NEWS
MEETING AGAIN - THE DISSENTING DEPUTIES 2023 at Free Church House 16th May, 6pm
This is a warm invitation to members of your church to join us here at Tavistock Square on 16th May 2023 at 6pm, when our distinguished speaker will be Sir Les Ebdon CBE, Chairman of the Governors of Spurgeon’s College and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and former Director of Fair Access to Higher Education.
He will speak on “The Importance of being a Free Church today”, exploring the relevance of the principles our forebears held dear, especially the freedoms they fought to obtain and their continuing importance. It should be an evening of exceptional interest.
The “Dissenting Deputies” were established as elected lay people, working with the body of Ministers, in 1732 to fight for the removal of restrictions which excluded the churches and people we now call in the “Free Church” tradition from many areas of public life. We maintain this annual society to honour their work. Free speech can never be taken for granted. The body also keeps alive our historic right of direct approach to the Monarch. Today, the Free Churches Group carries out the Deputies’ functions relating to government, as we will hear during our very brief formal proceedings.
It would be really helpful to know, in advance, something of the numbers attending. Please return the attached form by post or email. Respecting our historical structure, it would be appropriate formally to nominate two “Deputies”, but all are welcome. Please display the poster. Our income is limited, and a contribution would be very welcome to help cover our meeting costs.
We know that Sir Les will give us a stimulating evening. Do come.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Rochester Keith Salway
An invitation letter is available to download here.
A poster is available to download here.
The Dissenter form is available to download here.
New Year Message
New Year Message from the General Secretary of the Free Churches Group. Read it HERE..
‘Shaping Worship: Creation’s Climate Crisis – responding in faith’
Wednesday 15 March 2:00-5:30 on Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85184771951
‘Shaping Worship: Creation’s Climate Crisis – responding in faith’
We have arrived at our Earth Environment’s Crisis/Kairos Moment – how can worship help us wake up?
Spring Conference sponsored by the Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain
Presenters:
Bible Power – Can the Bible wake us up to Climate Chaos? - Revd Dr Rosalind Selby (URC), Principal of Northern College, Manchester
Time for listening – worship to wake us up – Revd Phillip Melstrom, Church of Scotland
People Power – Can we wake up our congregations? -- Steve Hucklesby, Policy Advisor for JPIT, Joint Public Issues Team. Waking up to the climate emergency, our Christian faith, and preserving the planet as Christians (worked 10 years in conflict and post-conflict settings in Africa and Asia)
Science – Can the truth wake us up? - presenter TBC, hopefully, a Scientist from Norway
Isaiah 24:4 NRSV
The earth dries up and withers,
the world languishes and withers;
the heavens languish together with the earth.
The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants;
Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, please visit Here.
For the Zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85184771951 (Meeting ID: 851 8477 1951)
contact: worshipwordsmatter@gmail.com
Racial Justice Sunday 12 February 2023 – Stephen Lawrence
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:24)
22 April 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the racist killing of Black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, in Eltham, southeast London. In many respects, Racial Justice Sunday is one of the many legacies of Stephen Lawrence’s life. As such, in marking RJS, churches are remembering a young man who in life aspired to be an architect, but whose legacy has seen him become an architect for justice, equality, dignity and unity.
This anniversary is a key moment for church and society on these islands. Stephen’s killing was very much Britain’s ‘George Floyd moment’ as it clearly revealed the ugly face of British racism, in terms not only of the hatred of those who took this young man’s life, but also of the institutional variety that characterised the appalling investigation into his killing. Akin to all such tragedies, it is a moment for reflection which will enable us to assess what, if any, progress has been made since that tragedy.
Resources
Racial Justice Sunday resources are produced by CTBI’s sponsoring churches. The resource for 2023 will provide readers with opportunities to pray and take action on racial justice-related matters.
The first part of the resource includes excellent liturgical and creative prayers prepared by Phill Melstrom, the Worship Development Worker at the Church of Scotland. This material provides multifarious entry points for any engagement with the subject matter. Equally, we have outstanding worship-related material written by Mark Sturge, a prime mover with Black Majority Churches that will resonate especially with those from Pentecostal congregations. Both items capture the richness and diversity of devotions and worship in our churches.
The second part of the resource includes a variety of reflections from Christians who were around at the time of Stephen Lawrence’s killing. It also features contributions from younger racial justice champions who reflect on what Stephen’s murder means to them as Christians living in a world that is still grappling with racial justice.
Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion, CTBI
Download Racial Justice Sunday 2023 – Stephen Lawrence (PDF)
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