All you wanted to know about schools but were afraid to ask

A Free Webinar, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER, 7 - 8.30 P.M.

Our member churches have told us that they would like to know more about what goes on in schools today and that building relationships with local schools is important to them.

“All you wanted to know about schools but were afraid to ask” is a free webinar that aims to equip you with an understanding of what goes on in schools, and to help you think about how you might get to know the schools in your community. It’s for anyone who wants to know more about schools.

Bev Smith, our speaker, is Schools Content Manager for Youth for Christ, and has many years of experience as a teacher, and in roles that build relationships between churches and schools.

Please circulate the details of the webinar to your churches and encourage your members to join us.

Register HERE.

The flyer is available to download HERE.

The Ideas-informed Society: Why we need it and how to make it happen

A new book edited by the Chair of the Free Church Education Committee, Professor Graham Handscomb, and with chapters by our Moderator, Helen Cameron, and Sir Les Ebdon, a member of the Free Church Education Committee.

With a foreword by Sir Anthony Seldon, The Ideas-Informed Society explores how, in order to thrive, society needs citizens who actively engage in new ideas, particularly as Western societies find themselves in the midst of environmental, social and political crises in a volatile world.

 You can read more about The Ideas-Informed Society Here.

All you wanted to know about schools but were afraid to ask…

Webinar on 14 November, 7- 8.30 p.m.

Things move fast in education and there are always new challenges. If your church wants to build a relationship with your local school, you need to understand what schools are like now and where the opportunities are.

Bev Smith from Youth for Christ, and Sarah Lane Cawte, FCG Education Officer, will talk about schools – how they operate, what they teach, the lives and needs of students, and more – so that you can start to think about ways in which you can support the schools in your area.

The webinar is free to join, and you can register here.

The webinar flyer is available to download here.

SUPPORTING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS

Does your church host school visits, or would you like to think about ways in which you could invite schools to your building?

Would you consider talking about your Christian faith in an RE lesson, either in school, or through a video link? These are practical ways in which Free Church people can help children and young people to understand what it is to be a Christian and, in particular, what it means to be a Free Church Christian.

A new initiative – RegionalREHubs – has been set up to support schools, teachers and others involved in delivering Religious Education as part of the school curriculum, and one of its first activities is to equip speakers and those who host visits with the necessarily knowledge and insight to do so in a way that is compatible with the needs of schools.

The RegionalREHubs initiative is supported by a range of organisations, including the Religious Education Council, of which the Free Churches Group is a member – and has been for nearly 50 years! A series of free online training events has been launched, and anyone who is interested is invited to register for one of these dates:

2022

Monday 12 December 9:30-11am

2023

Tuesday 24 January 4-5:30pm

Monday 20 February 6-7:30pm

Thursday 23 March 2-3:30pm

Tuesday 18 April 9:30-11am

Wednesday 17 May 11-12:30pm

Tuesday 20 June 10-11:30am

To book a date, email: marketing@regionalrehubs.co.uk

Attending one of these training sessions offers participants the opportunity to sign up to an agreed set of principles for working with schools, and to gain a RegionalREHubs kitemark, either for individuals as speakers, or for church buildings where tours are offered. A national register will be developed, and any enquiries that come through the Regional Hubs will be passed to an appropriate person or an appropriate church. Do consider joining a training session and ensuring that Free Church voices are heard!

You can find more information here.

Photo by Christi Marcheschi on Unsplash

Nourishing Roots - with Ruth Perrin, 31st Jan 2023, 10:00-16:00

Location: St Antony's Priory 74 Claypath Durham, DH1 1QT

Date: 31st Jan 2023, 10:00 - 16:00

Register your place HERE.

A day of reflection and spiritual refreshment for Free Church chaplains within the quiet and peaceful surrounds of St Antony's Priory, Durham. This day is part of our tri-annual 'Nourishing Roots' sessions where we seek to help refresh our spirits and have a time of retreat away from our busy ministries.

Our reflections will be led by Dr Ruth Perrin, an experienced minister, trainer, researcher and mentor; she has been exploring and encouraging faith development for two decades and is passionate about helping people to draw close to Jesus and explore their part in his kingdom plans.

A buffet lunch will be provided - please advise us of any dietary requirements in advance.

The day is free of charge, but there are only 15 spaces available due to the size of the meeting room. We will initially have tickets available for six prison chaplains, six hospital chaplains, and three education chaplains. Tickets may be made more widely available in weeks to come.