We bring Good News
March 1999 No 100 Diocese of Oxford Reporter Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
cell
for psyr
Ornard Chre4ba
Pilgrims
This
month The DOOR celebrates its 100th issue. See 'Behind the DOOR' on page 10
Is the Church our best kept secret.? any more people claim to be members of the Church of England than actually attend church regularly. A Gallup poll showed that over 56% of the population claim allegiance to the Church of England. So the Diocese has decided to find out what can be done to encourage them to attend worship more frequently. An independent market research consultant has been commissioned to discover some of the things that discourage people from attending church, and reveal things that they can do to increase their membership
M
Awareness of what puts people off church
Judy Bartkowiak, who is herself a Christian, has already completed preliminary research among local clergy. Her findings reveal that the clergy are aware of some things that can put people off, but the research will go deeper and help the Church understand how to attract more people. 'Clergy worry about people being intimidated by the church, but we do need these beautiful old buildings,' said Judy. 'Maybe the focus should be on having the church as part of the community, open all the time and offering during the day whatever God's people need,' she said. 'We have to ask, is the Church our best kept secret?' One thousand street interviews will take place in March
One thousand Street interviews will take place in March in the three counties of the Diocese and the results will be published in May.
MEEK. MILD. AS IF Discover the real Jesus. Church. April 4. One of the ways the Church has reached out to non-churchgoers has been through the use of advertising.'It is often the most controversial campaigns that are most effective,' says the Revd Richard Thomas, Oxford Diocesan Communications Officer.This year's Easter campaign from the Churches Advertising Network has already attracted worldwide publicity with its 'Che Guevara' approach.
Welcome to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs Carey, visiting the Diocese of Oxford this month The Bishop takes on Lords reform he Bishop of Oxford, the Right Revd Richard Harries, is the only bishop in the distinguished list of 12 people appointed to the Government's Royal Commission on the reform of the House of Lords. The Bishop, who is a member of the House of Lords himself, is Chairman of the Church of England's Board of Social Responsibility. He is also a prolific writer and broadcaster whose interests range from art and Jewish Christian relations to ethics and arms control. Bishop Richard was described in The Times review of the Royal Commission's members as 'a leading liberal extremely bright and one of the most active senior churchmen. Likes a fight and can take on leading scientists and academics and beat them'.
T
Distinguished local connections The Commission's membership team also includes Lord Butler of Brockwell former Cabinet Secretary and now Master of University College, Oxford and Lord Hurd of Westwell, the former Conservative Foreign Secretary and local MP and two leading trade unionists, Baroness Dean of Thornton-leFylde and Bill Morris, General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' union. The Chairman is Lord Wakeham, Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission. The House of Lords Bill, ending the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the upper chamber, has already reached the committee stage. The Commission, which will make recommendations for the make-up and function of a future second House, has been asked to report by the end of the year. Its proposals will then be considered by a joining committee of both Houses. Legislation to set up a second chamber is expected to be passed by the next election.
inside The DOOR 1V zy cover up in synthetics -
I .
when nature welcomes you? All our duvet covers are pure natural cotton - this one hand painted batik in fresh yellow or blue. Come and see this and other craft made articles for the home at Outlet prices.
one village On the A44 in Woodstock
page 5 Ten years of testimony Why we need The DOOR by the page 8 Bishop of Oxford What future for the Church of age England? Printing, packing and photos the people behind The DOOR pages 1O& H page 15 Books for Easter One hundred years of page 18 Sunday Schools
4,
ft