A summary and highlights from January's invitational briefing, sharing the state of play for Resource Churches in the Church of England, providing insight and gaining valuable input from a number of practitioners and leaders across the nation.
‘This is an opportunity we take to share the state of play, and to give focused input into this particular calling in the Church. Leading a Resource Church gives the opportunity to revitalise other churches – it’s a growing role in the Church, and we really want to add value to you in this meeting with input from a number of practitioners. We’re truly grateful for you and the part you’re playing in our Church.’
Ric Thorpe, Bishop of Islington
A sincere thank you to all who contributed throughout the day, and to Ali Herbert, Gas Street Church, Birmingham, for hosting alongside Bishop Ric. Here follows a summary of the day, links to slides that were shared, and invitations to Resource Leader events in the coming years.
Matthew Porter, Bishop of Bolton, shares a reflection on his favourite church in the New Testament, the church in Antioch, and its inspirational leader, Barnabas. We can learn a lot from the generous, strategic manner in which Barnabas led Antioch from a growing church into a resourcing church.
Philip James, Head of Diocesan Support Team, National Church Institutions, gives an overview of the current state of church planting across the Church of England, noting the encouraging growth of Resource Churches, and the challenges encountered.
Hosted by Ben Doolan, St Thomas’ Newcastle, this session focuses on the theme of multiplication, drawing on the experiences and insights of practitioners and church planters from across the nation.
Video summary:
Archie Coates, Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) – 01:32-10:10
Paul Pavlou, St Mary Magdalene with Risen Christ – 10:10-17:00 (Download Paul’s notes on grafting)
Paul Mathole, Holy Trinity Platt & Sam Foulds, Trinity Community Church – 17:00-21:40
Richard Springer, Choir Church – 21:40-27:30
This session, hosted by Jon Carter, King’s Cross Church (KXC), explores what it takes to grow missional disciples. Jon is joined by Damilola Makinde, Formation Pastor at KXC, who shares a powerful reflection on Judges, calling on us all to ‘Incline our ear to the voice of the Lord’. Jon is then joined by Matthew Frost, founder of WeAreCompany, for an in-depth discussion on what it takes to form intentional disciples in our churches. Matthew outlines three questions he believes all churches should consider:
Video summary:
Damilola Makinde, KXC – 02:37-11:38
Matthew Frost – 12:27-27:12
Ric Thorpe, Bishop of Islington, leads the final session of the day, introducing the preliminary findings of a new piece of research, Voice of the Resource Church Leader. Ros Hoare, Relationship Manager at CCX, unpacks the key themes beginning to emerge from the research:
Ric is joined by a panel of national leaders – Paul Williams, Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham; Lizzy Woolf, St George’s Leeds; Dr Kate Middleton, Mind & Soul Foundation; and Matthew Porter, Bishop of Bolton – to reflect on the research’s emerging themes in more depth. The discussion notes that the challenges can and should be seen as opportunities on offer. In response to aspects of wellbeing shared in the research findings, Dr Kate Middleton offers points of reflection for all Resource Church leaders to consider:
For more on these topics, Dr Middleton recommended the following resources:
Video summary:
Ros Hoare – 01:18-11:24
Panel discussion – 12:19-44:10
Lee Abbey: ‘Planters and Pioneers Retreat’ 30 Sept – 4th Oct 2024
We have been hearing recently that some of you working your ministry out on the church planting and pioneering frontline would welcome the opportunity to press the ‘pause button’ and spend time in the company of others, who really understand your role as a resource church leader and your call to planting and pioneering. This retreat will offer a place primarily of great conversation, mutual support, encouragement and sharing of ideas. A place of relaxation and deep refreshment – spiritual, mental and physical. Lee Abbey is a spiritually ‘thin place’ of stunning natural beauty, which provides the perfect location for meeting with God and meeting with others.
We are keen to prioritise resource church leaders and any of your church planters (lay or ordained). There will be specific opportunity for cohorts of Resource Church leaders to meet, to share out of your own experience. I have invited John McGinley to host these sessions, from his experience in leading Holy Trinity Leicester.
This is a new venture for CCX and we wanted you to be among the first to hear. All the details are now on the Lee Abbey website and bookings have just opened.
Please note that whilst places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, we want to give confidence that you will be among peers and friends, and so we have reserved 50 places for you up until end of February. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. Please do share with other planters, pioneers and resource church leaders known to you as we will have different cohorts of people during our time together according to the different planting work they are doing.
To book:
1. Complete the online form on the Lee Abbey website, using this link Planters and Pioneer Retreat, 30th Sept – 4th Oct.
2. Include the reference CCX/Myriad in the comments box.
3. Or call the Lee Abbey Bookings Team on 01598 752621 to book and reserve a place using the CCX/Myriad reference.
The X Collective
This is a learning community for Resource Church leadership teams to come and explore how to release movement and disciple making in our churches. Engaging with input from leading practitioners around the world including Josh Howard who spoke at Multiply 2023 we will wrestle with how to apply this in our context. Starting in Autumn 2024. If you’re interested please send an email to john.mcginley@ccx.org.uk requesting more information.
