Foundations for local churches

Our diocese has great plans to increase gospel connections by...huffing and puffing: just try harder type deal, without understanding the underlying system that prevents this very thing our worthies seek.

We did this a decade or so ago with a slogan-based campaign to 'try harder'. But, again, no understanding of the system that was in the way so as to change the system.

Management (they would say 'leadership') by slogan is known to fail as a matter of course but it grabs headlines, so remains popular to the neglect of the hard work of: 'Check--Plan--Do'. Check what the system produces and why. Plan adjustments, changes and resourcing for same, then do them. Then repeat.

So this letter went to the chief servant at our Bible college.

I was encouraged by the latest issue of College News.

Much is 'on' and that's good...as far as it goes.

The real challenge is to equip every Christian to be able to at least casually evangelize in their own circle. I doubt that we do this, but this was the way of the early Church. Sure, there were 'evangelists' gifted for a more focused role, but Peter sets before us that all need to be able to 'give a defence'.

How many can confidently and effectively do this?

I daresay, from many decades experience in many parishes, as I've moved around Sydney, London, Cambridge and New York, not many.

And at none of the half-dozen or so Anglican churches I've been a part of has this aspect of our mission been advanced.

That is, at none have we as a church experienced a consistent parish commitment to true training in talking out our faith and dealing with the challenges typically brought to it. Nor indeed, at none have I seen consistent training in the foundations of faith that is more than confirmation classes.

Most parishes hope the set-piece sermon will do. It won't! For most, the sermon drops out of mind as soon as they pop out of the auditorium (which is what our assembly halls have become). Some use Alpha or Christianity Explored, etc., and these are OK as first step 'in-drag' efforts, but where to next?

Sermons/lectures are not effective means of teaching transformational content that will see people changed. What is, is immersive discussion-based training sessions, with plenty of to and fro, where adults can test their ideas and understanding, having 'simulations' of dialogues and debates, with set readings to be discussed and mulled over. The 'tutorial' more than the 'lecture'.

Now, how might this play out in the parish, or for greater efficiency, and fellowship, in groups of parishes?

My 'top of mind' program could pan out like this:

Based on a church of my recent experience, and not of this diocese, I'd expect that we separate learning and the Sunday gathering. Let's keep this for edificational sharing, prayer and a meal (with a short talk to add to this). The 'learning' stream at this church had three adult bible classes: questioners, explorers, and  developers, reflecting 'beginners', intermediates' and 'further study' These met during school term time on a three year cycle of topics. New facilitators/conveners were also trained up in these cycles.

Alongside this would be three 'Recharge' weekends a year, to focus respectively on Bible (Lent?), evangelism (Pentecost?) and apologetics/society (Advent?).

The Bible stream would start with the whole Bible overview as a picture of soteriological reality from Creation to New Creation and how all the parts fit to this theme. It would then introduce all the books in logical groups: Pentateuch, History, etc.

The evangelism stream would start with the '7 basic questions' people have of our faith...and that most Christians would be hard pressed to answer  cogently, confidently and accurately.

To my mind these questions are:

-- Why are you a Christian?

-- Why do you believe in God?

-- Why is Jesus the only way to God/don't all religions teach the same thing?/that's your truth not mine/ I'm spiritual, not  religious.

-- Why do you 'attend' church (actually it is 'why are you a part of a church)?

-- Hasn't science disproved the Bible?

-- Why does a good God allow evil in the world (this is often given a very personal aspect)?

-- Why do you read the Bible?

The apologetic stream might start with a very ripe opportunity we have at the moment in Islam.

There are also 7 challenges Muslims typically bring to Christian faith. Working through these would be of value with other Docetic/Arian views and delve into some important theological matters.

These 7 are:

1. The Bible has been corrupted (the Quran is perfect).

2. The Trinity makes no sense (Allah is one not three).

3. Where did Jesus say 'I am God worship me'?

4. Why did Jesus pray to God if he is God?

5. How can God die (i.e., the crucifixion, which they don't accept)?

6. How can God punish one person for the sins of another (misreading the already confused penal substitution theory)?

7. If Jesus died for your sins, can't you sin all you want?

Both these lists would occupy a full day of interactive group sessions, as the first Recharge of a cycle, with groups trialing and discussing based on input segments. The only way to make the material one's own in skills acquisition: guided practice and not 'chalk and talk' sessions.

Along with these sessions I'd see the distribution of relevant published articles, or prepared for the session, as pre-readings, and 'tip-sheets' along with Bible studies for private study afterwards.

These Recharges would also follow a three-year cycle of themes, with actual content being continually updated, in line with the 'recharge' idea, giving opportunities at presentation and facilitation roles for people to develop capability.

All up, the vision we should have for the local church, the local 'gathering of holy ones', to use Paul's wording, is not a passivizing ceremonial 'worship' event weekly, but an active community engaged in learning, practicing and outreaching, with practical service for brethren in need and the local community.

Outreach would be real outreach: conversations in coffee shops, on the street, at work or school, none having to 'conclude' but always to 'plant a seed'. Some formal 'outreach' would also be beneficial in the many ways parishes might do this: community seminars, short topic-based 'courses', discussion and support groups for people with varying interests, etc.

A great example could be shown both at Moore and at St Andrew's Cathedral. St Andrew's has thousands of people walk by every day. It should get rid of the Muslims, Falun Gong, Mormons and JWs on its doorstep ( and maybe its own land) and have its own stall offering water or a small coffee, a sit down chat, Bibles in a number of languages, including Arabic (not Two Ways to Live, please) or just a brief street encounter using (provocative) handouts. The Bibles should have a short introduction as to what the Bible is/is about and a reading guide. All this would be low key, but not on the back foot. The current state of affairs is a real indictment of the Cathedral's surrender to evil in making way for the enemies of Christ.

College could do similarly in Newport, and on the [nearby] campus with 'walk-up' chats and simple tables where we have discussions with people. Muslims and Trotsyites do it, why don't we? Indeed these two groups offer us a great training opportunity: go and discuss with them: by first asking simple questions, then demanding questions, then critical questions.