BuildingBridges

[65.1] LEARNING TO BE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CHURCHES

Terry Tennens, who is the Building Bridges of Hope consultant and director in Britain and Ireland, assesses the value of the annual Future Church conferences that BBH runs. Here he describes what they have achieved.

As we said before (see previous post), each year BBH has invited four representatives from the BBH pilot projects across Britain and Ireland. Also, their BBH accompanier attends. In addition, the national officers concerned with ecumenical mission have been invited, along with regional and local church leaders and interested lay people.

We find that delegates who think they have no voice in the national churches suddenly discover they are of great value in the learning process of being Church in the 21st century.

The significance of differences when held with respect and grace bears fruitful possibilities. For example, an exchange visit from Irish Methodists and Catholic young people to Scottish Presbyterians and Catholics will assist directly in the reconciliation journey for each group.

Small, fragile churches and groups of Christians who, ecumenically, are venturing in uncharted territory find confidence to consider that the community centre they lead maybe be 'church' with the blessing of the church leaders.

Listening to local stories of Christians in different parts of the four nations displaying an entrepreneurial spirit can be infectious. The Bradford Inner Ring Group has encouraged others to explore new patterns of collaborative mission together in new flexible frameworks.

The national pays attention to listen to the local in a tangible way. BBH has often been credited as “CTBI coming alongside the local.” We hope this is true, and important for all of us.

Mission theological reflection by delegates amidst the demanding activity is vital. Fresh perspective, renewed spiritual ardour and mutual support are the result.

Future Church is a catalytic environment - a no strings attached space where people accompany each other and delegates arrange mutual visits to learn and discover.

We keep a video diary and this becomes a study aid, soon available from the last two conferences.

People discover the ordinariness and yet spiritual resonance that mission accompaniment offers, not as a mechanistic solution, but as a pilgrimage God-ward together, with insights shared on the journey.

Plus the refinement and development of the skill of accompaniment (and the need to unlearn as well as to learn how to be church in the 21st century) provides hope, tools and companionship.
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