Scottish Network Churches 2010 Conference

Each year at this time the Network conference comes around and each year I have mixed feelings about the Network and the conference.http://www.networkonline.org.uk/events/events.php
The network is my family and you know what families are like .Sometimes they bring  joy and other times you dread the idea of seeing them or spending time with them.So as the conference approach’s it feels like some family event that I must  attend out of some kind of family loyalty thing that exist’s in an unspoken form.These events tend to be weddings, funerals, birthdays or some other function and they tend to be the only time you see most of your “family”.

Now and then I see or speak to a few others from the network and try to maintain some sort of relationship with them.But I do question why?Why do I need this relationship ?

And that’s where I start to remember all those things that we have been through together over the years the good the bad and the ugly.I remember that I played a part in the formation of the network that we in Bridgeton have had a hand in shaping the way the network thinks and what it thinks.I remember the mistakes I have made in my relationships with some people in the network and the mistakes they have made in dealing with some situations and then its clear to me that this is my family and I love them even if sometimes they get on my nerves.I feel sure they love me and I know I get on their nerves.

So I will attend the conference and I will leave,reminded that its good to be part of a family where you can find grace .I will leave reminded that it’s a good thing to talk to your old and young relatives to kiss the old unties and listen to the old uncles stories of yesterday and I will thank god for family .

Inner city church

Talking with other inner city church leaders today I was reminded of just how difficult it can be to plant/lead a church in our inner cities,the biggest hurdle seems to be how to disciple people and alongside that how to raise up indigenous leaders.My first thought as I listened today were that I was sitting at the table and in some ways I am living proof that it can be done my second thought was that this is exactly the model Jesus demonstrated to us so why is it so difficult?

I think that for some of the guys the issue is maybe what they are trying to disciple people out of and into .Often we make the mistake of thinking we just need to tell people that Jesus said it so thats good enough but for me it goes much deeper than that.People dont live in a vacuum they are disciples of a certain ways of thinking and living as they grow up.This is done by there families sometimes for good but sometimes in a damaging way,then we have our peers and society as a whole giving us messages and showing a way to live that is very often damaging to our being.All of these things have to be worked out on our journey and new stuff put in.Stuff that tells about our value to God stuff  that tells us of our dreams and vision stuff that replaces forgiveness with vengeance and puts love over fear.For all of this we need patience.

I believe to make any progress leaders need a change fo mind to.A change that moves us from some sort of short-term gain to a long-term view that Jesus took when he said I am with you always a commitment for life .We are not building a business or an institution but a living body where all parts are valued not just those we think can do good work for the church.This has led to burn out for far to many of our people and its time for a change of mind from those of us in any sort of responsible role in the church to speak up and say so.

“Down to earth God – how to reach the marginalized in our cities”

As some of you may know our church is part of http://www.networkonline.org.uk/ group of churchs.They have asked me to write a paper (can you believe it) on the subject of “Down to earth God – how to reach the marginalized in our cities”That they hope will facilitate debate.

My first thoughts were ok let’s go for it ,then I remembered trying to do some work on a micro finance course I took a while back and how difficult I found that.Then my thoughts turned to how much I actually know about the subject matter and even if I would think in those terms.I am not academic and therefore this format makes me uncomfortable ,so maybe I will find another way to approach the subject.I googled marginalized in our cities and this was the first image that came up.

Richard Mayabi who was a slum pastor in Kibera, Nairobi

Today we had Richard Mayabi from Kenya with us.He came to us along with Paul Ede who has visited his church in Nairobi and has been studying with him at ICC.
It was a great blessing to have him preach and to hear his passion for God,yes he comes from a different world but I felt challenged by his words.He reminded us of the power of Gods word to change things ,the power we have to speak that word not only to ourselves but to others.
I believe we have much to learn from our brothers and sister in Africa I think they can help us to believe again that with God all things are possible.So a big thank you to Richard and you never know I may take him up on his invitation to visit Nairobi next year along with Paul and a few others.

Church in Scotland

As we see the the slow lingering death of Christendom in Scotland what will we see take its place.?How will our nation be effected by this?and will it be a good thing for the church?

I guess Christendom was on its last legs as I entered this world 45 years ago what we have now is that slow lingering death brought about by the use of modern medicine .Drugs to kill the pain and life support machines to keep it going .But nothing can stave of the inevitable.Christendom has tried in vain to keep any hold it has on our society for years now .From trying to be trendy and hip with the young team .To getting all righteous about the evils of this world .The charismatics gave us Godly entertainment while to proddies just said yes to everything .The RC church stuck to its guns on most things like the fundamentals eg abortion ,marriage.And nobody but nobody could prevent the death that will surely come.

Sometimes we have to admit that death has won and rejoice and give thanks for what was good.What was good about Christendom in Scotland was the reform to our society that we gained from it .Reform to the way we treated the poor the reform that set free the slaves not only literal but the slaves in the mines and mills.Reform that demanded care or those in most need which led to a social care system and health care system.I know that not all of these things came about directly because of Christendom but it does take some credit.Christendom sent out mission people all over the world with the good news but on that one we have to take the good with the bad.

So where do we go now?I believe its a chance for new wine skins and when I say new I mean new .Not refurbished wine skins but brand new ones.Church can once again become church .A body a community that puts Jesus at its centre and mission as its goal.Church where the value of “one another” replaces the value of me.A community of people able to be honest about there victories as well as there defeats.A community that could not care less about church growth a community that is passionate about healing and the poor.A place where those crazy dreams and visions are welcomed and a community where power is exposed for what it is.

This is a place that will take great courage to be part of it.It s shape will be unknown its ways will be fluid and its people will need to be brave.This is the church the community of the post-modern world and its coming to Scotland like it or not.Gods new thing will I believe shock those of us familiar with the old but excite those who have no knowledge of it.And for me that’s the generation that is now coming through.I don’t mourn the passing of Christendom I rejoice in it.Being in bed with the enemy made us compromise to much lets stay free from that and see what God can do.This new community must have at its core the kingdom of god no other way will work for us.The modern world was not fluid enough for the kingdom it struggled with the great generosity that the kingdom demands.I believe the post-modern emergent world is much better placed to see what God has in store for us and to be willing to take the risks needed to make it happen.

Scottish Network Churches Conference

This years Scottish Network Churches Conference will take place on the 27th & 28th of March in Bishopobriggs community church.This years main speaker will be Wes Sutton .Wes is a worship leader as well as leading Church.co.uk which is part of Steve Chalkes Oasis more info here http://www.oasisuk.org/article.aspx?menuid=10450

As well as Wes there will also be input from some of the Network leaders.You can get info from the Network office network@bishopcc.org.uk

The great commision

This weekend our small part of the church in Glasgow will commission/pray for the Urban expression team who are living and working in Possillpark Glasgow.Paul & Esther Ede head the team and there are 3 other couples who have all no moved in to the area.I met Paul and Esther and a Network conference and I felt like God put something in my heart for them.Although I had always had connections with Possil.

So this week the whole team will be with us and we will ask Gods blessing on them as they move into mission ,what a privilegefor us .

Working class church

I have posted on this topic on another Blog but I don’t think I have mentioned it hear.I read these facts and it reminded me of why I feel so passionate about urban church’s working together.
1. What is the largest single section of the British population?

Answer 1. What is traditionally known as “the working class”: 65%

2. Which section of Britain’s population is least represented in the Church?

Answer2. The working class: less than 1%
Source Urban harvest Roy Joslin.

So it really is time to try and put things right.But what can I do ?Well I can talk and share and help to facilitate a place for those in urban church’s find a safe place to share there troubles.What we need to see are some strong working class people speak up and call the church to see the mission field before there eyes.
All of this must be done in love and humility but we must try and put our shoulders to the wheel.I would love to see some working class people in Glasgow rise up and take some ownership of the church’s vision for the city because the figures above are to sad for words.

Thank you

I don’t often mention my church here (Bridgeton community church) but after the last few weeks I wanted to say a big Thank You to everybody in the church and especially to the leadership team.
Its a great pleasure to be part of such a church a safe place a warm place and above all a place where we can find God together.Over the last few weeks we have been working our way through advent in no particular order and I found myself blessed by the faith of the people around me encouraged by there vision and uplifted by there response to what God had to say.It so good to be in such a warm loving place and I know that God has not finished with us yet, and as we thought about the hope of Christmas this morning we could all hear the quite whisper of God telling us again that with him all things are possible.

Urban church forum.

I spoke about this in an earlier post.

It is my desire to try and have a forum for small urban church’s that are struggling to keep going.Glasgow like many of our cities has largely been abandoned and we are having to deal with the fallout of that.
What i would like to do is to create a forum where those church’s can come together in a safe place and talk through the issues that they face and to try and find better ways of partnering with bigger suburban church’s.This is already being done in Manchester http://www.urbanpresence.org.uk/ and my hope is we can do something along the same lines for Glasgow and other cities.If you are interested or know a church that might be get in touch and I will keep you posted with the plans.