Maintaining Christian Distinctiveness The missional challenge for Christian social action

For the ‘person in the street’, who has been the best witness to Christianity?

How about….?

Or even…

Lord Shaftesbury (1801 – 1885) Passionate faith The Great Reformer Practical Mission Political Activism The Great Reformer

John Grooms (1845 – 1919) Passionate faith A ‘hero of change’ Practical Mission Visionary Action A ‘hero of change’

160 years on… Keeping our Christian distinctiveness The missional challenge for Christian social action

Why do Christian community projects ‘lose’ their faith?

Faded Fearful Fossilised The project started with a desire to connect with people, but now we just meet their needs as best we can We’ve lost sight of why we started – the pressures of trying to keep going have been so great. We’ve had to follow funding so don’t do what we set out to do anymore We have to be very careful – it would not go down well with our funders if we thought we were too Christian Fearful People would stop coming if we were too open about our faith The vicar still chairs our committee but there is no real connection with the church Fossilised There is no involvement from the congregation – unless they don’t like any changes we make

Our context… Decline of Christian influence and the church’s role in society Mixed statutory sector messages about ‘faith’ and faith groups The ‘well worn path’ of Christian organisations / projects who have moved away from their faith roots A weak understanding of the nature of Christian mission

Christian social action The ‘mixed ingredients’ for Christian social action Church Church growth Buildings People ‘Deep’ commitment Mission theology Voluntary sector Government agendas Funding & monitoring Ideology ‘Good practice’ Christian social action

Faith Spirituality/ prayer/theology/ethos/leadership/vision Church Buildings People Faith Spirituality/ prayer/theology/ethos/leadership/vision Growth Mission ‘Deep’ commitment

A Christian community project Faith implicit Local council Regulators Good practice Love & acceptance Inclusive Service Faith explicit Spirituality/ prayer/theology/ethos/leadership/relationship with Church Quality of care Social justice Shared values Commitment to clients/users Professionalism Other charities Funders Social impact

A Christian community project Faith implicit Local council Regulators Good practice Love & acceptance Inclusive Service Quality of care Faith explicit Spirituality… Social justice Shared values Commitment to clients/users Professionalism Other charities Funders Social impact

A community project ?? Good practice Regulation Funding requirements Social impact Love & acceptance Good practice Inclusive Service Spirituality Faith explicit Good practice Regulation Funding requirements Quality of care Social justice professionalism Commitment to clients/users Shared values ?? Faith implicit

Faith Implicit Spirituality/ prayer/theology/ethos/leadership/vision Church Community project Buildings People Faith Implicit Spirituality/ prayer/theology/ethos/leadership/vision Faith explicit Spirituality /prayer/ theology/ethos/ leadership/vision/ relationship with Church Growth Mission ‘Deep’ commitment

Why faith is important Acknowledging our roots – where the project grew from Growing healthy congregations Keeping strong church links Maintaining our integrity and authenticity Being faithful to the Gospel Being honest about what has been transformative for us

Do our social action projects reflect Why faith is important Do our social action projects reflect what has been transformational for us?

Developing ‘Proper Confidence’ Remember the power of personal testimony Deepen your theology of social action and mission Clarify what you are trying to do Articulate & advocate your Christian ethos ‘It has to be more than words’: integrating faith in your day to day work Remember the importance of recruitment

Developing ‘Proper Confidence’ Remember the power of personal testimony What is the best thing the Church has given you? Deepen your theology of social action What activities or practices help deepen your and your team’s thinking about why you run the project? 3. Clarify what you are trying to do Set clear aims and goals and how you intend to achieve them

Developing ‘Proper Confidence’ 4. Articulate & advocate your Christian ethos Be clear about what you stand for and how to communicate that well ‘It has to be more than words’ Integrate faith in your day to day work 5. Remember the importance of recruitment A minefield! But it is still possible to employ Christian staff, or staff who are sympathetic to and supportive of your ethos

Developing ‘Proper Confidence’ A Christian community project ‘Above all things, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life’ Proverbs 4:23 Faith explicit Spirituality /prayer/ theology/ethos/ leadership/vision/ relationship with Church

“The commitment is not to a cause or to Our Christian Connection The missional challenge for Christian social action “The commitment is not to a cause or to a program: it is to a person. At the heart of mission there must always be the call to be committed to Jesus Christ in his community’ Lesslie Newbigin