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District Mission Enabler
Rev Liz Childs July 2010
I am back from my sabbatical, enjoying the lovely weather and gradually (in fact rather rapidly) getting into work mode again.
‘Have you had a good holiday?' a number of people have enquired. Well I suppose the answer is that I feel very much more relaxed than I did at the start of the year, so one could say I have had a holiday from normal work!
I spent my time in two particular areas – thinking about collaborative ministry and with my family.
For two weeks I managed to combine the two by going to Dubai with my daughter and granddaughter to visit my son and his wife living in Dubai . I was fascinated by the culture of the country which is so different to our own and found especially interesting the place of the Christian Church within Dubai . I have written up some of my thoughts in the appendix to my Collaborative Ministry report (on this website) if you are interested.
So what have I brought back to the District after three months away?
Well, I am even more convinced that the future of the church lies in collaborative ministry where every Christian recognises themselves as disciples with a role to play in building the kingdom of God in their community and where every Christian knows and accepts their responsibility to share the good news of Jesus.
I believe that this will require a change in mindset across our churches.:
We will need to rethink leadership in the church and begin to value and trust one another as fellow Christians, all with a calling – ordained and lay alike.
We will need to re-equip and re-skill congregations to be confident in their faith and in their calling to discipleship.
We will need to rediscover how to talk of faith amongst ourselves and in our communities.
My aim, therefore, during the coming year is to promote discipleship among congregations – possibly through a ‘roadshow' travelling to various parts of the District; and to promote collaborative ministry among presbyters – possibly with a visit from Rev David Robertson (author of Collaborative Ministry)to Ministerial Synod.
You see, I did do some thinking during my ‘holiday' and my prayer is that my thoughts will resonate with others and together we can explore a different way of working as church. ( The Connexion has made a good start – look out for ‘Deepening Discipleship' www.deepeningdscipleship.org.uk and Biblefresh www.biblefresh.com ).
Liz
Side Door on mission in Ukraine - painting an orphanage.
Cafe Worship
 (90.5kb) Mapping the Way Forward Powerpoint
Presentation by Rev. Liz Childs
at Synod
September 2008
 (59.0kb) Pastoral Heart Mission Mind
(29.5kb) Next steps from Pastoral Heart
» Pastoral Heart Mission Mind Full Report
 (49.9kb) Time to talk of God Bible Study Guide
(13.3kb) Team Focus Project 1 Cover Sheet
(77.5kb) Team Focus Project 1 Evangelism - Feb 06 MC
(33.5kb) Stationing and Mission 2007 Questionnaire
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