News
The Prison Fellowship Prayer Diary for this month is out now!
Will you join us to show Christ’s love for prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them in prayer? Take a moment each day to pray with us as we pray for prisoners…
(photo courtesy of Aaron Burden at Unsplash)
The University of Exeter are welcoming applications for the post of University Chaplain.
They are looking for an enthusiastic and creative person with excellent interpersonal skills and pastoral sensitivity, to take up this exciting new post as part of the Exeter University Multifaith Chaplaincy team. It will be a half time post of 20 hours per week.
Applications are invited from members in good standing with one of the sponsoring denominations (Baptist, Methodist, or United Reformed).
The closing date for the vacancy is 12th February 2021 and interviews will take place on 26th February.
For further information about the post and how to apply:
May we have a blessed and peaceful new year, however we are able to serve in this coming year.
May Jesus, the Light of the World, light our path and lead us as we serve with courage and in faith in the years to come.
Amen
As we all look forward and think about how we can strengthen the work of our churches, you will find the recent report FCG has commissioned interesting and inspiring reading…
The report looks at the relationship between the Church and social cohesion in England. The project has been conducted by Theos, the UK’s leading think tank on religion and society issues. All of this extensive research and pioneering conversations have been captured in a new report and supplementary materials (for churches and for policy makers). And the good news is the report is out now! Now all the work of the last few years can take root and flourish in our churches; it can strengthen how we, as churches, work for the benefit of our communities, fostering and building social cohesion, to love our neighbour.
“For me, our report not only marks how well the Church moves from theory to practice, but highlights the ways in which we can continue to move forward, connecting communities and serving people even more effectively”
Our Moderator extends an invite to us all, saying, “We want to work together on connecting and serving, using the ‘How to’ booklets we have produced to encourage community leaders to engage with the Church while encouraging our individual congregations to engage with society.”
The Church and Social Cohesion: Connecting Communities and Serving People is the culmination of a major research project commissioned by the Free Churches Group and prepared by Theos think tank.
The research project has consulted with over 360 people in England to assess the churches’ social cohesion contribution on the ground. This vital and ground breaking work has been waiting to come to fruition over the last few years as Rev Dr Hugh Osgood, Moderator of the Free Churches Group, writes, “Some seven years ago I was asked to write a chapter for a book inspired by the then recently formed All Party Parliamentary Group (APGG) on Faith and Society. The chapter was called A Biblical Theology for Engaging with Society.“ This, and the wider social cohesion agenda, laid the foundations for discussions to begin about a longer piece of work, which would include conversations with hundreds of people across England about how churches connect, engage with and serve communities.
As we know from the news, social cohesion has been near the top of the political agenda for nearly twenty years now. Much of the discussion on social cohesion has been about the role of ‘religion’ and ‘religious’ groups in local communities. With this in mind, the Free Churches Group commissioned an eighteen-month research project looking at the relationship between the Church and social cohesion in England. The project has been conducted by Theos, the UK’s leading think tank on religion and society issues. All of this extensive research and pioneering conversations have been captured in a new report and supplementary materials (for churches and for policy makers). And the good news is the report is out now! Now all the work of the last few years can take root and flourish in our churches; it can strengthen how we, as churches, work for the benefit of our communities, fostering and building social cohesion, to love our neighbour.
“For me, our report not only marks how well the Church moves from theory to practice, but highlights the ways in which we can continue to move forward, connecting communities and serving people even more effectively ”
Our Moderator extends an invite to us all, saying, “We want to work together on connecting and serving, using the ‘How to’ booklets we have produced to encourage community leaders to engage with the Church while encouraging our individual congregations to engage with society.”
You can access the report online at:
You can contact us at Free Churches House for printed copies. You could also ask us about articles for your denominational magazines and round-table events for your ministers and teams. We look forward to helping your church network complement and extend the vital work being done in your communities in 2021 and beyond.
During this time of Advent, we are all too aware that as we approach and plan for Christmas, it will be very different for us this year. One thing that will never change is that we will celebrate and mark the Light of the World coming, Jesus Christ. And it is the role of the church to serve God and love our neighbour as ourselves… for it is what Jesus showed us when he walked among us and what Jesus taught us in his life and ministry.
May we have a blessed and peaceful Christmas, however we are able to serve this year, and may the Light of the World light our path and lead us as we serve with courage and in faith in the years to come.
(Cover photo courtesy of Benjamin Muntz)
(Blog by Rev Sara Iles, FCG Media Support Officer & Minister with the Congregational Federation )
Tea & Chat for healthcare chaplains: a chance to get together and chew over the week before you go home.
Dates coming up soon!
Friday 18th December
Wednesday 23rd December
Wednesday 30th December
Friday 8th January
Friday 15th January
Links for joining these online events are:
Friday: Zoom Meeting ID:870 5327 8978 Password: 669993
Wednesday: Zoom Meeting ID: 892 5230 8978 Password: 956743
Meg Burton, Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy (pictured below), will host these events. Rev Mark Newitt will join FCG as the new Healthcare Secretary from mid January and Meg will post the dates for later in January at the beginning of the new year.
Meg provides the leadership on Healthcare Chaplaincy work at a national level for the Free Churches as well as in a multi-faith context.
(cover photo courtesy of Hello Light Bulb at Unsplash)
Rev Meg Burton
