I have had the privilege of being at two conferences this week. The first was Birmingham Diocese’s annual get together for priests and ministers serving on outer estates. The second was the growing churches day. This blog will mainly reflect on the first one.

It is firstly absolutely wonderful to spend time with colleagues working in similar, yet different, contexts. Secondly, there is a delight in being able to take time out. Thirdly, for me to facilitate a small group on engaging with those who are seeking was a gracious gift.

Out of that group came two words (themes, perhaps): space and story, which we thought were important when seeking to make connections with those interested in the Christian faith (and perhaps those who are not). I am fascinated by the idea of story, but space was something of a surprise. As someone comfortable with church space, I have forgotten that for most people such space is alien. I can only imagine such feeling as akin to my first encounter with the Socialist Workers Party, whilst I was at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. They were convening a meeting of those who were against the first Gulf War. I went there hesitantly, even then Christians were regarded as sexist homophobes. I was also convenor of a SPUC student group, so was about as welcome as a Man Utd fan on the kop. However, after a while, they and I became people committed to the same cause. In some corner of the universe, there is a picture of me with permed hair carrying a SWP banner protesting against the Gulf War in London (difficult to believe that one). I imagine for most people coming into church, how they would feel would be something like those first moments at that meeting.

Space those is more than physical, and I will try to think more about how we create space in order to communicate over the next few weeks; trying not to be too busy during Lent 🙂

Story is though some thing I am passionate about. In an age of biblical illiteracy, we need to know how to communicate the story of Jesus articulately and with confidence. I will be endeavouring in the near future to spend some time discussing what would be the essential contours necessary to make the story discernibly Christian.