years of experience working with Christian communities throughout Europe and North America, has written about the dangers of churches failing to make use of older people in their congregations.
Spicer warns, “As long as church leaders equate age with ability, they run the risk of fuelling a silver riot. To lead with a declinist view of age and the ageing process is to risk a popular uprising of revolutionary retirees.”
“When being cool overtakes being Christlike, Christianity has stepped onto a downward spiral of no possibility.”
This may appear to be an overstatement of the reality in our churches. It is also a fact that much growth has been experienced in more traditional, even high Church and Roman Catholic congregations as opposed to contemporary ministries.
The issue here is surely that, whatever the nature of a particular church and its preferred character of worship and ministry, all generations, from the very young to the most senior retirees, should be valued and not marginalised.
The consequences of ignoring the concerns of those who have given faithful service throughout their lifetime to the churches they have been part of will be significant and, from a treasurer’s point of view, could have a financial impact.
#Church Life & Community, #News, #Encouraged Action
This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week, highlighted particularly by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a teenager.
There may well be many in our congregations who are dyslexic, but who we are unaware of and who perhaps suffer in silence.
So, the question is, as church fellowships aiming to be disability friendly, how sensitive are we to the needs of those who have dyslexia?
A few considerations
It is very easy to overlook those of our church members whose disabilities are perhaps not readily apparent. Or too easy to try and support people via only guides rather than talk to the individuals about what they may find helpful.
If we are to be truly inclusive and welcoming to all, irrespective of their disability, awareness and sensitivity combined with practical responses in support are fundamental.
As you will undoubtedly be aware, the ACAT conference is in a few weeks. What you might not be aware of is that bookings close on 12 October for in-person attendance and on 15 October for online attendance. So if you’re thinking about coming, don’t wait and book today.
