BuildingBridges

[72.1] EVANGELISING CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITIES

The Group for Evangelisation of Churches Together in England seeks to provide help to local church councils on how to engage with contemporary spiritualities. To do this it worked with Rob Frost, the director of Share Jesus International, to run a tour in February 2004 in 13 cities across England , Scotland and Wales .

The support for this and the interest and in the contributions made at the meetings has convinced the Group that many local church leaders wish to engage effectively with contemporary spirituality but do not have the confidence or know-how to do so.

Based on the experience of the tour and the research work of Nick Spencer in the Diocese of Coventry, the Group is now preparing a workbook of eight chapters designed to provide a basic theological framework for engaging with contemporary spirituality, as well as insights into surveys of the spirituality of the general public, stories of the work in this area undertaken by some churches and their leaders, discussion points for groups, suggestions for local churches and home work for participants so that those using the book can take practical steps themselves to open up discussions.

The workbook will be published in May 2005 entitled 'Equipping Your Church in a Spiritual Age (A practical guide)'. This will be around the same time as a publication on the same subject by Church House Publishing in its 'explorations series', entitled 'Evangelising in a Spiritual Age.' The two will be complementary; the CHP publication is aimed at thinking priests and diocesan officers, the GfE workbook at members of local church councils. Nick Spencer’s research, 'Beyond The Fringe' will also be published at this time by Cliff College.

Contents
* Equipping Your Church in a Spiritual Age will cover the following subjects:
* Introduction for the group leader: how to use this book
* Spiritualities in the world round about us
* Rites of passage (including Holy Communion)
* Times and seasons
* How to develop our church to be a spiritual focus of the community
* Wholeness and healing
* Going out to the community
* Being with people of alternative spiritualities
* Sacred Britain
* Putting it into action

Each chapter will have
* Introduction (theological and analysis of the thinking of contemporary society)
* Illustrations (stories of what is actually being done by churches)
* Discussion (questions to raise issues)
* How this relates to our church
* Homework reflecting on how the chapter affects the individual, and what s/he might do as a result of the meeting and/or as a preparation for the next meeting.

The authors of sections 1 & 2 are Steve Hollinghurst and Rob Frost with adult education material by Janice Price.

In addition there will be a web site with further information and ideas on engaging evangelistically with contemporary spirituality. Cards will also be available, aimed at those who acknowledged themselves to be interested in spirituality with the title ‘Spiritual Reflections’: the main themes will be the purpose of life; sacred creation; fortune telling; stars, magic; spiritual thirst; and journeys. These will be published in conjunction with the Christian Enquiry Agency.

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