Behind The Headlines
Here are some stories behind the headlines that grab the world's attention. These are some of the good news stories that the media don't always report...
Back to Church Sunday a great success
Back to Church Sunday is celebrating another rise in the numbers drawn back to church by the event this year. Figures based on returns from Church of England dioceses suggest that more than 37,000 people took up the invitation to try church again on Sunday 28 September 2008 - with more than 31,000 of them 'coming back' to an Anglican church.
This achievement is being marked with a 'thank you' party for people across the country responsible for promoting Back to Church Sunday to local parish churches and encouraging them to extend the warmest welcome to visitors. The day will involve multimedia presentations, buzzgroups, and giveaway treats from the sponsors Traidcraft.
Thirty-eight Church of England dioceses from Cornwall to Newcastle took part this year, in addition to Churches Together in Scotland, the Church in Wales, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed and Elim Pentecostal churches, and Anglican churches in New Zealand and Canada.
In all, around 3,000 churches took part - inspired by Tearfund research that recently revealed three million people (6% of the adult population) would come back to church if they received a personal invitation. The Back to Church Sunday figures are extrapolations based on returns from approximately 20% of participating churches.
Research by the Diocese of Lichfield after last year's Back to Church Sunday showed that, six months after the event, between 12 and 15% of 'returners' had become regular members.
Debra Karim responded to an invitation to Back to Church Sunday at Whittlebury, near Towcester in the Diocese of Peterborough in 2007. She'd got out of the habit of going to church because of a busy job and a house move. But she said she always missed church.
“For a few years I had felt lost, as if part of me was missing, but going back to church was an overwhelming experience. Tears welled in my eyes as I felt I had come home.” Now Debra is still enjoying church, saying: “Where else in life can you guarantee a friendly face, a smile and an overwhelming feeling of peace and contentment?”
To someone thinking about trying church again, Debra says: “I would say take that step and walk through the doors, feel the welcome and when you say your first prayer know that it is heard.”
2009 Year of the Child
Church leaders are being encouraged to help make 2009 ‘a year to remember’ for young people and the Church with the launch of an interdenominational Year of the Child, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Year of the Child.
A group of Children’s Advisers from across the Church of England’s dioceses, alongside representatives from the Methodist Church and other denominations and agencies, identified widespread interest in making a distinctive Christian contribution to this anniversary. In light of this enthusiasm, the network plans to promote 2009 as an opportunity for local churches to review the work they do with and for children and young people, and to do more to recognise and celebrate their contribution in the life of the church and society.
Some of the early initiatives already being prepared for next year include:
◦ From Lancashire, a pilgrimage of 14 to 21-year-olds from the Diocese of Blackburn to the Diocese of Free State, South Africa. The young people will spend two weeks next summer in local schools and churches and will also get involved with practical community projects – such as working with people with HIV and AIDs – with the aim of building on the two dioceses’ existing twinning relationship;
◦ In West Sussex, the Youth and Children’s Work department of the Diocese of Chichester is running a conference on ‘Changing Childhood’ in July, in collaboration with the University of Chichester;
◦ Again in Lancashire, up to 3,000 people are expected at a ‘Big Day Out for the Family’ at Lytham St Annes in June. This will include music, worship, games and other special activities as the Blackburn Diocese celebrates the Year of the Child on school playing fields at the seaside;
◦ In Northamptonshire, the Diocese of Peterborough has issued a list of 30 tips for churches interested in getting involved in the Year of the Child, including ensuring that children and young people’s work is discussed at every parochial church council meeting, that young people’s concerns are expressed in intercessory prayers at the main Sunday service, and that churches consider donating books to a local school;
◦ In Liverpool, the diocese is continuing to develop a ‘Child Friendly Church Awards Scheme’ recognising those parishes which have adopted various aspects of good practice in children’s ministry – and nearby Manchester diocese is planning to promote the scheme to its parishes;
◦ In Norfolk, the Diocese of Norwich’s Youth Task Force hopes to develop a web based youth forum to improve communication between young people across the rural county.
Updates on the activities taking place under the Church’s Year of the Child umbrella will be published periodically during 2009 and distributed to local churches. Parishes interested in finding out more can find inspiration and resources at www.yearofthechild2009.co.uk
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