The CPAS Church Leadership Blog

Leading green - podcast

2010-08-31T14:11:00.007+01:00

Dave Bookless of A Rocha rejects the notion that 'green issues' are an optional add-on for middle-class congregations.

Speaking exclusively to CL, Dave enthuses about the missionary mandate for 'green leadership', and takes us back to God's Genesis plan for humanity...

Look out for Dave's article 'Leading Green' in CL73 (October 2010).

Fit for purpose

2010-08-10T16:17:00.011+01:00

Coolly bespectacled Dr Graham Tomlin is the Director of London's St Mellitus College and an enthusiastic promoter of a pro-active approach to spiritual health - for all.

Here's a recent podcast interview with Graham in which he rehearses some of his key tips for spiritiual health - and reveals the identity of the college's patron saint.

And don't forget this is just one of whole series of leadership podcasts on the CPAS site.

A bit of a ding-dong?

2010-08-05T13:55:00.005+01:00

Weddings? Don't you love them, those heartwarming family occasions celebrating all that's wonderful about lifelong commitment in marriage?

Or has this particular rite of passage been subverted and corrupted by today's consumer culture?

Well that's the view of the Rev Canon Dr Giles Fraser, expressed in a recent BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day, causing quite a few ripples of controversy.

Here's a link to the BBC website essay on the topic.

What's your experience of weddings in your church?

Have they become flashier and trashier in recent years? (Current surveys indicate an average wedding spend of £20,000.)

And, if they have, should we be encouraging the happy couples (and their famiies) to take a simpler, greener, gentler approach to tying the knot?

Rev.

2010-08-04T14:52:00.012+01:00

Hapless inner-city incumbent Adam Smallbone (Tom Hollander) is, possibly, today's most-discussed British church leader.

BBC2's new comedy series Rev. came to an end this week, having attracted audiences of up to 2 million.

'Are you watching Rev.?' has become a regular opening line beside the CPAS water-cooler. And it seems that quite a lot of us have been, with varying degrees of approval and identification.

Colleagues with backgrounds in parish ministry seem to recognise the Smallbones' exhausting experience of all-hours bell-ringing (at the vicarage door, not in the belfry), accompanied by frequently bizarre requests for help, food, coffee and cash.

Ditto the surge of new worshippers following news of a good Ofsted report at the church school.

A friend who's a Venerable assures me his management style is almost as terrifying as that of the show's vulpine Archdeacon Robert. I'm hoping his tongue was in his cheek.

At the heart of the show is the crumpled figure of Adam, struggling to find his way through a maze of responsibilities and temptations.

Interestingly, scriptwriter James Wood is at pains to emphasise Adam's sense of having been called by God to a role that, in human terms, is nigh on impossible...

So, to which segment of the CPAS 'leadership doughnut', should we be directing Adam's attention?

Any ideas?

Or does he simply need a week at New Wine? Therapy? A new Arcdeacon?

Meanwhile (on the Archdeacon's orders) I've offered Adam a complimentary subscription to Church Leadership - and am hoping he'll be back with Series 2 before long.

Meanwhile in the holy blogosphere. This blogger seems to approve of Rev. and this one certainly doesn't.

And click here for the best commentary I've seen thus far.

Stations of the resurrection - impact

2010-04-15T14:53:00.003+01:00

Si Smith's Stations of the Resurrection continue to make an impact following publiaction in Church Leadership 71.

The Baptist Times splashed them onto the front page.

The Yorkshire Post was eager, naturally enough, to feature the news of the resurrection happeing in Leeds.

Biggest coverage of all came from Church Times: five full pages.

That said, the images remain for the exclusive use of CL subscribers and - hurrah! - the recent publicity has prompted numerous new subscriptions.

Please note - all 19 Stations are now available online.

Good to be got at?

2010-03-17T09:20:00.002Z

Here's a provocative thought for the day from comedian Frank Skinner.

Church isn't man enough?

2010-01-18T15:13:00.004Z

This week's Church Times includes a provocative piece by Daev Hopwood - on the perennial propblem of the church's 'missing men'. Here's a brief extract...

WORKING at a conference centre, I regularly meet men who are frustrated by the nature of Sunday church. I hold sessions where I talk honestly about this and give them a chance to tell their stories. I am often asked: how would you do church? I have thought about it a great deal — but I have not been able to come up with an adequate answer.

The very question comes loaded with baggage about the nature of church in general. Gatherings where people sit in rows, sing songs, pray respectable prayers, listen to one person deliver their own thoughts on some aspect of the faith, and engage in celebrating a “feast” which offers only a morsel of bread and a drop of wine: I would not start from here if I were to attempt to redefine church.

I would go back to the Bible with a simple question: how did Jesus teach the men who were following him?

It is a difficult question because Jesus was a man operating in a culture very different to ours today. He was a rabbi, not a vicar. He grew up under oppression in a small Middle Eastern community. The climate, the culture, and the sensibilities of the day were very different. But, I believe, there are still fundamental, timeless lessons that can be learnt from the way Jesus taught the men around him.

I once sat down and worked my way through the first nine chapters of Mark’s Gospel, noting the aspects of Jesus that appealed to me. Here are some of them:

Jesus offered his followers a job.

He gave them nicknames, and tasks to do.

He took them travelling, went home with them, and ate with them.

He allowed them to break sabbath laws.

He made use of their working skills.

He told stories about men and workers, about violence, revenge, danger, and justice.

He showed them that they were part of something, and displayed his power in the context of their daily lives.

Jesus made following him risky and challenging, and sent them out on tough assignments. Afterwards, he gave them the chance to debrief. He listened to their stories. And he made himself vulnerable.

Daev Hopwood is creative arts director at Lee Abbey.

Growing good leaders

2010-01-15T09:47:00.003Z

Church Leadership 71 is currently hot on the press in Doncaster - and will be landing on subscribers' doormats at the very beginning of February.

We're continuing our journey through essential aspects of local-church leadership, this time focusing on the topic of 'growing good leaders'.

And, as always, we're offering unique resources for the coming period of the church year: Palm Sunday, Pentecost and a remarkable series of images and meditations based on the 'Stations of the Resurrection'.

Want to know more about Church Leadership? Click here, please!

Team talk...

2009-12-10T15:48:00.004Z

Ours is an individualistic culture. No surprise, then, that for most of us the word ‘leadership’ prompts a mental picture of ‘the person in charge’ – singular, not plural.

In CL71 (appearing late January) James Lawrence urges an approach to leadership development that’s as countercultural as it biblical. And he begins with the sad story of Nigel (or Nigella).

Once upon a time there was a church leader called Nigel (it might just as well have been Nigella) .

Nigel arrived six years ago to find the church struggling with a stack of problems: high debt, low morale, no children or young people, and traumatic fall-out from a pastoral crisis in the recent past.

Some of the congregation were suspicious of Nigel. Others quietly hoped he would be their saviour. Fortunately, Nigel was certain that this was where God wanted him to be, and he loved the job and the people from day one.

He poured himself into the life of the church, getting to know people, prayerfully discerning a new direction, and working hard to enable action. In the first year there were small, encouraging signs of change, boosting the congregation’s level of expectation. By his second year financial giving was rising, a new service had started and people felt cared for. And though a few doubters remained, many people now thought that Nigel really was their saviour.

Came year three and things were buzzing. But, of course, the more Nigel did, the more work there was to do. The more he visited the sick, the more unwell people there were expecting a visit. The more he reached out within the community, the more there were to be reached. The more he started new things, the more things needed continuing.

Not surprisingly by years four and five Nigel was struggling. Facing exhaustion, he knew he couldn’t continue as things were. And yet everything was going well in the church – the bishop (or was it the area superintendant?) spoke warmly of what he had achieved. But Nigel knew that work at this pitch wasn’t sustainable. He started looking at job adverts in the church press. In year six, he left to take up a new post.

What would your message be for Nigel / Nigella?

Gospel Imprint

2009-10-07T11:55:00.003+01:00

Here's a new source of resources from our friends in the catholic area of the wonderful spectrum of the Church of England.

Gospel Imprint offers a variety of materials including seasonal liturgies, all downloadable free of charge.

What's more, they are thoughtfully provided as Word documents, allowing the user to cut and paste at will.

Prismatic mission

2009-09-02T16:38:00.006+01:00

More and more young adults are choosing to live without a faith commitment. How can the church connect with this 'missing generation'?

That's just one of the questions addressed by an upcoming conference sponsored by RUN (the Reaching the Unchurched Network), suggesting that a 'rainbow approach' might hold clues for the future...

The conference is led by Gerard Kelly, Senior Pastor of Crossroads Amsterdam.

3-4 November 2009, King's Park Centre, Northampton.

Check here for full information!

A Theology of Women's Priesthood

2009-08-19T11:41:00.004+01:00

I am so used to thinking that the theology of women’s ministry is all about St Paul that starting to read this book was quite a surprise.

Of course the word ‘priesthood’ is key, and the book’s focus is on women presiding at the Eucharist, rather than women as preachers or leaders. That said, the book gives a fascinating insight into many of the issues which underlie opposition to women’s ministry, whatever the tradition they represent.

The introduction sets out the premise of the book: ‘The relationship between the Church and women has never been straightforward, and the root of the difficulties lies in sexual difference.’ I certainly agree with the first half of this. When it comes to difference, the author seems unaware of recent research that minimises the differences between men and women in terms of their performance. But at the same time, women’s difference is significant, if only because of the way it has been seen (different = lesser), and the basic differences due to the fact that women can bear children.

The book is split into three main sections: ‘in the image of God’, ‘broken body’, and ‘new covenant’. In each of these, the author looks at ‘the story so far’ followed by ‘the woman priest’, showing how a woman priest, while presenting a challenge to inherited understandings, enables the Church to gain a more complete picture of God and of humanity.

The author covers a great deal of important ground in exploring areas such the way women have been seen as either bride (of Christ) or (forgiven) whore, either temptress (Eve) or virgin (Mary); in philosophical terms men have been seen as logical and rational, and representing spirit, while women have been seen as emotional and irrational, representing body or flesh, and their femaleness has been seen as a source of defilement, shame and impurity.

While we may be aware that these ideas have long been underlying views about men and women, the book brings into stark view their prevalence not far below the surface when it comes to how women priests are seen. Only a couple of months ago, I was told of a remark made to a woman priest, ‘surely you don’t go into the sanctuary when you are menstruating?’

A number of times I felt that Green was overstating things. ‘God has been imagined as an idealised projection of masculine identity, leaving women bereft of a divine horizon and hence of a sense of self’? But yes, it is a fair point. Again, I heard recently of a six-year-old who had deduced that God was a man because that was the message her church gave her.

I was particularly struck by the discussion of women and self-sacrifice. Green makes the point that all too often women’s self-denial has entailed serving male privilege, which has been damaging for women, as they have learned to suppress their own desires and failed to develop their full potential. But as this concept of self-sacrifice is redeemed through women’s priestly ministry, women should be able to enter into it as ‘the chosen option of a free and responsible agent.’

This book is quite an uncomfortable read, and as Green points out, most books on theology do not have words like ‘womb’, ‘blood’ and ‘miscarriage’ in their index. It is written from a feminist position which some readers may not share, but the careful analysis of symbolism shows how deep some prejudices have run, and how liberating it will be when women and men can more fully live and work together as members of the body of Christ.

The Rev Rosie Ward, CPAS Leadership Development Adviser

Check out CPAS Growing women leaders.

Planning to buy this book? Please support your local Christian bookshop.

Creation...

2009-08-17T15:36:00.016+01:00

Impossible not to notice that this year is Charles Darwin's bicentenary.

But maybe you weren't aware that next month brings the release of a new bio-pic that charts Darwin's youthful struggles with his faith as he worked on The Origin of Species.

Creation will be in cinemas from 25 September. Click here to visit the movie's website.

Advance 'buzz' suggests that this film is in a similar high-quality bracket as last years's Amazing Grace, which focused on the life of William Wilberforce.

Better still, the team at the Damaris Trust are soon to launch a varied selection of high-quality resources to help churches and smaller groups 'engage' positively with the deep questions posed by the films themes.

And, please, don't think-dryer-than dust 'study notes' - Damaris are famed for the accessibility and adapatability of their top-notch resource materials.

Check out all that's on offer via the Damaris website.

Popular actor Paul Bettany portrays Darwin in the years before he mislaid his razor. And what a mistake that was. Natural de-selection, or sheer carelessness? We'll never know.

Pod squad

2009-08-14T15:33:00.005+01:00

Downloadable broadcasts (podcasts) provide an easily accessible way of listening to what you want to, when you want to.

While walking to work, CL's editor zones in to such varied BBC offerings as Melvyn Bragg's 'In Our Time', Clive James's witty commentaries in 'A Point of View' and the ludicrous ramblings of 6Music's Adam and Joe.

All of these are downloadable via the click of a mouse from the BBC website or, even simpler, from iTunes.

In recent weeks he has moved on to sampling podcasts emanating from Church House, the Fresh Expressions team and from the Evangelical Alliance's Slipstream initiative.

What about you?

Do you listen to podcasts? Here at Church Leadership we're eager to provide as useful an array of resources as possible. Consequently it will be very helpful to know about any podcasts that currently resource/inspire/refresh you in your role as a church leader.
Are you podcasting? Many churches are already old hands at providing downloadable materials for people to listen to on their computers or MP3 players. Please let us know what your doing in this area.

Comments to cl@cpas.org.uk please! Thank you!

All change for CL70

2009-08-14T14:45:00.007+01:00

Here's a sneak preview of Church Leadership 70, set for mailout at the end of September.

This early draft version of the cover shows we'll be carrying new resources for Advent, Christmas and Mothering Sunday.

We're continuing our thematic journey around the key elements of the CPAS 'leadership doughnut', with this issue focusing on 'enabling' action - so expect plenty on the topics of change and change-management.

Want to know more about Church Leadership?

To request a free copy of the magazine, and to download some sample resources, simply click here.

Four psalms

2009-06-25T11:03:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to the Rev Penny Frank (Stoneleigh, Warwickshire) for sharing four fresh and creative small-group resources, ideal for a short summer series - or for any time of year!

Penny explores:

Psalm 23 God of my journey
Psalm 51 God of forgiveness
Psalm 100 God of worship
Psalm 139 God of relationship

To download, CL subscribers should click here!

Not for boys?

2009-06-21T22:50:00.004+01:00

A visit to Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, on Fathers' Day included perceptive, provocative thoughts on the perennial problem of 'the missing men'.

Preacher the Rev David Banbury reminded us of Rowntrees' breakthrough marketing ploy of creating a 'masculine' chocolate bar - the hunky, chunky Yorkie.

After mentioning the bar's current 'not for girls' strapline (see pic), he produced a second, seriously oversized confectionary item - the Jesus Bar.

Not for boys?

His point, of course, was that many men see church, faith, religion as 'not for me'.

He went on to challenge this perception - and to encourage us to 'rediscover' the dynamic, challenging, adventurous aspects of Jesus' character in particular - and of our whole faith in general.

Readings were 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (St Paul's pull-no-punches assessment of his working life) and Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus' in 'power' mode).

Imporantly, the preacher emphasised that he was not advocating the promotion of a macho Jesus, or boosting a gung-ho 'muscular Christianity'.

Rather, he was trying to impress on us the amazing totality of Jesus' character - incorporating the fullness of the 'mascuine' and 'feminine' aspects of what it means to be human.

And because it was Fathers' Day the service closed with a gift for every man in the congregation - a cool DIY glider mini-kit.

Hurrah!

Chris Moyles bigs up church

2009-06-19T09:21:00.010+01:00

Popular Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles woke early-ish on Pentecost Sunday morning and caught a service being broadcast live from the Kingsgate Community Church, Peterborough.

He was impressed.

Fathers' Day

2009-06-18T09:50:00.005+01:00

The increasingly popular custom of Fathers' Day had not reached these shores when my father (above with my brother) was alive.

One only has to head for the shops this week to realise how big a deal Fathers' Day has become.

I guess the day's relative newness and its lack of connection to the church calendar (unlike Mothering Sunday) partly explain the absence of any FD resources in the CL archive.

But watch this space - all being well we'll have a brand-new Fathers' Day resource ready to download in the spring of 2010.

Meanwhile, here's a link to the Oxford Diocesan website, currently featuring a very useful set of FD resources from the excellent newspaper The Door.

Mentoring must-read

2009-06-16T09:38:00.009+01:00

'I would recommend Ruth's book to every youth leader and church leader involved in work with young people.'

So writes Dot Tyler of Emerging Culture in the current issue of Youthwork magazine.

Here's the full text of Dot's review:

Waiting until people are in their 20s and 30s to start mentoring and training them in leadership is just too late - Ruth Hassall.

In BRF's series on Growing Young Leaders, authors explore the 'whys' and 'hows' of developing and releasing emerging leaders. This honest guide to mentoring teens is both very accessible and practical.

From the Biblical foundation for why it is so important to mentor young people, to practical help with how to start meeting up and what questions to ask, this book not only equips the reader to be an effective mentor, but also inspires and encourages the reader that they can do it.

As part of the work of Emerging Culture, we have run FRESH, a practical leadership training course, and as part of the final weekend we asked for feedback about the best bits of the course. Was it the great teaching, fun activities, or brilliant worship? Above all these, it was the 1-2-1 time with mentors that they really valued.

We need to be intentional about building up the young people in our churches and giving them the necessary platforms to grow, explore and reach their potential. Mentoring is so key in this process and Ruth's book gives helpful models, objectives and direction for how to incorporate these as part of our own mentoring.

Often as a mentor we can feel obliged to know everything about the Bible and teach them about how to be a 'good Christian'. Ruth highlights a simple and critical issue in her book: young people need and desire support from those who believe in them and their potential. When it comes to equipping young people in their growth as leaders, good resources like this help us journey with them, enjoying the highs with them and helping them deal with the lows.

I would recommend Ruth's book to every youth leader and church leader involved in work with young people. Her insights and helpful guidance are so relevant, practical and mobilising. I love her honesty, her passion and her firm belief that we need to be building up young people to be leaders in our churches and our communities.

As Ruth says, 'Mentoring young leaders really does have the potential to change a generation and renew leadership in both the church and the nation.'

And to link with Growing Young Leaders, please click here.

Readers

2009-06-12T09:01:00.001+01:00

A good proportion of CL subscribers serve God and his people through Reader ministry.

'Readers are lay people in the Church of England, from all walks of life, who are called by God, theologically trained and licensed by the Church to preach, teach, lead worship and assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work.'

Reader ministry is one of the areas of vocation that are covered in the regular programme of CPAS You and Ministry conferences.

Want to know more about Reader ministry? Simply click here.

The image above shows the cover of The Reader magazine.

Mentoring for Spiritual Growth

2009-06-10T10:52:00.003+01:00

James Lawrence reviews this recent publication from Bible Reading Fellowship....

Tony Horsfall is clear that this book is about spiritual direction, and the focus throughout is on this practice. But there is so much good material here that it would be a pity if readership was limited to those solely interested in spiritual direction.

Each chapter offers a short, simple, sensitive reflection on an aspect of the mentoring relationship. These reflect the author's breadth of reading and personal experience as a spiritual director. Thus they offer great practical insight on 'how to mentor'.

Having read fairly extensively in this area, I think that this is among the best introductions to the subject that I have come across, characterised by a wonderful gentleness and freshness.

The book is well organised, beginnning with helpful defintions. Tony then examines his subject biblically and historically, before going on to distinguish very helpfully between the qualities / skills /tools of a mentor. He also examines the mentoring process itself.

The chapter 'Road maps and guidebooks' outlines four ways of locating where someone might be in his or her 'development journey'.

Although I don't think I am particularly suited to being a spiritual director, I have still learned a great deal from this book on the 'ministry / leadership' aspects of mentoring.

Highly recommended.

Available from your local Christian bookshop or via Bible Reading Fellowship (check a chapter extract here)

Northern light

2009-06-08T12:01:00.002+01:00

A member of the CL team has just returned from a refreshing week as a guest of the Iona Community.

Iona, a missionary hub of the great Celtic saints, remains a place of pilgrimage, refreshment - and of challenge.

Well worth the journey!

Pentecost

2009-05-28T13:46:00.005+01:00

Sunday brings the joyful, empowering, challenging and glorious festival of Pentecost. Hurrah!

A quick search in the CL archive reveals some twenty downloadable resources for all-age worship - service outlines, pictures, dramas and sketches. And a recent peek at our 'download-ometer' bears witness to the large number of subscribers who have been accessing them as they prepare for Sunday.

Of course, many subscribers will be preparing their own original materials for Sunday.

Here at CL, we'd be delighted to know what went well - and to share ideas and materials, with your permission, with others via our website. You can contact us via cl@cpas.org.uk.

Meanwhile, we're commissioning a brand-new service outline and back-up resources for Pentecost 2010.

(The splendid image above comes from St Mary's, Warwick.)

He must increase

2009-05-27T10:03:00.000+01:00

Here at Church Leadership, Advent has just begun - a splendid Oasis reflection for the October issue of the magazine has arrived.

Author Jane Williams ponders John the Baptist's words: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' (John 3:30)

She writes: 'All the gospels agree that John the Baptist had a very high-profile and successful ministry. People came to him in their droves, and hung on his every word. Although he was perfectly clear that his mission was to prepare a way for someone else, could he really have expected to be so utterly swept away when the one for whom he had been waiting came? Was no part of him expecting to be at least second in command, with a continuing ministry of his own, in support of Jesus’? This one little sentence in St John’s Gospel suggests otherwise. John the Baptist knew when to step aside.'

Mrs Williams continues with a thoughtful and perceptive meditation on the sacrifice and solace of knowing when, as a leader, it is time to 'let go'.

The picture above would have been instantly recognized by contemporary viewers as depicting Jesus' cousin John - from the symbolic Lamb, and from the upward-pointing gesture, acting out the famous 'increase/decrease' remark.

More info on subscribing to Church Leadership here.

Women in Mind

2009-05-22T14:28:00.002+01:00

It's almost a year since the publication of Rosie Ward's paperback Growing Women Leaders.

Practical, perceptive and provocative, the book has been well received both for its biblical integrity and for Rosie's can-do emphasis on opening doors to women at all levels of the church.

And with practicality in mind, Rosie has produced two three-session courses in the the style of book-group discussion materials. They are available as free-of-charge downloads from the CPAS website.

One is for mixed groups, while the other has a special focus for groups of women-only participants.

The emphasis is on user-friendliness for ordinary men and women in today'c church - these are definitely not dusty academic tomes!

Every blog has its day

2009-05-21T14:35:00.005+01:00

Here at the CL blog we're excited about positive exposure thanks to Dave Walker, editor of the Church Times blog.

Today's post focuses on the work of Si Smith, celebrated here recently.

Check out Dave Walker's work here!

Want to learn more about CPAS Church Leadership - click here, please!

2009-05-15T16:12:00.003+01:00

Today's Church Times links directly with Church Leadership 69, focusing on the developing story of the pioneering church of St James in the City, Liverpool.

Led by the Rev Neil Short (blue shirt), the fledgling congregation has recently moved into a formerly redundant listed church building, built at the height of the city's mercantile prosperity.

Bishop James Jones (purple uniform, no helmet) was on hand to join in the celebration of the congregation's first adult baptism - of Jessica Main (no uniform).

The church still lacks a water supply, so a friendly firefighter (uniform and helmet) was on hand with a plentiful supply of H2O.

Read the full story of the 'vision journey' of this new congregation on pages 8,9 of CL69.

Jesus Leeds

2009-05-14T11:51:00.009+01:00

CL subscribers are familar with the work of artist Simon Smith creator of our popular Stations of the Cross images.

Si is currently at work on a new series of images that will be launched in CL71 (February 2010), this time depicting the 19 'Stations of the Resurrection'.

In common with many other artists of religious themes, Si has chosen to depict the New Testament events as if they are happening here and now.

And in Simon's case, 'here' equals Leeds. So above we can see his depiction of John 21:9-13 with the Sea of Galilee appearing in the guise of Roundhay Park's boating lake.

The images will be accompanied by a series of texts for meditations, created by the Rev Ian Adams of the Maybe community.

Click here for more information about Si, and to download samples of his work.

And click here for the CPAS website.

Vision on!

2009-05-11T16:38:00.013+01:00

Here comes CL69 - plunking onto subscribers' doormats towards the end of May.

This issue has a special focus on the key leadership topic of vision and direction-setting.

Check here for a preview of James Lawrence's article In the right direction.

Of course, being CL, we offer brand new resources for seasonal events - and this issue carries a challenging all-age service for harvest from Kelly Betteridge.

Based around the narrative of Exodus 16, the materials include tip-top illustrations from the inimitable Brent Clark.

On a more reflective note we have included useful materials for services of 'commemoration of the departed' - in recent years these have become a greatly appreciated aspect of the local church's link with the surrounding community.

Mothering Sunday

2009-03-18T11:01:00.006Z

Here comes the fourth Sunday of Lent, when the mood lightens and we celebrate Mothering Sunday. Hurrah!

No surprise that the CL website is busily downloading multiple copies of Francesca Proud's new service outline and resources, including a series of images by the brilliant Brent Clark.

The text refers to a video clip. Apologies that some subscribers have had difficulty locating it. Check this link!

And while I'm here .....

You can also find tip-top Mothering Sunday resources via the splendid website of (who else?) Mothers' Union. Check here for this year's service.

And - if you're stuck for a gift for your Mum. Check MU's Make a Mother's Day scheme.

I was particularly touched that this brilliant idea is open to people (like me) whose mother is in heaven, a location unreachable via Interflora. MU allows you to make a gift 'in memory'.

Inclusive, or what?

Ready to Lead

2009-03-02T16:48:00.004Z

Published in January, this new book from CPAS Leadership Development Adviser Ruth Hassall is already making an impact.

Here's a link to a very enthusiastic review from the Sophia Network.

More information from the CPAS online shop. And click here for info regarding the new course Growing Leaders - Youth Edition.

The Things He Carried

2009-02-24T10:38:00.002Z

Not too late to decide on a Lent book, if you haven't already done so.
.

These meditations for Lent and Holy Week come from Bishop Stephen Cottrell, who focuses on the ancient Christian tradition of pondering the 'instruments of the Passion'.

You can check an extract here.

The Hermeneutics Cafe

2009-02-13T10:51:00.004Z

Here's a new UK-based Facebook group for church leaders (of all types) to chat, swap ideas and generally do what you'd do during a relaxed visit to a cafe with friends.

You can check it out via this link.

Know of other internet networks that may be of interest to CL readers? Please let us know!

Lent approaches

2009-02-06T13:50:00.004Z

Broadcaster and writer Brian Draper (Oasis, CL68) is preparing for Lent.

He says: Lent starts on 25 February, and this year I’m writing a series of daily reflections for leaders like you, to help you make the most of a season packed with potential, and to regain some soulful perspective.

Personally, I've always found Lent to be an exceptionally fruitful time for focused reflection; it offers a profound period in the calendar to think about ‘what we do’ and how it really aligns with ‘who we are’, for a start.

My brand new e-mail reflections won’t take you long to read, but they will help you to start each week-day in Lent as you mean to go on – by reflecting on who you are, what you do, and how this links with Lent.

They’ll include inspiring quotations, incisive questions and practical ideas, and will form a 40-day journey of spiritual re:discovery.

My suggested contribution is £20 for the series (groups such as cells, businesses and churches may sign up corporately for £80).

To receive the ‘Lent 40’, please e-mail me quoting 'Lent 40' and saying ‘Yes please’.

I’ll put your name on the list and send you details of how to pay.Your journey will begin on February 25. Now – at this time of all times! - is the chance to regain some soulful focus. I look forward to hearing from you!

Check Brian's Echosounder website here.

Epiphany

2009-01-05T14:29:00.004Z

Happy New Year! Here's to a great 2009 for all CL subscribers - and readers of the CL blog!

How encouraging to return to work to find two unsolicited contributions of resources that have gone down well at recent services.

There's a neat idea for Christmas morning featuring crackers. Thanks to David and Tina Smith of Exeter.

And you can also download a monologue and PowerPoint for an Epiphany monologue. Tip-top! Thank you, Nick Grew of Surrey.

Subscribers can download these resources in the usual way, using the 'Search CPAS' box. Use key words: CL70 Crackers / CL70 Epiphany.

Thrift

2008-12-22T10:32:00.002Z

Who knows where we'll be in terms of our cash-related concerns by the end of 2009?

It's definitely a time for careful consideration of everything related to money.

Church of England Newspaper columnist Steve Tilley offered some useful links in his November contribution.

It's now available on his personal blog. Well worth a look.

2008-12-17T14:12:00.002Z

Here's the cover of CL68, due to hit your doormat in the week beginning 2 February 2009.

I hope you like our 'new look' which has been created to harmonise with new CPAS 'visual image'.

Inside you will find worship resources for Holy Week, Easter Day and Trinity Sunday.

We have interviewed one of the first 'cohort' of Ordained Pioneer Ministers, who is woeking on a new housing development near Peterborough. He's pictured above.

And, as they say, there is much much more....

The right mix

2008-12-14T12:50:00.005Z

‘We need both a traditional parish doing its work really well and some quite new kinds of venture’ – so said Archbishop Rowan Williams to endorse the Mission-shaped Church report.

CL asked Bishop Mike Hill of Bristol (above) to unpack the leadership challenges of a mixed-economy church.

Bishop Mike, what’s your understanding of a ‘mixed-economy church’?
I think it was the Archbishop of Canterbury who first gave currency to the phrase ‘mixed-economy’ in relation to the Church in the wake of the 2004 Mission-shaped Church report. At the time, I think it was immensely important to give the kinds of ideas that were discussed in Mission-shaped Church the appropriate weight and legitimise, within the Church of England in particular, that there were other ways of being church than what we traditionally know.

The Archbishop was essentially saying that emerging forms of church – ‘fresh expressions’ as many call them – could and in fact needed to co-exist alongside inherited forms of church and in fact should be actively encouraged.

I think this phrase was very helpful. It ensured that Mission-shaped Church did not get shelved, like so many other reports and, secondly, created the space for experimentation in denominational settings – and that is largely happening.

All that said, I also believe that, for the majority of local churches, this kind of language gives them an excuse not to engage with the reality of mission in the myriad cultures of 21st century Britain.

It allows them to fool themselves into believing ‘Someone else in the other economy is looking at mission to those who don’t know anything about Jesus or the Church. So we’re off the hook!’

The truth is that a mixed-economy needs not only to exist at a city-wide or national level but also in the life of every church.

So, in a way, I think it’s time to move the language on so that every church faces the challenge that I heard an American pastor, Craig Groeschel, give this year: ‘If you’re going to reach the people that no one is reaching, you’ve got to do the thing that no one is doing’.

Can you point to any local-church examples in your own diocese of this mixed-economy making an impact for mission?
There are a number of things going on, often focusing on reaching families with young children and relating to school communities. We have a couple of recent church plants meeting outside of church buildings and with much more interactive formats.

You can see a short film about them here.

I think what is a consistent trait is a willingness to try things, and to learn from things that don’t work.

What are the particular challenges of leadership in a mixed-economy set-up?
If we think about leaders in local environments who are both leading the church in inherited mode and pioneering fresh expressions of church at the same time I think the challenges are significant.

This is partly because there will be a tussle for resources, and I don’t just mean money: the energy and focus of leadership, the space given for vision casting about the new thing. Those committed to the inherited form will feel threatened and you’ve got to carry and affirm them while not allowing them to hijack the equal commitment to the emerging form of church.

Leaders have got to create a permission-giving environment where people feel they can experiment.

I think the gifts required for the pioneer leader are different from what we have traditionally valued in church leaders. Pioneers require entrepreneurship.

I believe that any new initiative should have financial sustainability built in from day one. That will probably mean unpaid leadership at first. This is clearly a massive challenge for leaders in a church culture where leadership has been for the paid professional.

Read the full text of the interview in CL68, appearing in the first week of February

Fresh Expressions National Pilgrimage Day

2008-12-08T19:19:00.020Z

I was privileged to spend today taking part in the first Fresh Expressions National Day of Pilgrimage, in the majestic setting of Coventry Cathedral. The Archbishop of Canterbury led the day.

I'm pleased to report that my personal pilgrimage involved some suffering (standing-room only on the Leamington-Coventry train) plus a good deed to a fellow-pilgrim - my travelling companion and I encountered a lost bishop on Coventry station and were able to escort him all the way to the cathedral. He was SO grateful.

Tradition
The pilgrimage day's 'special feature' was its focus on the Church of England's 'sacramental and contemplative' tradition. More than 400 men and women attended. Fresh Expressions chief the Rev Steven Croft told me that he and his team were amazed by the response - the event was massively overbooked.

Word and action
Our day began at the font (beneath the glorious rainbow sunburst of the great John Piper window) with the renewal of baptismal vows, reminding us of the basic shared truths of our faith.
And, setting a trend for the rest of the day, we were invited to respond with our bodies as well as our minds and voices, this time in an act of submission, formally known as a 'total prostration'.

Stretched out, flat on my face on the floor, isn't my normal 'way in' to an act of worship. But I can't recommend a better way of getting a sense of one's own 'created-ness' - God didn't call his first human 'Adam' (ie 'Earth') for nothing....

Four connections
We gathered in the main body of the Cathedral to listen to Archbishop Rowan's address. Not surprisingly he began with some gentle challenges to our stereotyping use of labels: when properly used, the terms 'catholic' and 'evangelical' belong inextricably together - both, at heart, are about taking the good news (the evangel) to all.

He warned us that all traditions run the risk of becoming fussy and desiccated - we all depend on the renewing, vibrant power of the Holy Spirit.

His went on to outline ways in which the sacramental and contemplative traditions have particular gifts and emphases that can widen and enrich the ongoing work of the Fresh Expressions movement.

The catholic tradition has a particular emphasis on the non-verbal as well as the verbal in its sharing of the good news of Jesus. Our society is deeply receptive to symbols - think of those roadside 'flower shrines' at accident sites, for example.
Linked to this is a central place for sacramental action as part of the proclaiming word. God makes himself credible to us by taking a body of vulnerable flesh. We show our commitments most clearly when we put our bodies 'on the line'.
In its celebration of the 'faith journey' of the church's year, the tradition acknowledges that our relationship with God is something that, literally, 'takes time'.... Our culture isn't good at taking time (otherwise we wouldn't be in our current economic mess). Growing in faith is lifelong work - and something that's deeply counter-cultural.
At its best the tradition is community-focused, offering a powerful message of inclusion and shared life to our fragmented, individualistic culture. And community doesn't mean a warm huddle - rather it's a place honesty where we are continually being challenged to venture beyond our comfort zones.

Archbishop Rowan noted that all four aspects are deeply biblical. And he used a powerful image of the church. The word ecclesia means 'a bringing together' - when God acts it's like the action of a magnet on iron fillings, enlivening and bringing them into dynamic relationship.

He ended with the encouragment that in these and many other ways, churches in the sacramental and contemplative traditions are brilliantly placed to contribute richly to the mould-breaking work of rediscovering what it means to 'be church' at the start of the 21st century. (Click here for full text of the address.)

Abbot Stuart Burns responded with a brief reflection on the missionary impact of the Oxford Movement revival within the Church in the first half of the 19th century. (I was struck by the similarities in terms of zeal and outreach between the intentions of the Oxford Movement and those of the founders of CPAS.) He also warned that passion and dependence up on the Holy Spirit are the 'must have' aspects of any work for God that is to live and grow.

Communion
The morning continued with a service of Holy Communion with the liturgy enhanced by large-screen visuals, traditional music and pulsing ambient backing as well. The Archbishop (the man's singing voice is nearly as sonorous as his speaking voice) seemed unfased by the necessity of wearing one of those Madonna-style head mics. I particularly appreciated the 'body prayer' to the Lord's Prayer, ably led by Philip Roderick.

And then
It was time for lunch - plenty for everyone. I admired the clean-eating skills of the cathedral servers, tucking in to their sarnies while fully kitted out in snowy-white cassock albs (the ultimate holy hoody).

Reflection
It was good to have the best part of an hour for quietness and reflection. I wandered the side aisles and the cathedral's many nooks and corners, pausing at prayer stations and taking part in activities arranged by a variety of FX groups and related agencies. These included: Contemplative Fire, Moot, Dekhomai, Blessed, Feig and Maybe.

Groups
It was good to see several friends of Church Leadership leading some of the afternoon's themed elective activities:

Steve Croft led 'Why bother with Fresh Expressions?'
Dave Male led a workshop on 'Ordained Pioneer Ministry and the catholic Anglican tradition.

There were also sessions on:

Catholic mission: communities learning to share God's love with others
Monasticism, New Monasticism and the Contemplative tradition
Body prayer in the Christian tradition
Technology in worship - Yes you can!
Looking with Mary to God's possibilities.

Exposition
As the winter twilight deepened, we gathered in and near the candlelit choir for a final act of worship, which, for me typified all that I had experienced during the day - a sense of ancient traditions being rediscovered and re-invigorated with a vibrant, energetic power.

I was moved and humbled by the sincerity and beauty of my fellow-pilgrims' wholehearted response to God, made all the more poignant for me by the realisation that probably few of them fall in to the 'natural constituency' of CPAS.

In that darkened space, the vast figure of Christ in Majesty rising above, one gets a hint of the greatness, mystery and beauty of God.

The numinous, I guess.

It was impossible not to be excited by the potential of a continuing work of God's Spirit in this area of his wonderfully diverse Church.

And onward
We ended as we began, by the font. Bishop Stephen Cottrell sent us out with a reminder of Jesus' question to his friends at a time of difficulty: 'You do not want to leave too, do you?' - and of Peter's simple response: 'Lord, to whom shall we go?'

Millennia later, we find ourselves in a similar place to Peter and his friends. Jesus has, in his unque, countercultural way, totally 'messed up' our lives.

We're not particularly skilled, gifted, vibrant or self-confident - which is good news, because that makes us pretty much the same as the bunch of people with whom he shared the brief years of his earthly work - and whom he invited to be his living Body in the world.

Exciting, huh?

The pilgrimage continues
An important feature of the pilgrim life is the truth that as soon as you think you're doing well, you're probably heading for a fall. (Hear the wise words of Dolly Parton).

You won't be surprised that I exited the cathedral on a bit of a high. Handshake at the door from Archbishop Rowan (those eyebrows - phenomenal). And I scooted for the station.

As if by divine appointment the Cross Country train arrived on the dot. I boarded and found a comfortable seat in a pleasantly uncrowded compartment. Bliss. Guardian Angel being nice to me, or what?

Ten minutes later I realised I was heading north to Birmingham rather than south to my home in Leamington.

Thank goodness I hadn't mis-shepherded another lost bishop on to the train.

I regrouped at Birmingham International, boarding a homeward train jammed with fashionistas who'd spent their day at The Clothes Show.

Did I get a seat? Not a chance!

Resources

Ian Mobsy of Moot

Ian leads the Moot community in London - and was very involved in the planning and running of the day. Check out his blog!

Ancient Faith, Future Mission

Ian Mobsby is editing a book based on the themes of the pilgrimage day. It will be published by Canterbury Press in May 2009. It will include the address from Archbishop Rowan and Stuart Burns' response. It will have additional chapters from Brian McLaren, Ian Adams and Ian Mobsby, Karen Ward, Richard Giles, Carl Turner, Simon Rundell, Michael Volland, Tessa Holland & Philip Roderick, Phyllis Tickle and others.

Fresh Expressions

The website of the Fresh Expressions movement

A site for leaders of fresh expressions of church.

Male delivery

2008-11-20T10:40:00.002Z

Dave Male is a pioneer who is pionnering a pioneer training programme for, er, pioneers.

He is tutor in pioneer mission training at Ridley Hall and Westcott House, Cambridge. He’s an Associate Missioner with the Fresh Expressions team. He’s also the Fresh Expressions adviser for Ely diocese.

CL readers will recall our in interview with Dave in CL66 - Pioneer Spirit.

Meanwhile you can catch up with Dave via his blog Church Unplugged.

Which is also the title of his recently published book.

And we're pleased that Dave will be delving deeper into the question 'What makes a pioneer?'' in the upcoming CL68.

Nine Lessons and Carols

2008-10-14T16:36:00.003+01:00

Illustrator Simon Smith has created a series of stunning images to accompany the traditional selection of readings for a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Subscribers can download them now from the CL site.

Here comes CL67

2008-09-04T14:50:00.004+01:00

We’re back! The CL Blog has a brand-new pencil case and has returned to work following its summer break.

We’re delighted to announce that CL67 is being printed and should be delivered to you in the week beginning 6 October.

Features include:
A new all-age service outlines for Christmas and Mothering Sunday
New images from Simon Smith for your Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Christmas outreach ideas – including a ‘living nativity scene’.
Bishop Graham Cray on five years since Mission-shaped Church
Mission-shaped ministry training
Bishop’s Mission Orders – the lowdown!
Growing women leaders

And much, much more!

Jesus and Gravity

2008-07-07T22:01:00.002+01:00

No apologies for offering this song from the incomparable Dolly Parton, expressing some profound theological truths.

Bishop boost 2

2008-06-26T19:35:00.003+01:00

No, the CL Blog has not developed an acute case of episco-fever. But we do believe in giving credit where the cause may easily be overlooked.

Check the link to hear Bishop Tom Wright (of Durham) talking about heaven - wittily, truthfully, intriguingly and winningly - on a popular US chat show.

Instant boost

2008-06-26T15:21:00.004+01:00

'Think of three cows in a line. Left moo. Right moo. Centre moo.' Thus goes the Archbishop of York's standard response to inquiries regarding the correct pronunciation of 'Sentamu'.

Archbishop John's exuberant approach to church leadership has made him, hardly surpisingly, a bit of a 'media star'.

But there's no hint of self-aggrandisement to his public profile.

In fact, I find that a glance at any media-coverage of his activities always leaves me feeling challenged, encouraged and remarkably cheered up.

Click here for a recent example!

Hurrah!

They shall not grow old....

2008-06-06T09:02:00.004+01:00

Great to receive positive comments regarding Steve Tilley's service for Remembrance Sunday in the brand-new issue of CL.

Steve mentions a clergy colleague who wanted to introduce change to this 'longstanding ceremonial occasion'.

He began by chatting to members of his local branch of the Royal British Legion, thereby gaining valuable perspective on what they viewed as key elements of Remebrance Sunday service..

Steve's friend emerged from the Legion with a list of 'essential' (in the opinion of those he'd been chatting to) items:

some particular hymns
well observed two-minute silence
dignified wreath-placing
good bugler to sound last post and reveille.

So, what would you, recommend as must-include items for Remembrance Sunday?

Hymns, songs, activities?

Over to you!

The editor will be away on holiday 9-13 June.
Brent Clark created the image above.

Route 66

2008-05-30T11:32:00.004+01:00

Alert to to all Church Leadership subscribers. CL66 is being mailed out today and should be plunking onto your doormats in the first half of next week.

Contents include:

brand-new service outlines for Harvest and Remembrance
choosing an inquirers' course
new book s for leaders
pioneer ministry
prayer stations
book reviews
and much more!

And, of course, there's plenty of extra material on the website.

Café Scientifique

2008-05-22T16:04:00.005+01:00

Ever feel a wee bit 'challenged' when people start discussing human embryology / the genome project / GM crops - and so on?

Join the club! But thanks to the nationwide Café Scientifique network you may be nearer than you think to an enjoyable, inexpensive way of getting up to date on some of the key science/technolgy issues of our fast-changing world.

As the publicity says: 'Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Meetings take place in cafes, bars, restaurants and even theatres, but always outside a traditional academic context.

'Cafe Scientifique is a forum for debating science issues, not a shopwindow for science. We are committed to promoting public engagementwith science and to making science accountable. '

Check out the website. And maybe think about turning up. And, hey, you may be in a postion to throw in a few worthwhile words from a faith perspective.

The trinitarian theology of the Jaffa Cake

2008-05-20T16:12:00.010+01:00

Stumped for a missionary metaphor for the Trinity, St Patrick (according to legend) reached for a three-leafed shamrock. Perhaps today he'd have grabbed a passing Jaffa Cake....

Thanks to CL subscriber the Rev Ian Kennedy for the following suggestion for a short all-age talk for Trinity Sunday.

(You don't need us to tell you that the talk will go down best if your listeners have access to the full, embodied reality of the Jaffa Cake experience.)

A Jaffa Cake is made of biscuit, jam and chocolate.

If one part is missing, it is not a Jaffa Cake.

Biscuit missing, you have orange chocolate.
Jam missing, you have a chocolate biscuit.
Chocolate missing, you have a jam tart.

Same with the Trinity, all three persons need to be there for God to be the Trinity.

God the Father covers all creation with his sovereign love and power.
Jesus, like the biscuit base, shared our human life, basing himself on earth, God with us, for thirty-three years.
The Holy Spirit, like the jam, expresses the dynamic relationship between Father and Son, and fills us with energy and power to live as Christ's body on earth.

If that's too hard to contemplate, just enjoy the Jaffa Cake.

Threedom

2008-05-16T08:39:00.004+01:00

Trinity Sunday approaches, bringing the opportunity once again to contemplate the mystery at the heart of our faith.

Our Celtic ancestors seem to have taken every opportunity to celebrate the Trinity, as in this ancient image pictured above. No worries for them about the 'difficulty' of the concept!

There are two service outines for Trinity Sunday on the website.

How will you be celebrating?

Send us an idea - or three!

Seven ways to change the world

2008-05-12T15:33:00.002+01:00

Jim Wallis is a minister, a political activist and a remarkably influential Christian leader.

Probably best known as leader of the peace and justice movement Sojourners, US-based Wallis is in the UK to promote his new book Seven Ways to Change the World.

Jim Wallis will be speaking about his book at the London Institue for Contemporary Christianity on Thursday 29 May.

Click here for more information.

Harvest resource

2008-05-07T22:39:00.004+01:00

CL66 appears in June featuring a plethora of new resources, including an all-age Harvest service.

This time last year we featured a Harvest resource from the development charity Harvest Help.

We're pleased to direct you to their new resources for Harvest 2008.

Please note that Harvest Help is being re-named Self Help Africa.

Message just in...
To order this year’s harvest pack e-mail harvest@selfhelpafrica.com , ring the fundraising team on 01952 260699 stating the contact name and address of church or fill in and send back the slip on the attachment to: Self Help Africa UK office, 3-4 Old Bakery Row, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire TF1 1PS.

Men only?

2008-05-03T19:55:00.004+01:00

Missed opportunity?

What a pity the well-meaning sponsors of this advertisement in the London Underground didn't choose a different translation.

For example, Today's New International Version:

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Spot the difference?

Any comments on the use of 'inclusive language' Bible translations.

Glorious now behold him arise...

2008-05-01T22:08:00.005+01:00

A glimpse of Birmingham Cathedral's amazing Ascension window to celebrate this year's Ascension Day.

In many parts of Europe today has been a public holiday. But how many people in Britain - both 'churched' and 'unchurched' - would know that today brought one of the major celebrations of the church calendar?

How did you mark Ascension Day in your church? Or perhaps you didn't mark it at all?

In fact, does Ascension Day matter in 2008?

Is it one of those quaint customs that's set to become a sort of churchy museum piece?

Or is it a vibrant opportunity for celebrating a profound truth about the work and identity of Jesus, the Good News?

So, Ascension Day:

should we delight in it and 'do' it"
or definitely dump it?

Any opinions?

Photo credit: Webrarian of Plymouth

Worship symposium

2008-04-29T16:41:00.004+01:00

'Symposium'? We think it's upmarket for 'conference'. Whatever! This definitely looks like a BIG event with plenty of 'names' taking part....

Check London School of Theology for full information.

Excellent resource

2008-04-26T20:38:00.004+01:00

A terrific gateway to a wide variety of resources. Well worth an exploration.

www.alternativeworship.org

Grave matters

2008-04-24T11:33:00.000+01:00

The BBC website reports an interesting trend that looks set to add new colour to one of the occasional offices.

Garish vulgarity, or a helpful way of allowing people to express their love for the departed?

Any thoughts from the CL community?

In fact, a warm welcome to any comments on the changing ways in which church leaders can serve people through funeral and bereavent ministry.

Click to read Stickers on Coffins (BBC)

Click to find out about Colourful Coffins.

Forgotten classic?

2008-04-21T23:29:00.000+01:00

Thanks to the CL reader who recommends this once-popular Christian author....

Each of these remarkable monologues/prayers/mediations takes its jumping-off point from an easy-to-overlook aspect of everyday life:

The Telephone
The Swing
At the door
The tractor
Prayer before a five-pound note.

Quoist's gift is to make connections between the most ordinary aspects of our life - and our life in relationship with God. Quoist comments:

If only we knew how to look at life as God sees it, we should realize that nothing is secular in the world, but that everything contributes to the building of the kingdom of God.

Published in the 1950s, Quoist's books were tremendously popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The remain fresh and challenging today.

And they are still in print!

Senior Service

2008-04-17T08:56:00.000+01:00

Thanks to subscribers who have commented positively on our recent article on the church and older people.
.
Don't forget that for every article in the printed magazine, the CL website offers a useful selection of live links to related sites.
.
Pop to CL65's 'Magazine weblinks' and scroll down to the Senior Service section and - voila! - you'll find several references to agencies that provide info and resources.
.
Why not, for example, check out the work of Outlook Trust?

A remarkable leader

2008-04-16T21:56:00.001+01:00

Today the Church of England has been celebrating Deaconess Isabella Gilmore.

She was, in every respect, as pioneering as her more famous brother William Morris.

Go to the CPAS Women in Leadership blog to learn more about her.

Marathon marvels

2008-04-14T11:28:00.000+01:00

Hurrah for two fast-paced contributors to CL 66 (June 08) who completed yesterday's Flora London Marathon.

CPAS Evangelism Adviser David Banbury ran a storming 3 hours and 56 minutes. Look out for his useful guide to choosing an inquirers' course for your church.

Regular CL illustrator Brent Clark crossed the finish line at 4 hours and 50 minutes. Brent provides images for a new service for Remembrance Sunday.

Brent was raisng funds for the wonderful work of Christ Church Spitalfileds Crypt Trust.

.
David, who served last year in Iraq as a hospiital chaplain, ran for Royal British Legion.

Neat that Brent's poppy image for CL 67 creates a link between these two amazing marathon men.

Birth of a blog!

2008-04-09T09:51:00.001+01:00

The Rev Rosie Ward works for CPAS as a Leadership Development Adviser.

She's also the guiding hand behind a brand-new blog which, as its name hints, is of particular interest to women in leadership. But men are welcome to read and comment as well.

You can find out more about Rosie's work here.

Rosie's new book Growing Women Leaders will be published later this year (CPAS/BRF). More news soon....

A common cause

2008-04-07T07:24:00.001+01:00

What's a picture of a WW2 Enigma encryption machine doing on the CL blog?

Yesterday's programme in Radio 4's series The Reunion was remarkable, moving and inspiring. Presenter Sue McGregor spoke to a group of people who had worked throughout the war at the top-secret establishment at Bletchley Park, with the single aim of breaking the hyper-complex German military codes.

They worked long shifts, against seemingly impossible odds, but united in a single common cause. And yet they also knew that their contribution (many agree that the breaking of Enigma shortened the War by as much as two years) would remain secret and therefore uncelebrated for many years.

I was particularly impressed by their account of the organization of personnel at Bletchley Park.

There was no conventional hierarchy, no division between officers and other ranks, no discrimination between men and women.

All were treated equally because all had to be equally dedicated to the supremely important challenge facing them.

One of the codebreakers spoke of a brief, morale-boosting visit from Prime Minister Churchill. All the BP workers gathered outside one of the many wooden huts in which they worked. Churchill scrambled up a bank of earth and simply thanked them for all that they were doing.

As he recounted this memory, the elderly gentleman's voice faltered....

The programme is fascinating, funny and challenging. It's available on Listen Again for another six days.

'All were treated equally because all had to be equally dedicated to the supremely important challenge facing them.'

Wow!

RUN for it!

2008-04-03T20:15:00.001+01:00

With an energy befitting its name RUN (Reaching the Unchurched Network) resources churches for 'culturally relevant' outreach. And does so brilliantly.

Coming up in June of this year is their More than This conference, provocatively described as 'breaking the mould of mission'.

Loads of information here!

Philp Yancey

2008-04-02T15:03:00.000+01:00

The remarkable Philip Yancey is one of the many people to be speaking at this summer's Greenbelt Festival.

Blinging

2008-04-01T19:14:00.000+01:00

Few, if any, contemporary church leaders are more finely tuned in to today's culture than the incomparable Bishop Graham Cray.

Reigning men!

2008-03-28T12:32:00.000Z

Hurrah for Christian Vision for Men and its pioneering work to encourage chaps in their Christian lives - at home, in the workplace and in church.

Check out the website for information on the many ways CVM can work alongside local church leaders.

You will also find info about their two Band of Brothers conferences taking place later this year one on land and one (splice the mainbrace!) at sea.

And three cheers for the 'inclusive' silhouette design.

Veritasse

2008-03-26T18:43:00.001Z

Do you know about Veritasse?

Here is their vision:

The Vision of Veritasse
The aim of Veritasse is to glorify God through the arts and serve him with the talents he has given us.

We are committed to:

Encouraging and supporting Christian artists and organisations, establishing links and forging friendships.
Promoting Christian arts at conferences, exhibitions, festivals and events, initially in the Christian field but also moving into the secular.
Playing an active role in spreading information about Christian arts, enabling artists to speak out God's message to their communities and the wider world
Supporting suffering communities in India through our charity work.

We would love to hear from anyone who has any comments/questions about our work.

Easter eggcitement

2008-03-19T20:28:00.000Z

Cheery CL Archivist Mr Gnome invites the Tachbrook Park team to take part in his Easter Egg Quest 2008.

He has hidden umpteen chocolate eggs around the CPAS office.

But where are they?

Well, none is hidden in such a way as to pose the mildest of health and safety issues.

(Er, should that be 'elf and safety'?)

And, please note, none is hidden in colleagues' desk drawers or on desk tops. All are in open-access, public, open-to-all areas.

Everyone should be able to find an egg. Inclusive, or what?

The hunt begins at 12.30pm on Thursday 20 March.

Seek, and ye shall find.

Special bonus prize
Not only has he hidden the eggs, teasing Mr G has secreted himself within the building.

A very special prize awaits his finder.

The Gospel According to St Matthew

2008-03-18T07:34:00.000Z

Pier Paolo Pasolini took the text of the first Gospel as his filmscript for this great movie, dating from the early 1960s.

Shot in southern Italy, with a mostly unprofessional cast, it remains one of the most powerful and
beautiful treatments of the life of Jesus on film.

Top o'the mornin'

2008-03-17T09:50:00.000Z

The CL blog celebrates St Patrick's Day with the friendly smile of the Rev Paul Hoey, the CPAS Ministry Adviser for Ireland.

Paul's work encouraging church leaders and congegations takes him all over the land of saints and scholars.

Working in partnership with congregations, Paul helps churches move forward into growth - and to have a lot of fun in the process.

Son of Man

2008-03-16T18:56:00.001Z

This new film from South Africa has not received the exposure it deserves.

Here's the commentary from the editor's local arts cinema:

Mark Dornford-May brings the greatest story ever told to the screen in this crisp, rousing and politically engaging film. The language is modern, as is the setting, a violent township in the fictional Kingdom of Judea, which could stand in for any African country which has experienced poverty, upheaval, political corruption and ethnic conflict.

Modern parallels are implied - war-torn Judea is taken over by 'coalition forces' until democracy is established - but details are irrelevant. Jesus is a political figure, videoed by a spying Judas, making his mixed bag of disciples give up their guns, tempted by a black-leather-clad Satan. Hypnotic visuals, eloquent music and gritty performances make this a riveting, moving experience.

Not only a political figure, but a healer as well. And, yes, he rises. It's a wonderful, unconventional film.

Sadly, it probably won't get a screening at your local multiplex, so look out for it when it comes out on DVD.

Make a Start!

2008-03-11T13:41:00.001Z

A busy railway station - many people, many journeys.

This drawing by Simon Smith will be familar to users of the CPAS inquirers' course Start!

Currently celebrating its fifth birthday, Start! remains a unique resource - it's designed for small groups. And it begins, as it were, much farther back than other courses - no assumptions about participants' knowledge of God, Jesus Christ or the Bible.

Check out the Start! area of the CPAS website.

Hair today....

2008-03-07T19:25:00.001Z

An episcopal epiphany of excellent C of E leaders.

Liverpool, Canterbury, Bath and Wells, Maidstone, Birkenhead. Can you match the face to the diocese?

And those beards!

Hurrah for the Gandalfian splendour of Archbishop Rowan's effulgent growth, setting the standard for his more neatly be-fuzzed brethren.

And, let's buck the trend, three cheers for the glistening non-hairiness of Bishop Peter Price. Beyond cool.

Call me MODEM!

2008-03-07T11:05:00.000Z

This just in...

Have you heard of MODEM?

According to their website: 'MODEM is a national ecumenical Christian network, which encourages authentic dialogue between exponents of leadership, organisation, spirituality and ministry to aid the development of better disciples, community, society and world. You can find out more about our vision here.'

We'll shortly be posting a review of the book shown above.

Christ of the Isles

2008-03-05T13:40:00.000Z

Church Leadership goes out to subscribers all around the UK and Republic of Ireland.

So with our geographical spread in mind, here's a splendid image 'Christ of the Isles', showing the risen Saviour with the patron saints Patrick, David, Andrew and George.

The icon may be seen in the Russian Orthodox Church at Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Role models

2008-03-04T23:15:00.001Z

Dominic Savio, 'the schoolboy saint', has been held up as an 'exemplar' for many in the Roman Catholic faith community.

Do you have a particular role model / example / inspirational person?

Someone without whose guidance or example you'd not be the person you are today?

You do? Let's celebrate him or her.

Brief descriptions to the editor, please.

A fairtraded chocolate reward for every submission. (All at the expense of the Mystery Donor.)And here are two further potential role models.

One of them embodies the spirit of gung-ho, pioneering adventurous leadership - and the other is Indiana Jones.

Dive into the archive!

2008-03-04T08:37:00.000Z

A few minutes to spare? The CL Archivist offers his top tips for searching the CL archive.

Log in! Check that you've keyed in your user name and password in the relevant boxes at the top right of the screen.

Find the search box It's at the top right of the screen - inside is 'Search CPAS'.

Use key words Every item in the archive is 'tagged' with words to describe its content, and to link it to the issue of CL in which it originated. Key in CL60 (no space) to see all the resources stored from that issue.

Or key in words such as Easter, Harvest, Drama or Meditation.

Look carefully Say you've keyed in Remembrance. The screen will show two resources, but also tells you that there are 11 resources matching the description. Look to the right and click on 'View all results', to see the complete list.

Pick a theme Look for the Downloads link in the grey box on the left-hand side of the screen. This will take you to an index in which resources are categorized by theme: Service outlines, Worship resources and so on.

Be patient! Most of our resources are saved as PDF files. Download times will vary according to the speed of your Internet connection.

Pictures and images Most of the images in the archive are in series to illustrate a particular sermon/talk - and should be tagged appropriately. Of course, you can use them for other purposes. Most sets of images are saved as PowerPoint presentations. Once you've downloaded a resource, you can copy and paste images into your own documents and presentations.

Unable to find what you are looking for? E-mail or call the editor and he will do his best to help you.

Picturing a new church

2008-02-29T10:51:00.001Z

This three-page article from CL63 shows how discussions about church development and inclusiveness can be supported by a series of pictures of people at a variety of 'ages and stages' of life.

The article and the twelve associated pictures by Andy Robb are available on the website.

And because we're eager to make them as widely available as possible we have, in this case, waived the 'subscribers only' limitation.

Generous, or what?

The images are available as individual PDFs and as an 'all in one' PowerPoint.

Key words: Picturing a new church

Mothering Sunday

2008-02-28T19:44:00.000Z

A glance at the 'download-ometer' shows that many subscribers have been checking out the CL archive for resources suitable for the fourth Sunday of Lent.

Here's hoping that our materials will prove useful for this important occasion, when church attendance tends to increase.

It would be great to hear how your special event/service went. Maybe you tried something new. Or perhaps you stuck with a tried-and-tested approach.

Please let us know at CL. Thanks!

(The editor could not resist posting this picture of his mother aged nineteen. This year would have brought her one hundredth birthday.)

Worship changes lives!

2008-02-27T09:04:00.001Z

CPAS Ministry Consultant for Ireland Paul Hoey give this new book the big thumbs-up.

‘A publication on behalf of the Liturgical Commission’? I confess to a prejudice that suggested something potentially worthy but dull. How wrong can you be?

The book is short – just 48 pages – with big print and lots of images that themselves convey something of the mystery and wonder of worship. I read it through in about 20 minutes. Does that mean it’s superficial? Not at all. There is lots here to challenge and provoke even the most seasoned worshipper to rethink what we do under the heading of worship and why we do it.

The book could be equally helpful to the new worshipper and to those who just turn up on a Sunday and go through the motions, as well as setting an agenda to any church group involved in a root and branch review of worship. In its short space it manages to address such issues as the words we use in worship, the nature of remembering, the expression of community, sacred space and symbol, dimensions of prayer, the richness of praise offered through music and much more. Each section could open up a valuable discussion.

There are helpful questions, such as, ‘What headline would you write about worship in your church that compels the reader to read on?’

The weakness is that only a few such questions are contained within the text of the book itself, limiting its potential as a study resource. More are promised on the accompanying website.

I like where the book ends. It reminds us that worship is not just about withdrawal to recharge our spiritual batteries; at its best it is something that sends us out revitalised to engage in God’s mission in the world.

Worship changes lives? It would have been good to hear some stories of how that change happened for different people in different settings. But this book inspires us
to believe that indeed it can be so - even in our own little patch of the kingdom of God – and even in my own life.

£4.99 - available from Church House Publishing. But if at all possible, please support your local Christian bookshop!

Looking for the FREE CHOCOLATE option? So sorry. The free chocolate has been claimed.

Easter walk-thru idea

2008-02-25T16:15:00.001Z

Super ideas just in for Holy Week / Easter prayer stations. They are from the Rev Bryony Davis of Christ Church, Ottershaw. Thanks, Bryony!

Check them out on the website. Key words: Easter prayer stations Bryony Davis

Of course, there are loads more materials on the site. The key word Easter will lead you to more than 50 resources.

Leader pics

2008-02-23T12:18:00.000Z

The editor has been pointing his camera at some famous leaders - all of whom posed tranquilly for him.

Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert - and the Burghers of Calais.

All are available on the website. Key words: leadership images; Mandela; Churchill and so on.

Ronnie and the Sacraments

2008-02-22T20:31:00.000Z

Published in 1947, this splendid volume introduces Anglican boys and girls to the meaning of those special symbolic acts that we call 'sacraments'.

Text and illustrations are quaintly Blyton-esque - but there's no denying the sincerity of the author's zeal to share Christian truth through the medium of story.

Check the CL website (from next week) to download a PowerPoint featuring more of these remarkable images. Key words: Ronnie sacraments.

Defying gravity

2008-02-20T19:33:00.001Z

CL65 includes a tip-top all-age service for Easter Day - Defying Gravity.

It's splendidly illustrated by Brent Clark. Text and images are a click of a mouse away - but only for subscribers.

Click the e-mail link to the rightto ask for full info on subscriptions.

Helpful comments

2008-02-19T08:50:00.000Z

An English vicar interviewed on the English-language service of French television with some helpful comments on the recent Archbishop Rowan rumpus.

And here's a link to another thoughtful piece, this time all the way from Somerset.

Do nowt!

2008-02-16T06:54:00.000Z

That good friend of CL, Steve Tilley has written an excellent commentary on this new-ish book from Bishop Stephen Cottrell.

Click here to find it.

The book is available via Church House Publishing - but if you decide to buy, do please make your local Christian bookshop your first port of call.

Listening process

2008-02-12T13:54:00.000Z

Published in 2008 by SPCK, this volume is the Anglican Communion's 'official response' to the denomination-wide call for listening and dialogue with regard to homosexuality - and to homosexual people, within and outside the church.

This deliberately mission-focused book 'offers clear and accurate resources intended to help bishops, clergy and lay people...to listen to God and to one another on the subject on the subject of human sexuality...'.

Read more about this timely, authoritative and dispassionate resource here and here.

A blog pause...

2008-02-08T16:38:00.000Z

CL's editor is heading off for a short late-winter holiday - so no new posts on the blog until the week beginning 18 February.

What better sign-off image than the splendid resource book from the gifted people of Hope08?

It's packed with brilliant ideas - all of them practical and do-able.

www.hope08.com

Christmas greetings...

2008-02-07T19:37:00.001Z

While most people are thinking about Lent, Holy Week and Easter, here at CL, we're already thinking about Christmas 2008!

In particular we're planning to commission a series of images to accompany a traditional carol service.

But what about the lessons/readings?

We've checked out the famous 'King's College' series of readings (taking in the whole sweep of Bible history) - and two other sets - all featured in Common Worship Times and Seasons.

Do subscribers have any suggestions? Have you devised a carol service that has been particularly helpful?

It would be great to hear from you!

But, please, there's no need to send boxes of left-over crackers or mince pies....

The image above is part of the series Christmas Pairs from CL64, available online.

Image copyright Brent Clark.

Seale of approval

2008-02-07T08:57:00.000Z

Subscriber the Rev William Seale gives this book an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

The author has the ability to place the difficult issues of life and faith in their true context. The worldly items and aspirations that we all treasure so much are clearly described for what they really are - temporary and shallow. A thought-provoking book that certainly helps one put things into their true perspective.

When the Game is Over it All Goes Back in the Box
John Ortberg
Zondervan

Thinking of buying this book? Why not support your local Christian bookshop?

Do you know about this?

2008-02-06T09:58:00.000Z

This just in from CL subscriber Henry Morris. Thanks, Henry!

The most useful website we have found in recent months is ‘a church near you’. This excellent Church of England website allows churches to put themselves in the map. It is easy to use and we have found it problem-free.

Have a look at our entries!

We have our church website organized to link with this site so that changes we make to ‘a church near you’ are automatically updated on our website.

In this way we need only to make regular changes in one place.

The other very good feature of ‘a church near you’ is the accurate maps of parish boundaries across England. Every parish should use this – it saves a huge amount of time.

We have a winner!

2008-02-05T10:35:00.000Z

Congratulations to speedy subscriber Karl Przywala for being first off the mark with the correct answer to our back-page photo quiz.

The object of Horatio Nelson's (monocular) gaze is St Martin's in the Bullring, Birmingham.

Click here to learn more of the work of this church.

Stations

2008-02-04T19:42:00.000Z

Church Leadership is proud of its long association with the remarkable artist Simon Smith, whose fourteen images for the traditional Stations of the Cross are available exclusively on the website.

The images are presented in a PowerPoint format, from which you can adapt them for a variety of formats.

Check out the CL archive for more images by Simon for Easter, Ascension, Pentecost and Christmas.

You can discover more about Simon and his work via Proost.

Welcome to the CL blog!

2008-02-01T17:04:00.000Z

CL65 is touching down on doormats during the first week of February.

The website has been updated. And to celebrate the first anniversary of the new-look CL, we are launching this new blog.

It is designed to provide a quick and easy method of keeping subscribers to CPAS Church Leadership up to date with CL resources and developments.

Meanwhile, we hope that you'll enjoy the latest CL.

It's packed with information for today's busy church leaders.

Look out for:

Defying gravity: an all-age service for Easter Day
Resources for Easter through to Pentecost
Much more in our searchable website.

Please let us know what you think of the issue: cl@cpas.org.uk

And why not join in the back-page picture quiz?
Lord Nelson is permanently on the look-out over a splendid city-centre church.

But where?

Answers, please, to cl@cpas.org.uk