Martin Wall Somerset Citizens

Luke - Anglican Priest at St Paul’s Church in Bedford (St Albans Diocese). Hoping to get some inspiration for both practice and academic work!

Hi. Sue Wood, Colchester alliance, Citizens Essex

Hi all, I’m Fran from Taunton Somerset. I hope to make some good connections.

Simon Woodman - Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London.

Bridget de Mello from St Luke's Ilford, in Redbridge

Janice Price from Surbiton

Hello! Melanie Priest in Charge in St Agnes, Bristol!!

Hi I'm Pauline from Southend, part of Essex Citizens

Hi I'm Roz from Leicester

Graham Brownlee, Community Organiser with Leeds Citizens and a Baptist Minister

Sara Batts-Neale, Colchester Citizens - Essex - chaplain to the University of Essex & associate priest at three churches that border the campus

Dan, a Vicar of Barry, not long moved from East London.

Hi,Elis Matthews, St Mary's Spring Grove, on London's Piccadilly line and A4.

Nhlanganiso Nyathi, Anglia Ruskin University and we are a member of the Peterborough Citizens UK> I have a number of students who are interested in Community Organisation & Citizens UK work

Phil Warburton - E1 Community Church (Tower Hamlets Citizens TELCO) BAPTIST !!!

Marcus Ottaviani (curate) from Bedford, St Mary's Goldington. interested in Community Organisation

1-2-1 Question: What if every person in a church who found a local injustice as a result of their work in the community actually had a way of making change?

What if every person in a church who as a result of their community engagement found some local injustice *actually* had a way of making change?

We spoke about empowerment - increased confidence as change is achieved

If people can find a way acting on a concern, with others it creates a more vital and energised church

We're early on in our organising journey, but using the language of calling people 'leaders' has been helpful in raising people's expectations about what they can do to bring about change.

much listening and care and concern develops in the church, organising collectively enables us to focus on seeing societal change alongside and more than pastoral care

so important to be realistic about what can achieved without aiming too low..

Recognising that change is possible that goes beyond compassion.

Great to meet Rev Lizzie from Bristol - definitely room for a Bristol Chapter !

We’re on it @Phil!

Had a really great chat with Simon Mason from Tyne and Wear about how sometimes big issues such as climate change can feel really overwhelming to individuals - but when we come together and use organising to build power and relationships we find that we have the power to change much more than we thought!!

never miss an opportunity to recruit leaders

How might Community Organising stimulate the growth of your church?

We spoke about relationships and knowing people and also being good at being reactive especially in a very real way - feeding people - but there being another and possibly harder part of knowing how or being nervous about that more political dynamic change, great to meet Phil W and speak about how that works in churches - Move from reactionary service to strategic action....

Really helpful chat about how the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives - first a concern for justice and the poor and then they are ready to hear about Jesus and the church

Amazing conversation with Melanie about the work she is doing in Bristol to develop new leadership in her congregation.

What if *every* church leader were trained in Community Organising?

Spoke to Roz about growth of her ministry through listening. Not having a building or a historic structure brings some freedom to implementing the principles of community organising.

going to have to bow out for school parents evening. thanks for starting this network - I can see it has great potential - bless you all

Another very stimulating conversation - particularly about how training an engaging in community organising is an opportunity for Church leaders to experience some life and vitality!

Or “to get out of the dock” onto the open water as my conversation partner put it

Amen amen!

Love the image of the dock, I shall use it a lot, since the docks are a massive part of our town :)

"a ship that's in the harbour is calm and safe from harm, but it was not made to stay there, it was built for waves and storm"

Cuddesdon - also known as ‘Holy Hogwarts’

Chiefly due to remoteness? ;)

1) Do you think the Community of Practice is a good idea?2) Do you think the Cuddesdon retreat is a good idea?3) What are the key tensions or opportunities in your community you would like to explore through the Community of Practice?

Sorry I have to go. Very inspiring!

Exploring connections between spirituality, scripture and community organising - being resourced and renewed for the ‘long haul’.

I am so glad to hear people from churches saying Jesus was the first community organiser. I hope we can help each other to develop this idea.

who are our neighbours, how well do we know their needs, how do we build bridges and make a difference to their lives. how do we achieve relevance

QU 3 - the tensions for me might be different for others as I'm not leading a traditional congregation but it seems that being on the edge means I can envisage "church" in a way that challenges other views of church but which might be liberating if we can convey the benefits, especially using CO principles with people who are non-book or inarticulate in the usual ways but who use the Arts for expression

Yes! Agree with Bridget de Mello, that came up in our group too.

@Angie - “enriching church community from the outside in” is one of the best descriptions of the value of Community Organising for Christian Communities I’ve heard - you’re a natural!

Next week's Learning Thursdays as mentioned by Alison - is on taking action against poverty pay in living wage week. Will be a workshop on using bible scriptures to help with this work - Register here - https://actionnetwork.org/events/take-action-against-poverty-pay-in-living-wage-week

Schools based counselling series - https://actionnetwork.org/events/how-to-win-a-schools-colleges-based-counselling-campaign-in-your-area-help-us-achieve-better-mental-health-support-for-children-and-young-people

IAF session - https://actionnetwork.org/events/developing-leaders-community-organising-lessons-from-the-uk-and-us

+Nice pace, lots of breakout discussion

Thank you!