One of the favourite parts of my job is meeting new people who come along to the church. Mostly we find that the people interested in what we do are people who have had a negative experience of church and have taken time out to reflect on what to do next.....over the last two weekends I've been getting to know a couple who are really unsure about church as they've had many an unhappy experience. I'll call them Harold and Madge for the purposes of confidentiality and they are truly great people. Harold would class himself as an atheist and Madge has grown up in a christian family attending church all her life. Despite their difference in belief they are very much in love and it's great to be around them.
They have been worried how churches would react to their relationship and therefore not attended. Isn't it awful that people would be worried about attending a church because of how they will be judged....when they heard about church.co.uk they decided to attend aware of our inclusive ethos. I think we sometimes underestimate how much it means to people when they are accepted for who they are. Harold in the two weeks he has attended 'head space' our evening service has become really encouraged by the idea of church. He likes the idea of a church community that is more concerned with supporting each other practically, rather than one that only teaches the bible. Our approach in head space is to reach out to all people and as a result we've developed a service that allows people time to reflect on their lives and how they can make more time for themselves and others.
I feel so encouraged that Harold, Madge and others have found a place where they can be comfortable with who they are....in society we are always conforming to demands but in church we should be able to come as we are and feel fine about that. This is called being 'inclusive' it's challenging because when people come as they are they smell, they swear, their drunk.....they cry. As a people are we willing to include people like this into our groups? Right now it's easier for me because it's my job to be inclusive. I hope that after the job is over i will continue to be inclusive and accepting of people. There has been discussion between me and my boss that after this year i will struggle to find another church. The struggle will exist because there are small number of churches in the country who are similar to Church.co.uk.....i hope this changes. If you want to read more about what inclusive church looks like then read "the intelligent church" by Steve Chalke. A great book which is truly inspiring for Christians and non-Christians alike.
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3 comments:
Why do you think there are "so few churches like church.co.uk" with the ethos you describe?
It feels like there may be a tendency for judgements to be passed all too quickly on non christians. As a consequence people prefer not to hear these judgements and stay away from church. Andrew, I am very much enjoying your dynamic approach to christianity. Perhaps you are paving the way for a new generation of people with faith??? I'd love to hear your views in this blog... x x x
I too agree with your views Andy and understand what 'curious perkins' is saying. All too often the church today is an alien environment for non christians and they are not confident that they will enter a non judgemental and relevant environment. I know a number of very committed Christians who remain silent about very personal issues for fear of rejection.
I seem to remember 'that hideous man' saying that he was a theology student. Do I detect that your questioning of the ethos of the institution that he holds dear has somewhat ruffled his feathers? Maybe I'm wrong but I would love to hear what his vision is for the church of the future.
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