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While we wait for Jesus to return, the people of God experience both sorrow and rejoicing. We know we live in a world which itself groans, where evil seems to have the upper hand, and where suffering in mind and body afflicts both the righteous and unrighteous alike. Yet we also know the joy of Jesus’ presence with us by his Spirit now and the promise that sorrow will turn to unending joy when disciples see Jesus again at his return. So it is no surprise that our gathering as the people of God wherever he has placed us across the UK is marked by joy and mourning, praise and lament.

The Covid pandemic, church leadership abuses, and the doctrinal drift in denominations all remind us that God alone can help us. So while seeking to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our hope. As we lament we are not just expressing our emotion but pouring out our worries, frustrations, and sorrows to our heavenly Father who alone is sovereign and good, faithful to and sufficient to deliver on our hope in his promises. Avoiding the temptations to get angry, to grumble, or to flee we mourn the brokenness of this world and hope for the day when all weeping will cease.

As we gather in Leeds in September we can join our voices together in lament, expressing our union with the suffering Christ and thereby also anticipating the sure and certain hoped for glory we will one day enjoy with him. We will spend time focusing on corporate psalms from Book III of the Psalter which smell of the exile but also call to mind the sovereignty of God and the sufficiency of God’s grace. Time has been set aside on both days to give thanks to God and to pray. We will also look back and look forward together. Coaching sessions are being provided to encourage us to stay hopeful in ministry as clergy and lay leaders, and also to help us all practically in contending whatever our circumstances.

Monday


Comperes: Rich Alldritt (St Thomas Oakwood, London) and Leonie Poole (St John’s Church, Lindow)

10:00 – Coffee & Welcome
11:00 – Bible Reading 1: Psalm 74
Matt Fuller (Christ Church Mayfair, London)
11:45 – ReNew Agenda Update
Brian O’Donoghue (ReNew Pioneering and Operations Director) plus guests
12:30 – A Time of Thanksgiving
Jonny Wei Sing Lee (All Hallows Church Bispham, Blackpool)
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – The Sovereignty of God

Ben Cooper (Cornhill Training Course & Grace Church Sydenham, ANiE)
15:00 – Staying hopeful coaching sessions (see below)
16:15 – Contending coaching sessions (see below)
17:15 – Break

17:45 – Lay Leaders Drinks
18:30 – Drinks
19:00 – Dinner

Plus Andrew Atherstone (Latimer Trust) & Clare Heath-Whyte (St Lawrence church, Morden) in conversation.

Tuesday


09:00 – Bible Reading 2: Psalm 80
Chris Hobbs (St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s Church, Birmingham)
09:45 – Persevering in hope
Kieran Bush (St John’s Walthamstow, Chelmsford) and Charlie Skrine (All Souls Langham Place, London)
10:30 – A Time of Prayer
Jane Patterson (Christ Church Fulwood, Sheffield & CEEC)
11:00 – Coffee
11:45 – The Sufficiency of God’s Grace

Tom Watts (St John’s Downshire Hill, London & Visiting Lecturer in Anglican Ministry at Oak Hill College)
12:30 – Lunch
13:30 – Q&A
14:30 – Bible Reading 3: Psalm 84

Martin Ayers (St Silas Church, Glasgow, ANiE)
15:30 – Close





Staying hopeful coaching sessions

Staying hopeful in evangelism

Rico Tice (Evangelist, Christianity Explored Ministries), Paul Jump (St Clement’s Church, Manchester) and Piyush Jani (St Andrew the Great, Cambridge)

What most discourages you in evangelism and what keeps you going? We’ll be asking those questions and seeing how passages like the Sower keep us realistic and persevering. There’ll be lots of time for Q&A and above all we’ll be wanting to send people away with real confidence in the gospel and in the God who calls people to his Son.

Staying hopeful in church leadership

Angus MacLeay (St Nicholas Sevenoaks), Mark Glew (St Mary’s Haughton Green) and Jo Richards (All Souls Langham Place, London).

How can you remain hopeful in the face of significant forces of opposition either within the culture or the denomination which discourage us? An opportunity to reflect on the means God provides from the Book of Ezra to encourage us in our work for the Lord.

Staying hopeful with the global church

John McLernon (Mission Director, Crosslinks)

Life in churches in England is challenging for many at present, but in a sense that is all relative. Let us look beyond the British Isles to see what grieves churches around the world and hear their responses to the difficulties that they face. What does it mean for our brothers and sisters to “give thanks in all circumstances”? What does hope look like and how do they pray in those circumstances? Partnership has more than often meant our global partners being on the receiving end of our resources, but what can we humbly learn from them that may be equally, if not more, valuable?

Staying hopeful while contending

Paul Darlington (Oswestry Holy Trinity)

There are all sorts of potential discouragements in contending (talking to brick walls, support from an expected ally disappearing, mixed views in our congregation, the step by step progress of revisionists). Using the Scriptures and the experience of others we will find why we should remain hopeful.

Contending coaching sessions

Contending in a mixed church

Steve Rees (All Saints Church, Crowborough) and Matt Graham (St Stephen’s Prenton, Chester)

It was so exciting to get my first Vicar post in a mixed congregation. The reality was both exhilarating, as we saw new people saved and the church growing, mixed with opposition, huge stress, distress and blunders by me. Maybe right now you are facing the heartache and challenge of leading a mixed congregation. Come and share, learn and pray for the challenges and opportunities that the Lord is giving us.

Contending in a united church

Jon Tuckwell (Christ Church Cockfosters) and Matt Lanstone (Christ Church Cockfosters)

Contending can be contentious – even when there is agreement that a response must be made. As part of the lay and clergy leadership in a local church we will seek to share some of the principles we’ve formed, lessons we’ve learnt, and how we’ve sought to lead a contending church whilst protecting precious unity within church family.

Contending when it’s just you

Tudor Boddam-Whetham (St John the Evangelist, Carlisle)

We expect to be a lone voice at times in the world, but to experience it in the visible church is harder, even more so when it is most/all of the time.  Come and connect with others in a similar ‘boat’, and hear & share (we pray) some godly wisdom to help us all honour Jesus.

Contending with a view to leaving the CofE

James Leggett (St James’ Church, Ryde), Charlie Newcombe (Christ Church Huntingdon) and Nicola Harrison (Christ Church Huntingdon)

In this coaching session we will be looking at the process, timeline and pastoral care involved in the journey to leaving the Church of England. While every situation will be different, finding the position of a settled conscience, clear conviction and securing a gospel future are of supreme importance. We will have testimonies from those who have gone through this process.

Dinner Conversation

Speakers

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