Dear Friends,
Some of you will remember that five years ago I made a trip to Willow Creek Church, Chicago, USA, to attend, along with a group from the Oxford Diocese, their Leadership Summit: a Conference for developing Christian Leadership. During Lent this year I experienced a difficult time; I found myself asking hard questions about life and ministry and wondering what the future holds for us. How can this Team Ministry really make a difference in our world, I asked myself “when was the last time I really had a sense of God’s leading and purpose…?” My quick response was “the last time I took part in the Eucharist” and on one level that was true, but I pushed myself a bit harder... and after some reflection, rather reluctantly admitted, that it was the trip to Willow Creek that had really changed me... But that left me wondering how much it had changed anything or anyone else? Because, not long after the trip in 2003, the Staff Team launched our Strategic Plan and I think one or two of you got the idea (quite understandably) that Willow Creek is all about strategic plans and management techniques, but that is not the case. I went on that first visit very aware of not being caught up in some emotionally driven experience or of adopting some new “fix it” technique for church attendance... what I actually got was a deeply renewing call to follow Christ.
Leading a Team Ministry is a complex task for which we need the grace of God! Back in Lent as I pondered “where are we going…?” I found myself asking myself “what is the one most important thing we need at this time?” Apologies if this sounds pious but my answer was “the grace of God” - if I could get as many of the leaders of our Team to come to a deeper sense of God’s grace and call (I knew I needed that...) then perhaps we could deepen that sense of call for every member of our churches here in Windsor and beyond our walls!
I decided to see if the clergy Team could all go to this year’s Leadership Conference at Willow Creek together with the aim of coming back with a united experience of a fresh calling to follow Christ... And see what effect that would have on our whole Team. After one or two ‘phone calls to see if the Diocese were organising a trip this year and expressing an interest in going I received an email saying we had been booked on the Conference and could they have full names (“as they appear on your Passport”)! We were going! Just one small issue; how would we pay for it? I know this sounds very simplistic but I thought “If God wants us there the money will be provided...” as I write this (mid July) we have secured the full amount for the clergy Team to attend the conference; thanks go to Bishop Stephen, Archdeacon Norman, Diocesan Training, the Clewer Sisters, our own Team Council and generous individuals from our churches. Expectations are growing as we prepare... we will be at the conference during the second week of August. Our Team Service on August 31st at St Stephen’s will be an opportunity to hear some feedback from the Conference, (See the September Magazine too!) then in October on the 16th and 17th at St James’s Church, Gerrards Cross any who are able can come and experience the highlights of the Conference for themselves (already a number have signed up, please consider coming if you have not already).
Please pray for your clergy Team as they attend the Conference and that, through this experience, we may all hear a fresh call to follow Christ and by God’s grace to continue in our mission to renew the Church in Windsor.
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