Church Army's Research Publication Advises 'Keep Church Simple'

Western society is becoming increasingly stressful and busy, and although people own more than in previous generations, there is never enough time - this is the view taken in the latest edition of the 'Encounters on the Edge' series of booklets from Church Army.

"In the midst of all the pressure, people are crying out for simplicity in all aspects of their lives. This includes church," George Lings, Director of Church Army's Research Unit has said.

In the latest edition of the Encounters on the Edge series, Lings asks: "How can we create ways of being church which are simpler yet keep essentials? What sort of meetings actually enable people to meet and grow as disciples of Christ? Can time for family, work and friends beyond the church circle be protected? How simple is it to keep it this simple?"

Seeking to answer these questions, Lings, who was out in Australia, met the Explorers Christian Church at Wentworth Falls, an area where many are economically stretched as well as time-poor due to having to commute to work. He asked: "How could church life be made simpler for them so that it would have a chance of working?"

The Church Army Research Unit Director was impressed with what he discovered, and found it helpful to compare their journey as a church with the story of three explorers who, in 1813, pioneered a way across the Blue Mountains of Australia by travelling along the ridges. Wentworth Falls was named after one of those explorers (Mr William Wentworth) and the Explorers Christian Church shares their sense of pioneering and journeying into the unknown.

Please contact the Church Army's Sheffield Centre for more information on 0114 272 7451.