THE E UROP E AN A NGLICAN T H E W AY A H E AD S T RA te GY IN P RAC T IC E O N T H E F RON T L IN E M IGRAN T M INI st RY C HALL E NG E A T W ORK AND P LAY S U mme R Y OU T H M INI st RY F RI E ND S C E L E BRA T ION W E LCO M ING N ew F AC es N ew D E L E GA tes E L E C te D G E N E RAL AND D IOC es AN S YNOD S europe.anglican.org No.68 WINTER 2015 2 DIOCESE STRATEGIC PLAN TAKES WINGS THE E UROP E AN OOKING TO A ew A NGLICA N L N AND EXCITING FUTURE – The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe The Rt Rev Robert Innes Bishop in Europe’s Office TURNING WORDS 47, rue Capitaine Crespel - boite 49, 1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 213 7480 Email: INTO ACTIONS [email protected] The Suffragan Bishop in Europe The Rt Rev David Hamid Postal address: Diocesan Office Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1160 Email: [email protected] “When the Lord walked this earth he didn’t issue a strategy document. He The Diocesan Office taught. He healed. He loved.” Comment in Bishop’s Council discussion, 2015. 14 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3QZ Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1155 For the past year Synods and groups across • Striving for the creation of a just society Fax: +44 (0) 207 898 1166 Europe have been presented with a series of and a sustainable environment Email: statements and suggestions about what our • Working for reconciliation [email protected] churches are here for, how well we do, what • With proper resources (Plans have to be Diocesan Secretary we should be doing and how we can do achievable and funded. They also involve Mr Adrian Mumford more in the future. using people to their best advantage and Bishop Robert has visited many of these taking good care of them) Appointments Secretary groups and explained the background to the At a national Church of England level Miss Catherine Jackson plan, “Walking Together in Faith” which the Archbishops and General Synod Finance Secretary was first discussed at Diocesan Synod in have endorsed a plan to make Church Mr Nick Wraight Cologne in June. The challenge now is to Commissioners funding available for Diocesan Website convert the carefully crafted words into any diocese that has a scheme that fulfils www.europe.anglican.org practical ambitions and plans for action. the strict criteria for grants. Because our Editor and Diocesan The Bishop has asked those who have diocese may submit a strategy plan by late Communications Officer seen the strategy to discuss it in small groups Spring of 2016, some weeks before the The Rev Paul Needle and suggest a series of practical priorities. Diocesan Synod meets, it has been agreed Postal address: Diocesan Office “This focusses the mind wonderfully” he that a small group will work on a series of Email: says “and I have been amazed at the variety ideas which emerged from the October [email protected] of good ideas that come out of different Bishop’s Council meeting to keep up the Tel: +44 (0)7712 463806 audiences across the diocese.” momentum. Friends of the Diocese The five priorities are to build up a Some of the topics suggested which may Secretary: Mrs Jeanne French common purpose by:- (or may not) form part of a bid for funding Email: • Building up the Body of Christ and reflect a diocese which is looking to the [email protected] fostering growth future to expand on our growth in recent Design • Sharing with other churches and agencies years. We share the vision with you as a Adept Design, Norwich in the evangelisation of Europe flavour of our future faith and hope. Printer Colchester Print Group, Attleborough Distribution CoDEStorm plc Front cover picture: Balloons rise over Chantilly in France as Christians celebrate 150 year of church life. In music, words and a sequence of dramatic sketches called ‘Snapshots in time’ the service offered thanks to God for the past and prayed again for His guidance and blessing for the future. Bishop’s Council in London, October 2015 DISCIPLESHIP, YOUTH WORK AND 3 CHURCH GROWTH OUR PRIORITIES DISCIPLesHIP TRAINING Effective ministry needs more than trained clergy and Readers. There are great resources available, such as the Pilgrim Course, which is being widely used across the Church of England and beyond, which can build the knowledge and spiritual lives of Christians to equip them for collaborative ministry in their There is a pool of experienced clergy who local churches and beyond. Check out could help churches in difficulties the promotional video produced by St Andrew’s, Moscow for their Pilgrim course INteRIM MINIstRY www.moscowanglican.org/pilgrim Some churches suffer from long interregnums when growth and mission is tough. Other congregations find it hard to prepare to advertise for a new priest to lead them. Occasionally churches look in on themselves and need a skilled and experienced person to help them get back on their feet. Interim Ministry MIGRANT MINIstRY CHURCH PLANTING is being considered in the Diocese to put a temporary priest into a church for CHALLENGE Although like the Co-op - “We have between six and twelve months to turn branches everywhere” - there are still them round. This is a ministry which Although the current migrant cities and towns where we could start is already proving successful in some crisis across Europe may be seen as new congregations because there are English dioceses a temporary and, hopefully, short English speaking people who would term phenomena our churches with value our work and worship. This would BetteR SHARING OF their roots in countries experiencing also join up some of the gaps on the map an influx of people passing through between our existing locations. SKILLS AND ResOURCes or wanting to settle have a unique network for pastoral care, practical Dioceses in England can arrange training help and gathering information. As courses and be on hand to visit with Bishop David said in his sermon to advice on worship, conflict resolution, children’s work and a range of issues. In The Friends of the Diocese (see page Europe a one day training seminar can 7) we all have the experience of being only cover a small area. There is a need for migrant people. There are short and resources to be shared effectively (perhaps longer term challenges here. as safeguarding training is being tackled – see page 10) and online advice and training to be developed. Church planting - God gives the growth and increase YOUTH MINIstRY WHAT NEX T? Most English dioceses have a Youth The strategy has been described as Officer, employed or voluntary who a “living document” which will coordinates, advises and trains people in continue to develop as our mission the parishes in their local situations. The and ministry develops. These are just vast scale of the Diocese in Europe and a few of the areas of concern for the our limited resources and finances means future. If you have comments and that at present we do not have anyone practical ideas please send them to us to cover this role. We need to share so that we can report feedback in our experience and encourage churches to The Anglican congregation in Torino (Italy) next edition. Email the editor at develop youth work where it is needed. began as a church plant from Padova [email protected] 4 BASKING IN THE GLOW OF PRAYER AND LOVE TAstING THE TAIZÉ EXPERIENCE Work with young people forms an important part of the detailed priorities in the Diocesan Strategic plan discussed by Bishop’s Council in October. Here Archdeacon Geoff Johnston reports on a faith building visit to Taizé in Central France. On the Church sanctuary Our tents opposite page is a youth project in a different style involving youngsters from churches around the Diocese. Early in August a small group from our Diocese went on pilgrimage to Taizé. They were among over 6000 mainly younger people who arrived in the Burgundy village to share in a week of prayer, bible study, shared conversations and spiritual Pilgrims queuing for lunch nourishment. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of pilgrims, they benefited by eating the Taizé community by Br Roger and worshipping closely together, and also the 10th anniversary of his sharing in community for the week death at the hands of a mentally ill and discovering true koinonia. She woman during evening prayer. writes; “It was truly a pilgrimage in One of the participants wrote, every sense of the term. Our time “My pilgrimage to Taizé was a together was certainly not about personally and spiritually enriching sightseeing, eating, drinking, shopping time. I loved how the daily routine or even having a nice time together was rooted in regular communal as a group. Taizé is perhaps one of prayer, and in the evenings it seems the few places in the world where the like the prayer went on for as long as Incarnation becomes a tangible reality there were people in the church (the for all who acknowledge themselves as longest I stayed was until 12:30am, God’s children far beyond their own and I was not the last to leave!). We denomination. As brother Roger used had a daily bible teaching, followed to say ‘The resurrection happens every by discussion in our small groups.