Monthly Message (June 2008) - Church in its Local Community

Dear Friends,

“Vital role of churches under threat!”
. “Churches in peril as one in five faces being lost.”
“Majestic but crumbling.”

Dear Friends,

I was given a bundle of newspaper clippings recently – and these were the headlines (above).

Launching a ‘Save our Churches’ campaign for the preservation of historic church buildings the newspaper offered some interesting arguments. First, there were financial considerations, recognizing that care and repair costs had become overwhelming for often small congregations, the campaign is looking for Government, local and national, to allocate funds. Then, knowing that money is not spent unless we can see our money’s worth ….. the question of ‘what for?’ arose.

One writer said, “ The key to saving our church buildings is to adapt them to wider community use, ……. This would be perfectly in keeping with their function in bygone ages.” While another wrote, “(churches) can be an agent for social change and a place for people to meet. It is crucial that we keep them and help prevent society from fracturing even further.”

These comments that reminded me of a holiday in Italy several years ago. Visiting the Cathedral in Salerno we found that the forecourt of the church had, for generations, served as the market place and one of the pillars was marked with the cloth seller’s measure. A picture of the church functioning at the centre of community life, the meeting place where society was debated, shaped and cemented….. and the things of everyday life were bought and sold and livelihoods were made. The church being the place where the basics of life were sorted out!

Opening the church up to the whole community …. and being places that make a positive difference, bringing people together, being creative for the wellbeing and spirit of people and society. It is good to hear these ideas being rediscovered and churches being reconsidered for their social benefit. Maybe the tide is turning …. And rather than being shy about one’s belonging to a local church …. It is time to stand up and be counted for the good that a Christian community, a church, can be in its neighbourhood.

Over the last few years, as our building project Henleaze@Heart has progressed, we have been thinking more and more about the role and purpose of the church in its local community. And far from the quiet private members club that it can easily fall into being …. we recognize that the Church is for everyone and needs to be reaching out to build up the life of the local community. Being a place where people meet their neighbours … where there is opportunity to talk and find the  acts of friendship and kindness that make all the difference …. Where people can be encouraged to make a difference to the world in which they live….. these are all vital roles to play for the strengthening and wellbeing of community. As a Church our core message is about building a world where people experience good relationships and justice and peace can flourish. By being firmly planted in and open to our local community we play our part in both God’s Kingdom and the world.

Henleaze@Heart is progressing well! Over the summer there will be lots of fundraising events … many you’ll find advertised in this month’s Newsletter …. great fun is in store!

Let’s remember too the ways in which all of these efforts help us to meet our neighbours, make new friends, welcome people, and make way for the Church to be a lively contributor to our local community.

Yours,

Tracey.