National Estate Churches Network
NECN supports people active in Christian ministry on social housing estates.
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A great day today with 30 or 40 estate church colleagues from Manchester at William Temple Church on Wythenshaw.
Thank you to Bishop Jill Duff and our own Andy Delmege for an inspiring afternoon . We were blessed by wisdom and encouragement.
A nourishing day full of poetry and Biblical images. Thanks to Stephen Edwards for organising and his work with the Group.
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, but expecting to get different results, then we, the church, need to give ourselves a health check in the area of training.
If you’re from a non-academic, working class or estates background and you actually get your calling recognised by the church, then often you end up forced into a training pattern that just isn’t for you.
During my years of struggle through theological training, I’ve learnt that God doesn’t make mistakes. He didn’t make a mistake when he called an unschooled ordinary man to be the foundation of his church and he doesn’t make mistakes when calling people into leadership today. I wonder could it be us making the mistake in how we are trying to train those that God is calling?
There has to be change if we’re are going to take seriously the stats of today’s church. 60% of people in the UK identify as working class and yet are so underrepresented in the church, where 81% of its committed members have degrees, when the national average in only 27%. We urgently need leaders from non-middle class, non-university educated backgrounds, who can share the good news of Jesus with those who are not yet part of a church, so that they can hear the gospel in their own language.
If we are to reach the forgotten places and the forgotten people, we need pioneers who think outside of the box. Those who are just wired to do things differently, including the way that they need to be trained. We can’t afford to lose those whom God is calling just because they don’t fit into our current training structures.
Things don’t have to be the same. We can teach and learn in different ways. We can evidence learning in different ways. So why aren’t we doing this?
We don’t have to follow the same pattern of training followed by deployment. We can deploy and train at the same time, even if it takes longer and is messier.
I hear people say things are changing. In fact, I’ve said it myself. But it isn’t changing quickly enough if we don’t want to lose a generation of leaders whom God is calling to the margins.
When I watch my gifted and called daughter anxiously staring at a blank screen in a state of panic – in the same way I did – trying to write a theological reflection, when she was created to discuss it and share her learning verbally; my heart breaks for her and those like her whom God is calling – and for us, the church, who desperately need them.
This Thursday 16th May 2019
William Temple Church, Wythenshawe M22 0BU
Keynote Speaker: Rt Rev’d Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster
With Canon Andy Delmege (National Estate Churches Network)
FREE Event though donations welcome on the day towards costs.
Visit https://mcrestates.weebly.com/events.html for more details and for parking/directions information.
There’s a very good article in today’s Church Times about estate ministry on Byker in Newcastle here A Gospel Big Enough for Byker – and really good to see the faithful and imaginative work of members of our Newcastle Group in the press.
Fantastic Opportunity!!
Calling all those working on estates!
We have a brilliant opportunity to give every year 6 the ‘it’s your move’ book, on every estate, as a gift to aid their transition to secondary school.
‘It’s your move’ is a book written by scripture union here is a little they have to say about it…
Whether you were a confident or a scared 11-year-old, chances are that you were at least a bit apprehensive about starting this new phase of your life.
Research conducted by Scripture Union confirmed that the big change from primary to secondary school can be really stressful, as children come to terms with being the small fish in a much bigger pond.
That’s why we developed It’s Your Move, a brilliant book designed to help primary schools as they prepare their top year pupils for their move to secondary school. It’s packed with wise advice and true stories of young people who have already taken that big step.
Now on its sixth edition since its publication in 2001, It’s Your Move has helped over a million children move on with confidence.
To benefit from this amazing one-off deal and get your free copies to give to your local schools. Ring 01908 856000 ask for the 2015 copies (as many as you can use) and use the following code ym18old
They come in packs of 10, and each has a small guide to how they may be used. You will need to pay postage. If you have other churches in your area perhaps you could order together to save on postage.
Academics, housing experts and theologians are to meet over an 18-month period to examine how the Church of England can build on its own work in housing and contribute to the national debate on policy.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community will explore a Christian perspective on housing policy with a particular focus on providing good homes and promoting thriving communities.
The Commission will be led by Charlie Arbuthnot, an expert in the financing of social housing, and the Bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin, an academic theologian who has been active in efforts to support residents following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Other members of the Commission include Rev Lynne Cullens, from the National Estate Churches Network, Sir Robert Devereux, former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol and Professor Christine Whitehead, Emeritus Professor of Housing Economics at the LSE.
The Commission has been set up following Archbishop Justin’s book Reimagining Britain: Foundations for Hope published last year in which he argued that the principal aim of housing should be the creation of community and that good housing is essential to equality and justice.
An independent report from the Centre for Theology and Community and the Church of England will be published at the launch today with seven case studies of church-linked housing projects in rural and urban areas and across different regions of England.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “Britain’s housing crisis is one of the major challenges facing this country – and it is hitting the poorest the hardest. While there is already significant work being done to find solutions, the Church has something unique to contribute.
“Up and down the country we are living out our faith in Jesus Christ by loving and serving those around us. Through food banks, night shelters and many other projects, the Church seeks to bind communities together with bonds of friendship, compassion and mutual support. This teaches us that any way forward must involve building communities, not just houses.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community will consider what else we could and should be doing, as a Church and as a nation. In doing so, I hope it might help reclaim the very purpose of housing – as the basis for community, and a foundation for human flourishing.”
The Bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin, said: “We hear regularly of the housing crisis in the UK. Many people cannot afford the rent on their homes, live in poor-quality housing or find themselves unable to stay in the communities to which they belong.
“Our hope is that by exploring a Christian vision of housing, home and community we can make a contribution to solving some of these long-standing issues that our society has struggled to resolve over many years.”
Charlie Arbuthnot, chair of the Commission, said: “We hope to bring a distinctive Christian contribution to the work already under way in this area, drawing on the insight the Church of England has through its presence in every community.
“As well as proposing action by the Church of England – at local, regional, and national level – the Commission will explore how, informed by the Christian faith, we can contribute to the national debate.
“We need to build good homes and supportive communities, with the provision of spaces for people to meet, share and celebrate together. We hope to support and inspire all sections of society including public, private and voluntary organisations that share this vision.”
Additional information:
The Archbishop of Canterbury will be visiting the Spencer estate in the west end of Northampton for the launch where he will host a live discussion on housing with the Revd Sue Faulkner, Vicar of St Mary Dallington and St James Northampton and residents.
The Commission will meet regularly to examine key issues related to housing, church and community and listen to people with direct experience of homelessness and insecure housing. The Commission will also receive evidence from churches and dioceses with experience of tackling housing issues.
Members of the Commission:
newsletter here from our Leeds Group:
https://mailchi.mp/df468e245a81/estates-network-531235
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I had an excellent day with colleagues from estate churches in Southwark last week with the brilliant title Sowing in Concrete.
We shared stories, resources that work in our churches and communities, pain and passion.
I am really pleased that this has formed into an ongoing Group that will serve and equip churches in South London. See the Local Groups Page for details of local estate groups. If you know of a Group that is not listed or would like to help form a Group in your area, please get in touch.
I was inspired to write a parable on the journey there:
The kingdom of God
is like the gardener
who sowed in concrete
what looks to be
the least promising
of all the soils
yet when the seed grows
it is the strongest
off all the plants
and becomes a tree
where all the people shelter.
Leading Your Church into Growth is an excellent course helping churches to be intentional in their mission and growth. We are holding one especially for estate churches at Swanwick from 5th – 7th June, 2019.
This is a great event. Join with people from estate churches from across the country. The Course is led by a team of women and men who are experienced estate church leaders.
Please book in here.
Contact us for more information
“Last year was fantastic, would highly recommend going” Nick Walsh
“Highly recommend this! Did it last year so good to be with people who get it.” Paul Savage
“Magic!” Jonathan Macy
