Winter – Spring 2017
CATALYST
CPAS 1836-2016: CELEBRATING 180 YEARS OF MISSION
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season. 2 Timothy 4:2
BUILDING A BETTER PCC | SUMMER SMILES A MISSIONAL MINDSET | OF THINGS NOT SEEN
Mission: CPAS enables churches to help every person hear and discover the good news of Jesus Christ.
Our Vision: We long to see a Christ-centred, Bible-based, missionfocused Church where leaders are clear about their call to discipleship, growing in Christ-like character, and competent to lead in a time of rapid change; where leaders discern God’s direction, enable action, build teams, develop leaders, facilitate communication, and nurture people; where leaders work in teams, reflecting the diversity of ministries, and model themselves on the servant character of Jesus; where leaders help transform inherited churches, pioneer emerging churches and deliver creative residential ministry, effectively helping children, young people and adults hear and discover the good news of Jesus Christ.
CPAS Sovereign Court One (Unit 3), Sir William Lyons Road, University of Warwick Science Park, COVENTRY CV4 7EZ 0300 123 0780 supporter.relations@cpas.org.uk www.cpas.org.uk A company limited by guarantee Registered in England no 2673220 Registered charity no 1007820 Registered office at address above
Editor: Olly Du Croz Design: Yeomans Copyright CPAS 2016. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for the reproduction of text from this publication for CPAS promotional use only. For all other uses, please contact us. This publication is printed on paper from farmed forests: for each tree felled, another is planted. The paper is chlorinefree and environmentally friendly. Unless otherwise stated all Bible quotations taken from the New International Version (NIV).
Supporting CPAS: Give www.cpas.org.uk/give Pray www.cpas.org.uk/pray Stay in touch Like CPAS on Facebook Follow @cpasnews on Twitter Sign up at www.cpas.org.uk/stayintouch Support from your church Your church may be interested in supporting CPAS as part of its mission giving, helping us enable local church growth across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Find out more by contacting us on supporter. relations@cpas.org.uk or call 0300 123 0780.
Contents:
welcome
04 CPAS in Brief
John Dunnett General Director
06 Building a Better PCC 08 Summer Smiles 10 Of Things Not Seen 14 A Missional Mindset
The other day a CPAS colleague was telling me a story from her holiday about when she got talking to a hairdresser about Jesus. And not only talking as it turned out. The hairdresser responded to an invitation to pray for her, and then made a decision to put her faith in Christ. As this story shows, there are men, women and children all over the UK and Republic of Ireland waiting for a chance to hear and respond to the gospel. In his second letter to Timothy (4:2) Paul wrote: ‘Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season’. I wonder whether we sometimes gloss over the ‘out of season’ because we are not quite sure that people are interested or ready to hear about the love of God in Christ. Those who founded CPAS were committed to enabling the Church to share the gospel both in and out of season, and we are continuing to support leaders and local churches in doing that.
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One of the stories in this edition of Catalyst also illustrates an ‘out of season’ opportunity. The photographer who captured images of Kit Gunasekera (p10-13), a CPAS patronage incumbent in London, re-discovered his own faith by observing the church at work and then having the opportunity to ask questions during his discussions with Kit.
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It’s also exciting to hear feedback from our summer Venture and Falcon holidays (p8-9), where more than 3,700 children and young people explored life with Jesus. And our bestselling resource this year has resulted in the story from St George’s Everton (p6-7) as they’ve started to use PCC Tonight. Thank you for your support as we encourage, equip and enable men and women in making the gospel heard throughout our communities – both in and out of season. Yours in Christ,
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www.cpas.org.uk info@cpas.org.uk
0300 123 0780
CPAS IN BRief MORE SCHOOL VENTURES IN 2017 Following the successful pilot of School Ventures in the Wirral earlier this year, plans are already underway to run more residential breaks for pupils in other areas. We had more than 100 children attend the two pilot holidays: a one-night residential for a single school (Year 4) and a two-night residential for a selection of children from four schools (Year 5). Nine schools will be involved in the next Wirral School Venture, increasing the size from 40 to 90 pupils. One of the participating schools has requested an additional School Venture for Year 4. We’re now seeking five further dioceses where this model would work well in order to develop the work in 2017/18, before rolling out School Ventures nationally. Keith Sinclair, Bishop of Birkenhead, said: ‘I thank God for this pilot and the response of the children, schools and churches to this initiative. CPAS has established a new dimension to its Ventures ministry in a way God can open up for many more children and young people, schools and churches, in many more places.’
IT’S YOUR CALL This December we’re running a new event in Bristol to help young people aged 16-30s to discern God’s call. It’s Your Call promises be a great event for anybody who wants to explore a calling to anything from ordained leadership to pioneer ministry in the workplace. Set up in partnership with the Diocese of Bristol, Trinity College and New Wine, the event will include prayer, worship, workshops, stories and opportunities to ask loads of questions. Tickets cost £5 (including lunch) and can be booked at www.cpas.org.uk/itsyourcall.
IT’S YOUR CALL www.cpas.org.uk/itsyourcall
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GROWING BRIDGEBUILDERS The first training the trainers events for those interested in using the new Growing Bridgebuilders course in their churches have taken place in York and London. Created in partnership with Bridge Builders, the resource was published this autumn to help churches and Christian organisations change how they handle conflict. It focuses on how to embrace and transform differences, tensions and conflicts as a way to grow a healthy Christian community. James Lawrence said: ‘It is great to work with Bridge Builders on this project, and we’re confident that it will help leaders shape the lives of their churches around healthy approaches to handling conflict. ‘We encourage anybody who wants to run the course to attend one of our events, but Growing Bridgebuilders can also be bought directly from the CPAS website.’ More events will follow in early 2017, including Coventry (9 February) and Manchester (9 March). Visit www.cpas.org.uk/ growingbridgebuilders to book your place or buy the pack.
NEWS ROUND-UP
So far this year we’ve already seen more than 1,000 people at PCC Tonight events all over England.
The 2017 Venture holidays will open for bookings from 1 December.
As one participant said’: ‘Excellent analysis and practical suggestions. Clear your diary and go to this training.’
There’s plenty of choice with about 80 holidays, including short taster Ventures and holidays based around outdoor activities, creative arts and the classic houseparty-style Ventures with a mix of everything.
Take a look at www.cpas.org. uk/pcc for the venues and dates of plenty more events, and you can read more about a church’s story of using PCC Tonight on p6-7.
On Ventures children and young people get to explore life with Jesus and every holiday is full of fun, laughter and friendships, so please spread the word with your families, friends and churches.
Our work with theological colleges and courses has continued to grow since Ian Parkinson joined CPAS to focus on this key area. During this academic year we will be teaching ordinands in 11 different institutions including several non-residential courses. Over the coming months Ian’s teaching will include Trinity College Bristol, Ridley Hall, St Barnabas College (Sheffield), Lindisfarne RTP (Durham and Northumbria), and the West of England Ministry Training Course. 05
Building a Better PCC
O
ur vision for the impact of the PCC Tonight resource was bold yet simple: to bring about a culture shift in PCC meetings across the country, so that members are clearer about their role and the difference they can make to mission and ministry in their parish. And we’re already starting to hear about that happening from people like Kate Wharton, vicar of St George’s Everton, a parish in a deprived area of Liverpool.
I went along to a PCC Tonight event with about six PCC members, and it was clear from the start this would be something that will genuinely change what we do. The evening helped us realise it would be worth using the resource material and it generated a real appetite in the group to want to do more. We’ve got a good PCC anyway, with a decent mix of people that reflects the church as a whole – their ages range from 16 to 81! Having said that, I know there are plenty of ways we can make it better and things for me to learn as a PCC chair. Using the resource material together has helped us realise our role is about more than just buildings and light bulbs, and that decisions about mission and worship aren’t just my job as the vicar. Ultimately, if a PCC is better run, happier and more cohesive it will make better decisions and have more confidence about making a positive difference in all aspects of church life. PCCs now don’t just feel like business meetings – we feel more like a team that prays, eats and talks together. PCC Tonight is great because it’s affordable and each session doesn’t need much preparation time. It’s very clear and the activities make it accessible for all members, so it’s definitely something that I’d recommend for other churches. As a vicar with a small team, the support of a strong PCC which asks good questions and understands its role is already making a huge difference.
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About PCC Tonight What’s included?
Online Materials:
Guide to Leading a PCC:
Kate added: ‘I hadn’t realised there is so much extra material online, and I’ve used plenty such as the prayer cards and also read interesting articles. We’ve started using the liturgy to open and close meetings, which makes the whole meeting feel like an act of worship.
Primarily for vicars and lay chairs responsible for leading their PCC, it covers 12 common reasons why PCCs don’t function well and offers practical suggestions on how to address each of them.
Sessions for PCCs: Each session is designed to be run as part of a normal PCC meeting, taking between 30-40 minutes (or combined for an away day), covering: 1. Why does the Church exist? 2. Why does the PCC exist? 3. What is the best way to conduct our meetings? 4. Reviewing church life – worship 5. Reviewing church life – mission 6. Reviewing church life – community
How can I find out more? As Kate testifies, our PCC Tonight evenings really help inspire PCC members and generate some enthusiasm before you start using the resource material. Alternatively, if you can’t make it to an event the PCC Tonight resource contains everything you need to develop the life of your PCC and can be purchased from the CPAS website.
www.cpas.org.uk/pcc 07
SUMMER SMILES! had a fantastic summer, W ewith around 3,750 young
people aged 8-18 taking part in 86 Venture and Falcon holidays. Our wonderful volunteer leaders share some of their highlights – we hope this makes you smile as much as we did!
‘I was keen for the young people at St Ann’s in inner-city London (where I am curate) to go on a Venture so that they could experience spending time in a Christian community with young people of the same age. The bursaries we received enabled young people to go on Romsey who would otherwise have never been able to afford it.
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‘Looking back, I can’t remember a holiday in recent years where there have been so many exciting conversations, with some folk coming to faith and others taking significant steps forward in faith. Several were hearing about Jesus for the first time. Thanks for all your partnership in the gospel with us.’
‘With teaching from Mark’s Gospel, we looked at who Jesus is, what he did at the cross and what it means to be a follower of Jesus as an 11-14 year old. We saw our young people engage and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ, deepening their faith, asking questions, and being challenged to live wholeheartedly for Jesus.‘
Simon Potter, Maidwell 3 Venture
Matthew Foy, Romsey 1 Venture
‘The young people (and us leaders) really enjoyed the watersports sessions. It’s great to be able to put on such adventurous yet accessible activities, run by Christians who use the sessions as part of the gospel work of the Venture. Those who hadn’t done kayaking or gorge-walking before really loved it because of the excellent leading and the way that teamwork was encouraged.’ Chris Dyson, Colwyn Bay 4 Venture
‘Thought you’d like to know we’ve had an incredibly exciting night tonight where several young people said “yes” to following Jesus. Incredible stuff and some of those concerned had a complete rejection of God at the start of the week. Hope this gives you an extra reason to smile today.’ Dan and Anna Wood, while leading on Wydale Falcon
‘The holiday was fun-filled, and included Carroty Wood’s Got Talent, holding and stroking real live owls, ten pin bowling, Drusilla’s zoo and play park, a camp fire, guessing the leader from a baby photo, barn dancing, lots of ice lollies and ice cream, and of course crafts, games and swimming. One girl who’d never seen a bonfire before commented “This is a magical night!”.’ ‘Helping on a Falcon was one of the most challenging and rewarding weeks of my life. The children put on a veneer of aggression and misbehaviour; swearing and fighting were not uncommon! But behind it all was a bunch of amazing Falcon children, who had suffered lives harder than anything I had ever known, and were now searching after Jesus. So many of the children had taken their next step on their journey towards knowing Jesus. Hallelujah!’ Joseph, Falcon leader
Sue Shrubb, Carroty Wood 1 Falcon
Ventures and Falcons are holidays for 8-18s packed full of great activities and masses of fun while enjoying the opportunity to explore who Jesus is. Find out more at www.ventures.org.uk 09
OF THINGS NOT SEEN
K
it Gunasekera’s work as vicar of a CPAS patronage church in south London took an unexpected twist when he became the subject of a photography exhibition displayed at a major London gallery. In his role as vicar of St James’ Clapham, Kit was photographed by Jim Grover over the course of a year for a collection entitled Of Things Not Seen: A Year in the Life of a London Priest, which was exhibited at the Oxo Tower gallery in London and also gained national media coverage including a feature in the Guardian.
‘It was a tremendous experience, and not anything I had planned for,’ said Kit. ‘This was purely God opening up surprising new doors for mission. The exhibition has done things I didn’t think were possible or had even imagined, so it has taught me how important it is to trust God to open and close the right doors. ‘During the project I was reminded that ministry is all about people – with people, by people, and for people – and I was particularly struck by the photos of me with others. ‘Even the exhibition itself has been doing ministry. People have seen their own lives reflected in this collection of photos, especially images such as me praying at an elderly lady’s bedside, and that has made a real difference to some. ‘The things being shown in the photos are not extraordinary: they’re being done by ministers all over the country every day. The extraordinary element is the skill of the photographer in capturing ministry in a way that people can relate to.’ The project had yet more surprises in store, as during the year Jim re-discovered his own faith. Kit added: ‘Jim wouldn’t just take photos but also ask me plenty of questions. He came to services regularly and would hear me preach and then ask about my sermons. We began to talk more about faith questions, and over time Jim began to re-connect with God, and talked particularly about prayer.
Making Christ known 10
‘He and his wife Ruth have since begun to get involved in the life of the church too. Jim is now on the PCC and one of our mission action planning teams. It’s great that he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the church and its mission.’
at prayer
Pastoral visit 11
NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. Hebrews 11:1, KJV
Home office
Good Friday 12
Tea with ‘Young at Heart’
Of Things Not Seen will be exhibited at St James Clapham 14-27 November. All photos are reproduced with kind permission of Jim Grover.
Going to work
Visit www.ofthingsnotseen.com to find out more about the exhibition, where you can also purchase a catalogue including all of the images. 13
A MISSIONAL MINDSET
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sking the question ‘What is God calling us to?’ (and then doing it!) is crucial to Christ-like Christian leadership and the driving force behind local church mission. Graham Archer shares how CPAS is helping clergy to keep asking and answering the call of God at times of transition and beyond. Knowing who you are, what you bring, and how your gifts and skills can best be used is a pivotal first step for leaders considering where God might be calling them, and what he might ask them to do there. Clergy often find the process of moving a difficult one, not least because so much of a minister’s life is bound up in their current post.
‘Really relevant subjects were addressed, with the opportunity to discuss with others. It’s great hearing firsthand examples of good working practice.’
‘This feels timely. Tangible ideas to take on board.’ 14
‘I found the teaching on setting vision and strategy helpful, as well as understanding what drives me.’
‘I feel very equipped and encouraged to address the transition ahead and received useful insights of how to approach issues.’
A New Calling
How We Help
This is where CPAS comes in – we want to help leaders hear God’s voice as they decide when to move on, and where to move on to. We know that the start of a new post is an opportune time for clergy to reflect on their leadership, listen to God and consider what first steps they can take to start their new role well. But we want to do more than that. We want to set leaders up to keep responding to the call of God throughout their careers. Even within one particular post, God’s call will be different at different times as the church (and the leader) grows and develops, and new spiritual and physical needs arise in the parish.
Our Moving On forums help people decide when to move on, covering biblical discernment, how to make good choices, and the practicalities of applying for a job. We also offer the opportunity to chat through any questions one-to-one and administer a list of evangelical clergy looking for a post.
We want to help clergy foster a missional mindset, always seeking God and praying ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done’ in the context they find themselves in, so that they and the church can flourish and grow in step with God’s will.
Space for God At our conferences, we offer consultancy to clergy, as well as teaching on discerning direction, releasing vision, leading change, and dealing with expectations. We also cover some more practical aspects of church leadership such as building teams, organising and managing ourselves, leading meetings and working with PCCs. It’s often the case that leaders are so busy responding to day-to-day challenges in their parishes that they have little opportunity to step back and think about these bigger picture issues. As well as providing information and advice, our conferences allow them the chance to gain much-needed perspective and the time and space to capture God’s vision for the future.
Once the leader has been appointed to their new post, the questions then become ‘What is God calling us to as a parish?’ and ‘How do we get there?’. Our New Chapters (for any clergy taking up a new post) and The Buck Stops Here (for first-time incumbents) conferences give leaders the tools they need to answer – and keep answering – these questions. Many leaders also make use of our Mentor Connect website to find themselves a suitable mentor. Running our first ever New Chapters conference this year was hugely exciting. Having seen the impact The Buck Stops Here has been having on new clergy for many years, it’s great to now be equipping clergy who are further down the road too, so that more and more churches can be helped to live out their calling and we can see many men, women and children across the British Isles come to know Jesus.
‘Lots of helpful information – plenty to think about and implement.’
‘This conference has been invaluable.’
‘The session on identity, purpose and values equipped and affirmed me for the journey ahead. It has given me a real focus.’
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PCC Tonight A guide to leading a PCC SIX SESSIONS FOR YOUR PCC TO USE IncludES over 30 downloadable RESOURCES
VISIT WWW.CPAS.ORG.UK /PCCTONIGHT TO DISCOVER MORE Practical ideas on how to create a dynamic, fun and faith-filled PCC.