The Morgan-Gurrs

At the end of May we attended the Children Matter Forum: Leaders from organisations who work nationally with children getting together to discuss many things to do with children.

Ian White Spoke, using the theme of being “Exiles on Main Street”, starting by getting us to discuss “In your own experience, what has been changing in and around The Church to place it in exile” and “Is God putting us into exile, and if so, is He putting us there for a reason?”

Not everyone agreed that the church was in exile –  more that Church, having been firmly embedded in the local community is no longer embedded. So…. it was a lively discussion.

These thoughts formed the basis of the rest of the sessions.

Some of the Things I wrote down:

For the Jews, Exile became a place of renewal. It evoked (8th Century BC):
Brilliant Wisdom Literature
Renewed Faith
Closer Community
Commitment to Scripture

Q: What if The Church (Ie:Us) is in exile during all of our life times? How will that feel and what would it mean to our ministries?

Q: What hope of renewal (especially in our shared concerns) can we see, that is not just wishful thinking (or loud shouting!), but is truly re-thinking, re-imaging and re-describing a larger reality? (That one made me think!)

The Church of England Going for Growth document. One Quote from it:

1.9 If, instead of trying to teach good news to children (and young people), the Church tries to become good news, it will need such fresh eyes to see itself. Such a church would need the confidence to deal with questions rather than always having to find the answers. It would be prepared to surrender its life and lets its institutions be transformed. The sadness is that churches rarely have the confidence which enables them to face the questions theology may ask of them, especially in the devastating directness such questions may take on in the mouth of a child (or young person).

Churches lack the humility to face the truth about the quality of their life and worship and to set about addressing the needs which are then identified. A church which welcomes children (and young people), accepts their gifts and ministries, meets their needs, advocates justice, seeks new life, challenges evil with love and truth, and continues to learn the values of the Kingdom by living them, is a Church which is good news not only for its members but for the world.

There’s much more to post, but it’ll make this blog update far too long! So I’ll post some more of the nuggets and challenges from time to time in the future.