"Real Life" on line

Some of Julian B.'s scripture slides

Ida Glaser on Gen 1- 11 (pdf file)

Ida Glaser "The dangerous triangle" (pdf file)

Friday 7th May 2004

"Real Life" has started - with a packed out main lecture hall! General Secretaries Andy Lines (Crosslinks) and John Sutton (SAMS) set the scene at a thought provoking opening session this evening.

After addressing the questions "Why this Conference?" and "Why are Crosslinks and SAMS in this together John Sutton talked about how the role of missionary societies is changing in the 21st century. His material was based on the work of Bryan Knell of Global Connections.

Missionary Societies used to be seen by their members almost like families. You joined them for life and were loyal. Often authoritarian leadership was expected and accepted. Societies were organisations with a reputation and important values. Money came in for the work of the society, not for specific people or projects.

In the 1980's  missionary societies began to gradually change to mission agencies. Orientation became much more task orientated. Christians joined because they saw an agency as being the best to help them accomplish a specific task. A call became much more a recognition of a fit between my gifts and abilities and a given task. An agency needs a proven management reputation, and money tends to come in for specific projects.

In the next 20 years we may see a further change - to "world consultancy". Larger churches are now wanting to take much more responsibility in seeing how their money is used - not just handing that responsibility over to another body. They may still want the services of a mission agency, but only to help them accomplish part of a chosen task. For example they may be prepared to use SAMS to do language training for a church member being sent abroad, and then want Crosslinks to help with the placement. Agencies will probably lose numbers of paying members and instead get more funding by charging for these services.

We need to ask which of these trends need to be welcomed and which resisted - and change the ways we operate appropriately.

Saturday 8th May 

After prayers and breakfast the first meetings of the five "Streams" took place. These were in a seminar format with opportunities for interaction.

Charlie Cleverley encouraged us to be lights to the UK and spread to Europe. "Teaching Britain to Clap" emphasised that we have good news to share. Ida Glaser ("Other Faiths") challenged our understanding of scripture - it can be a window or a mirror... and we can look at things from the wrong angle! "Mission in a time of Conflict" told us that we couldn't opt out of political decisions. Meanwhile Julian B was helping us to resist the pressures of the world by being deeply rooted in Jesus. These streams (workshops) continue for another 2 sessions.

Cell groups (well mixed groups of about 10 participants gave us another opportunity to get to know a few others and to reflect on what we'd learnt so far.

Finally for the morning, the arrival of Chris Wright from America on time and in one piece was a relief to the organisers. He led us in the first of his studies "On the Road" This one was based on the road to Emmaus. We learnt that our theology and practice of mission must be wholly Biblical, and that our handling of the Bible must be wholly "missional" Our mission must be as holistic as God's, our concern as wide as His.

More mundane matters were the subject of the Crosslinks AGM and extraordinary meeting, which saw amendments to the Constitution passed - mainly aimed at making the General Council smaller and more workable. The treasurer was able to report that the finances were in better shape than last year. The "streams" then continued and then the international meal saw some good food - and some interesting costumes! 

In the evening Chris Wright's Bible study continued and then the Mark Gillespie "Hub Club" opened... with some talented performances by people who will hopefully pay me to keep their names and photos off this page!

Sunday 9th May

The last of each of the "Stream" sessions was followed by a final cell group time over coffee, and then a communion service which included Chris Wright's closing talk. After lunch came some rapid packing and the goodbyes.