Church21 Conference

11-13th September 2009, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra.

Ian Coffey joins us again as the keynote speaker with the theme is “Vision: What It Is, How To Get It, Share It And Implement It.“ The following topics will be addressed:

There will be opportunity to hear about initiatives that have been effective in helping ordinary parishes develop in ministry, and a video snapshot of some of the creative ways of involving local parishes in ministry appropriate to the 21st century.

CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

These will run on Saturday 12 September from 3:30 – 5:30pm. Each workshop will last about 50 minutes and run twice.
Delegates will choose two of the following and parishes might like to ensure that their team members cover as wide a range as possible.

1. A Church for All Ages?
Is it really possible to build a church where people of all ages can worship and grow together? David Brown and others from the Church of Ireland Youth Department share their experience.

2. Doing Church Differently
For those who have grown up with church it may work fine. But how do we engage with those who don’t easily fit into traditional structures? Captain Neville Barnes works with the Church Army and is part of a church that has moved beyond the conventional.

3. Growing Closer: Growing Deeper
How can we help develop for ourselves and others around us a faith relevant to the 21st
century? Hosted by Helen and Ken Clarke.

4. Managing Change
Knowing what to do is half the battle. Doing it can sometimes be the more difficult half. Ed Vaughan, Rector of Crinken and Director of the Arrow Leadership Programme, will help us start out on the road to change.

5. Team Talk
Solo leadership is a recipe for frustration and unfulfilled potential in a parish. But what would good team leadership in our parish look like? Bishop Ken Good will guide our thinking.

6. Strategic Outreach
Churches that just wait for new people to turn up are likely to be in decline. But how do we engage proactively with our local communities? Rev. Kevin Graham, rector of Carrowdore and Millisle, draws some wisdom from his parish’s experience of planning a period of focused
outreach.

7. Small is Beautiful?
The challenges of building a common vision across a group of small parishes and then working together to make it happen are many. Dean Sue Patterson, Dean of Kilalla, Co. Mayo, reflects on the experience.

Participant Comments

Here are some comments made by participants at the recent Church21 Conference.

I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ for the weekend you put together. It was engaging, encouraging, envisioning and a lot more besides.

The whole atmosphere was wonderful, we were thoroughly spoilt, and it was very inspiring, We all went home full of enthusiasm and now we have to dissect and work out where we go from here.

It was a fantastic conference, superbly prepared
and lovingly delivered. Thank you all very much indeed for giving so much.

The parish that I am facilitating this time around went away talking about how they could bring home to the rest of the parish “ the buzz” they encountered at the weekend!

Thank you for the vision and courage of Church21