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Barnes in Commonthe magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
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The CTiB Annual Forum 2006The members of the Executive and some parishioners from all the Churches in Barnes joined together at St Michael & All Angels on the 21st November. We heard a report from Father Logan (retiring Chairman) on the events of the past year, took note of the sound financial position in the Treasurer's report and elected officers for the coming year before the main item on the agenda - a discussion entitled CTiB - What Next? led by John Richardson, Ecumenical Officer for Churches Together in South London (CTSL). The Executive had already been supported by John Richardson at their recent meeting from which had come three key ideas for broadening the involvement of CTiB in the lives of the Churches and the wider Community. John spoke very positively about the wide range of activities in which CTiB engages each year and showed where these chimed with the list of possibilities for action outlined by Jenny Carpenter (Ecumenical Officer for England North) in her book Together Locally. He also pointed out that a group can't do everything and so must choose what seems best for the needs and interests of the local community. Following his thoughtful introduction in which he drew on his wide experience, three speakers briefly outlined the Executive's proposed initiatives. First the Revd Roger Hutchings of the Methodist Church addressed the question 'How can we share our Christian faith with the wider community?' He stressed how difficult people find it to talk about their faith even though it is our responsibility to do so. Many just don't know how. So it was agreed that together we should look at the Pastoral Aid Society 6 session course 'Lost for Words' which has 3 versions (Adults, Youth and Children) and it was hoped that from this we could attempt to find a common mind as to how we 'go about sharing our faith'. Then Katherine Phillips of St Osmund's spoke on the theme of 'How we can serve the local people together?' with particular reference to the possibility of giving training to those wanting to be better able to offer support to bereaved and depressed people in our midst. It was agreed that this plan would be followed up first through discussion with those in the Churches already experienced in this area to agree a way forward. Finally, Christine Ljunghammar of St Mary's focused on how we might join in the national commemoration next year of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery. She described some of the ideas she had gained through participating in a recent CTSL event and it was agreed not only to take this as the subject for Lent Groups in 07 but also to gather a group of interested people to see what else could be done to highlight the history together with the continuing exploitation of and divisions between peoples. It was also felt that there might be opportunities for collaboration with the local schools. The discussion was lively and all were agreed on the importance of involving a greater number of local people, from the Churches and beyond, in the interesting events which we hope will follow from this meeting. Before closing the meeting with prayer, the new Chairman - The Revd Paul Holland - thanked Father Logan for his work as Chairman over the past two years and also John Richardson, the speakers and all those attending for their contribution to moving forward the aims of Churches Together in Barnes in the coming year. It is hoped that many in the six Churches in Barnes will want to participate in one or more of the new initiatives. Before firm information can be provided we need people to discuss and agree the plans for moving forward. What do you think? If you would like to contribute, please talk to your Minister or to any of the lay members of the Executive. CTiB Executive for 2006-2007 Baptist Church: The Rev Graham Pulham (rep on FiSH
Exec), Susan Broadley, Jane Thomas |
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