March 2011 www.saltlight.org/uk Pioneering | Proclaiming | Transforming | Together
Contents Andy Barclay-Watt Pioneering Church Planting
3 4 & 5 6 & 7
Di Taylor Ally Kay Goals 1 & 2 Mark Mumford
8 9 10 11
SUMMIT
12 & 13
Proclaiming
14 & 15
Goal 3
16 & 17
18
y King’s School of Theolog ge King’s Theological Colle
19
3 We’re really excited to be entering a new year where we are pursuing the vision that God has given us as a family of churches in the UK: to be pioneering, proclaiming and transforming – together! To help engage with this 2020vision we’ve changed the format of our magazines to be more explicitly helping people and leaders to understand and apply it in their contexts. The magazine you have with you today has reports from some of our church planting teams including Ben & Esther Rook as they seek to pioneer into Leicester, the UK’s first white-minority city. It’s got stuff to help us think more clearly about what we mean by “proclaiming”. Is it just preaching? Does preaching still work for our modern world? We’re also looking at how our training strategy is shaping up, including new leadership development programmes and changes to our theological training.
2020vision> magazine is published by Salt & Light Ministries for the UK family of churches Editor Jon Giles jong@saltlight.org Communications Manager Oliver Russell oliverr@saltlight.org Design Richard Hardiman contact> www.saltlight.org/uk contact@saltlight.org
+44 (0)1865 297440 Salt & Light Ministries, The King’s Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES, UK Salt & Light is a UK chariatable company limited by guarantee, registered in England 3603373, charity 1071600, reg. office 22b High Street, Witney, UK
Finally, Ally Kay and Di Taylor report on the big picture of what’s going on in Westminster and government engagement with the “third sector” as we seek to make the most of the opportunities to transform society. I pray that God would speak to you as you read about what following Him entails, and I look forward to seeing many of you in July at Transform 2011.
Andy Barclay-Watt LifeChurch Manchester Salt & Light UK Team
4
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
been done before. If we want to be a truly pioneering Pioneers by definition push the frontiers of what has simply rely us is to find new ways to take new ground and not church‑planting movement then the challenge for ! aches appro requires fresh on the models we have always known. Pioneering or was meetings confident that anyone who had a need The days when we could rely upon putting on great church the that usion e today simply don’t come to the concl searching for God would come to us are over. Peopl the but come will some e r know anything about it. Of cours has something to offer them because they no longe hes churc ng Planti . them to go to ways maybe we need to find vast majority won’t. So if they won’t come to us then with that in mind is pioneering.
pioneering
team recently launched in Leicester Ben & Esther Rook are leading the church planting ns for us to be a pioneering people. so Ben seemed an ideal person to ask what it mea
to the land agenda. He commissioned and sent Abraham to go Pioneering as it turns out has always been on God’s the and move the gh the wilderness. Jesus spent his life on he had promised and took Israel on a journey throu story of a is Acts of book the and equipped by the Holy Spirit in great story of the church as commissioned by Jesus a pioneering people. that are from programmes that bring people to our events, To really touch the lost as pioneers requires us to move res requi take the gospel to people in their context. That in turn run on our terms on our territory to finding ways to we g, existin the to We don’t stop fulfilling all our responsibilities us to choose to build what we do around mission. issioned to do. comm simply prioritise the lost. It’s what we have been ost s. These are midsized groups gathered first and forem One way to do this is through Missional Communitie turn to aim s unitie Comm nal Missio s. s or people group around mission and focussed on specific communitie . This requires the equipping of the saints and a focus the es becom er outsid the church inside out so that to be. one the chance to be all that God has made them permission giving, sending culture that allows every disciples Church planting with a group of radical missional of us group ing grow a is there is a great way to do this and this mber Septe in g startin ter Leices in hoping to do just that ard outw focus our keep and city the in arrive year. We aim to doing with mission at the centre. That means new ways of have great things and big challenges. It means we can look to red to scatte be also gatherings but we recognise that we must be effective for the gospel.
Ben Rook 07703 735053 et Ben.rook@emcf.n
ed in Perhaps you would like the opportunity to get involv me welco are you so If ter. Leices into plant this something like feel you ps and contact details are in the box to the left. Perha are. Either stirred to pioneer something fresh near where you pioneer for truly to g willin way God is calling a people who are nge? challe the for up the sake of the kingdom. Are you
6
church
planting Up and down the country people are catching hold of the vision and goal of church planting. They all contain the seed of the gospel to transform their communities but may look very different as they work that out in different situations. Here are a few reports from the field‌
Lympne
Durham
Lympne is situated on the former sea cliffs above the Romney Marsh. Dating back to Roman times it now has some 1,500 people, with a distinctive community feel. In 2010 Romney Marsh Christian Fellowship started a cell group led by Paul and Terri King who years earlier had been given a word from God that they would be involved in something in their local community. Excitingly the outworking of this vision started to happen after the South East Region was established and currently there are four couples meeting regularly from both RMCF and South Kent Community Church. We trust that God will build out of these relationships in His time and to His design.
In any battlefield, taking ground is valuable, and this is no different in Durham. We have developed our vision and strategy, with help and support from the Churches in the North East Region. Our aim now is to go on mission this year and take the Gospel into Durham and the surrounding villages. (Joshua 18 and 19).
(pronounced Lime)
(pronounced (D-ur-m) ;)
www.durhamcommunitychurch.org.uk Like us on Facebook: Durham Community Church
Chris Betts (Church planter and team member)
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
Acklam, Middlesbrough
Leicester
Al Menara, Manchester Beacon Heath Plant, Exmouth Belper Community Church, East Midlands Birmingham Community Church International City Church Leicester Coalpool Community Church, Walsall community church thame, Oxfordshire Dover Plant, Kent Durham Community Church Iglesia Latina, Manchester International Church, Manchester
As we build towards planting in Leicester the pace is picking up. God is drawing together a fantastic team of missional disciples and we are now able to meet in Leicester twice a month. We start soon and the process of finding homes, jobs and schools is underway. Please pray!
Kettering Plant, South Leicestershire Lympne and Hythe Plant, Kent LifeChurch Eccles Eden LifeChurch Wilmslow Lifehouse Community Church, Oxfordshire LoveStretford
Moreton-in-Marsh Last autumn we started meeting monthly on Sundays, but with plans to meet more regularly as we head through 2011. With around 20 gathering on these occasions we are excited at what God is doing here. We are also taking a large group away on a camping trip in April to build community with some friends from the town. Dan & Kerstin Campsall
Moreton-in-Marsh Community Church, Gloucestershire Pathways Community Church, Oxfordshire Pershore Community Church, Worcestershire Pheasey Community Church, Walsall Uttoxeter Community Church, East Midlands Wallingford Plant, Oxfordshire Wychwood House Churches, Oxfordshire
current church plants
Craig & Kerina Lynch
As a congregation we have grown over the last year. We have ran a couple of Journeys Series which have been great and people have been added to the Church. We will be running another Journeys Series in Darlington, County Durham in March (exciting). In May we will be going full time in our meetings in Acklam at the local Youth and Community Centre. We have some great people working with us and are thankful to the Lord for His love and faithfulness to us.
Acklam Congregation, Middlesbrough
Di Taylor Di Taylor (Town Centre Basingstoke) is the Parliamentary Liaison Officer for Salt & Light. We asked her to say a little about what she had learnt in her time in office so far, engaging with the political systems It has been about a year – a very interesting year – since I was given the impressive title “Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Salt & Light”. This follows an initiative by Care to gather together representatives from the newer church streams in order to try to gain a voice in Parliament and other public arenas. My most recent visit has been to a discussion at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, when I was allowed a few minutes to comment on the drawbacks of trying to micro-legislate for what should come naturally – respect and genuine care. Prior to that I have visited Westminster three times to meet with various MPs, peers and public officials. On every occasion I have been surprised by the atmosphere of respect and friendliness that has greeted us. Another surprise has been the number of MPs who have a sincere faith. Representing people in Parliament is not only a means to gain power, but it is a serving profession too and there are MPs in all of the main parties who are in that role because they felt called by God to serve. Gaining recognition for new churches in the public arena is going to take time – but this first year has been challenging and encouraging.
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
Di Taylor asion Officer Parliamentary Li plo@saltlight.org
WHO DO ? L L A C E W
Ally Kay heads up Derby City Mission and is a key voice in Salt & Light for keeping us engaged both with the poor and marginalised. We asked him about a recent consultation he was part of in the East Midlands. Well the big idea of the big society is star ting to take off. Daily I rece ive emails from national, regional, and local government organisations on this subject as ‘big state’ is dism antled (albeit pretty clumsily at present) and compassionate conservatis m takes off in a new way. I believe that whatever we may think of the pre sent state of things an open doo r to engage with our communities in an unprecedented way is in fron t of us. The government have just issued a new compac t bet ween the government Office for Civil Society and faith based organisations. This is the hard evidence; the state is now “doing God ”
Ally Kay
However the big question was ask ed of us recently as leaders in the East Midlands by Steve Chalke “Whose number do we call?” (he was refe rring to the question asked by the USA secretar y of state Henry Kisseng er when talk ing to European leaders abo ut investment in Europe.) This is a key question. It is also the question that must be evidenced by a hist ory of delivering on promises. So when the media wants to spe ak to the church whose number do they call? When the local authority or your MP or whoever it may be wan ts to speak to the church, do they kno w you and do they have your num ber? Today is a day for “connec tors”, people who know people and will put them together to make a differen ce. If you want my advice today: get connec ted. The landscape is cha nging and the future will be a fun ride on the rapids as we fight to see God ’s Kingdom come....
10
Goals 1 & 2
Gathering for purpose: creating a missional movement
November 2010 saw 100 leaders from across S&L UK gather in Northampton to gain a fresh clarity of vision, a clearer plan for each region and meet God together. Sessions were facilitated with help from Francois van Niekerk, a friend and apostolic leader from South Africa who has helped us at significant points in the last few years. ‘Goal 2’ of 2020vision reflects the fact that churches are most healthy when connected to something larger – other churches in a geographical region and an ‘Ephesians 4’ team of mature and supportive leaders. Helping leaders move forward with formation and clarification of regions was a key outcome for Summit III. It’s a pattern reflected in the New Testament letters, where apostolic teams moved amongst the churches, creating a ‘missional movement’ that had a big view of God’s purposes and was committed to spreading the gospel right across the ancient world.
Andy O’Connell reflects on how the recent Summit meeting helped bring clarity to Goal 2 of the 2020vision: establishing 15 regional apostolic bases.
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
In some ways I am quite sympathetic to that view. The way we have done things means we could easily be seen as a network of leaders rather than a family of churches. But at the heart of our DNA is the value and sense of family. Relationships and trust are motivators for what we do together. I would want to encourage anyone who thinks like that to think again!
The giveaway reason is the last word of our 2020vision statement: Pioneering, Proclaiming Transforming – Together! I would be disappointed if we added in the small print: “only if you’re a leader”. I believe the statement of purpose ‘Together’ applies on a personal and a church level. If you identify with Salt & Light in any way then you are part of the 2020vision!
What practical ways can members of congregations and church plants engage with the vision? Everyone can engage with the vision. It doesn’t just depend on the leader of your church. I’m sure lots of people will have spent time making personal commitments in the New Year: losing the Christmas pounds, meeting more often with our un-churched
friends, but I would be surprised if lots of people had a vision for what life will be like in the year 2020! Why not make a plan for the next 2 years and think about: How can I contribute to the health of the church? How can I love my neighbour more? Where can I get involved in my local community to make a difference? Don’t wait for your church leader to tell you what to do but ask God to show you where He wants you to be – then ask someone else to make sure you are accountable for what God has said! Another thing I would love to see is as many people as possible coming to our Transform summer camp. We had a great time in 2010 and this year promises to be excellent – its not just about a good programme and a great time with our friends and families – I truly believe that when we gather God uses that time to impact our hearts – that we might be transformed into radical disciples!
Mark Mumford
How do I get involved?
How would you respond to those who think the 2020vision is just for leaders?
Interview with Mark Mumford
Q& A It’s 2 years since the 2020vision was launched with UK Leaders. We talked to Mark Mumford about how everyone in Salt & Light churches can identify and connect with the 2020vision.
better together than a p a r t Mark Mumford, leader of the UK Salt & Light Team, reports on how the UK Team will be seeking to work together more in the coming years.
I was reflecting with the UK Team recently that it has been around two years since a pivotal moment when the team clearly defined our 2020vison. At that time we had been striving to respond to the call of God on our family to unite around our purpose: to move from marauding bands to regiments, family together, army in purpose. In particular God spoke clearly about uniting us under a banner together and 2 years ago, through God’s divine working, we hit upon the phrase Pioneering, Proclaiming, Transforming – Together! We had already felt clear on the task we were called together to do through the forming of some clear objectives but it was this moment where we captured our 2020vision in 4 simple words that I see as a symbol of our unity as a family. We are all unique and diverse in our expressions, style and history yet I still maintain that a core value of Salt & Light is that of relationship. We build around this and I am sure God has called us to build in the UK based on the continued foundation of relationship together. Together applies to each part of our vision – church planting together, spreading the Gospel of the kingdom together, affecting our communities
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
Mark Mum
ford
and wider society together – and while we don’t express it in the vision statement we have a heart to train and equip leaders… together. At the recent UK Summit (November 2010) we gathered the senior leaders of the UK churches to share current progress and how we will move forward. We were privileged to have François van Niekerk with us from South Africa. (Many will remember him from 28:18 Springboard at Ashburnham). François shared with us about how to transpose our vision to strategy. A key to this is to build our strategy on the foundation of relationship – in fact he said that in order to move forward we can not have one without the other. An important step for us is that we have recognised that we can only effectively build through our regions. I have been talking to churches about what it means to belong to Salt & Light in the UK and I believe that being part of a region is essential. I believe that regions can work together to plant churches and train people through sharing resources and by helping each other – better together than the sum of the parts!
At the Summit we did a lot of work to encourage regions to work together in teams and I am pleased that there is a real sense amongst church leaders that although there are challenges to overcome this is the way we are to build in the next phase. Something we are working though is the value of High Accountability – Low Control. As a UK Team we have never set out to build a “system” of teams where we control what individual churches do – it’s simply not in our DNA – but we need to be able to understand what each other is doing and crucially: are we following through on what God has told us to do? High Accountability is about being clear about what we feel God has called us to and being held responsible for whether we do so – for me that applies personally, in our churches, in regions and actually, nationally. If we don’t follow through with what we believe God has spoken about, then we will certainly be asked questions from those we love and respect around the International Salt & Light family, and also even from some friends beyond our family!
The UK team are committed to find out how we can effectively hold one another and our regional teams to account for the things we each believe God is giving us to do. Not only does this help us exercise High Accountability but it allows us to help each other with challenges, share advice, encourage and pray together for the growth of our regions and churches. I suppose the obvious aspect of Together is not merely our relationships with each other but with the Lord. We are coworkers with the Lord and he has commissioned us to go to the ends of the earth sharing the gospel of the Kingdom. We will fool ourselves if we put our faith in targets, strategy and measurements of success alone – these are useful tools indeed – but without God by our side we are surely missing the essence of Together.
13
proclaiming
Steve Jones (Oxford) asks the question about what being a proclaiming people means in our 21st Century context. The pendulum of history sometimes seems to swing with unstoppable force, as each generation reacts to the one that went before them. Forty years ago, mission was focused on preaching the gospel, on mission weeks and ‘crusades’, but nowadays it is common to meet evangelicals who seem embarrassed about the whole notion of preaching and who approvingly quote Francis of Assisi’s instruction: “Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” In other words, words are out of vogue and actions are in. I think I understand why this shift has occurred. It is possible (and sadly all too common) for people to preach truth without much love, and for preaching evangelists to neglect the biblical virtues of listening to others, of incarnating the word in bodily action and of addressing social injustice. And it is true that people will find our words empty unless they are accompanied by loving actions.
Steve Jon es
Still, the advice attributed to St. Francis is clearly quite daft. He was clearly not a married man; otherwise he would have known that even well-meaning actions are easily misinterpreted. Good verbal communication is the lifeblood of good relationships. If I fight for social justice and care for the poor, even though these things are close to God’s heart, I may not serve to communicate the abundant grace of God to needy souls. Unless I also speak of Jesus, unless I explain his message, my good work is likely-as-not to be seen as an attempt to salve my guilty conscience or to avoid facing up to the emptiness in my own life. It is only when I speak of Jesus that the reality of the kingdom of God becomes clear. People will not believe unless they hear a message (Romans 10:14)
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
So, we need to resist all attempts to prioritise good works over good words or vice versa. God clearly desires both. Rather like wine and cheese, both can be good alone, but they are much better together! I suppose someone might quote Paul on the kingdom being about power not words (1 Corinthians 4:20), but I would reply that Paul did actually preach quite a lot, and is therefore not a good witness to call in support of wordless mission. A better way to read this verse is simply that we need signs and wonders to go with the words (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Let’s think about the ‘fire triangle’. This little logo reminds us that a fire requires fuel, heat and oxygen – all three. Take away any one of those and the fire will fizzle out. So too, in the mission of God, there is a fire that comes from the beautiful combination of works, words and wonders. If we take away the spoken message, the mission will fizzle out. The world is happy enough with our acts of service and with our prayers for people to be healed and blessed. It is specifically the word of God which is resisted and which we are therefore tempted to neglect for the sake of an easier life. And that is why I, for one, embrace the vision to proclaim the gospel and pray for the grace to “proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:4).
15
Jesus’ kingdom strategy:
fixing God’s people so they work
Jesus came to earth with a big vision: to save mankind and to start a movement to spread the news of that great work to the whole world. Being an activist, and knowing that I only had 3 years of active ministry to complete this task, I would have drawn up a serious action plan and charged around as quickly as possible! Jesus’ choices were radically different: he invested massive amounts of times into training and discipling just 12 rough-andready guys, then he entrusted the whole plan into their hands! Ephesians 4 tells us that Jesus’ intention is “to equip his people for works of service.” There’s a fishing word in here: “equip” is to do with mending and fixing nets so that they work properly. He wants to “fix” all of us so that we “work properly” and can get in with his great Kingdom-of-God plan! That’s why we see training as such a great priority. It should always be a priority for our churches, but especially in this season of fresh vision, so we’re working hard nationally and in regions to make the training accessible for everyone.
Andy O’Co n
nell
Why not “get in with Jesus’ plan” and talk to your local leaders about what training is available? Or, visit us at www.saltlight.org/uktraining or get hold of a copy of our new training brochure
Goal 3 Training
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
17 UK Training brochure available at the European Leaders’ Conference or from www.saltlight.org/uktraining
SALT & LIGHT UK TRAINING
KING’S
The King’s School of Theology (KST), a new approach to training theological thinkers, kicks-off in just 8 months’ time and things are coming together rapidly. As they are in the throes of preparation we asked a couple of the team behind the course to tell us what they are looking forward to most; Mike Beaumont is the Principal:
SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
“ ”
Theological college was an enormously transforming experience for me, supported as I was by tutors who were deeply spiritual and passionately committed to the truth of God’s word; and a group of friends who challenged my thinking on a wide range of issues. I am looking forward to seeing students find this sort of transformation for themselves as they encounter God’s word and are shaped by some of our best theologians. We have a great curriculum in place that will stretch your understanding of God, his word and his world even if you have been involved in church for years.
“
Mike Beau
mont
course director, Dan Campsall, to Being a 3 year non-residential course we asked in their learning explain how he sees the students being supported
Dan Campsall
We want to see a vibrant learning community develop that encourages and provokes one another to see the truths that we study in lectures and in private become transforming for our lives and ministry. To help this happen we will be using the weekend teaching blocks and offering lots of support through a dedicated online forum. We will also be implementing a system of tutoring and peer-led groups where students can encourage each other, challenge conventions and inspire faith.
March 2011 | 2020vision Magazine | www.saltlight.org/uk
Q& A
king’s bible college & training centre
KING’S
THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
KBCTC has undergone various changes in recent years. Why more changes now?
As one of our contemporary poets declared‘times they are a changing’. Last summer God started speaking to us about leaving the old, embracing the new and of being replanted and re-potted, ultimately leading to growth. God wants a people on the move, pursuing him with hearts set on pilgrimage, so change is here to stay!
Can you explain a bit more about some of these changes?
In recent years we’ve undergone internal restructuring through becoming accredited (which recognises the quality of the learning environment here) and we are now partnering with York St. John University in offering a fully validated course – this is going incredibly well and our students are more than meeting the mark. Current changes, like the addition of our new‘streams’, will create an exciting multi-faceted community dynamic. Partnering with regional hubs makes College more accessible and bringing the College into the centre of our S&L training strategy will result in many more people being equipped.
Why the new name?
Well, let’s be honest,‘KBCTC’ has always been a bit of a tongue twister! Biblically, and in many cultures today, a name speaks of the nature/identity of a person and expresses aspirations and expectations for the future. We’re becoming ‘King’s Theological College’ to reflect the changes which have taken place in recent years and signify a new direction whilst recognising we’re still all about serving the King and his kingdom.
Simon Sh
aw
We asked Simon Shaw, Principal of KBCTC, to tell us about changes happening there …
How are you and the staff team managing with all the change?
Transitions are not always easy and it’s been stretching but through this process God has been refining us, sharpening us and clarifying our vision. We are more passionate than ever about seeing people immersed in an environment of daily encounter with God which transforms hearts and minds and sets students up for a lifetime of putting theology into action. For more information see the UK Training Brochure or visit www.kbctc.org
Goal 3 Training