CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS PLANNING GROUP



MAY 2006



PROPOSED DELIVERANCE



The General Assembly:
1.  Receive the report.
2.  Commend the Group for the success of the National Day of Celebration, the Big Saturday and other events marking Church without Walls.
3.  Note that the Group is in discussions with the Council of Assembly with a view to identifying ways of supporting further initiatives.

REPORT
A Day to Remember
The National Day of Celebration in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre [EICC] in May 2005, the Big Saturday event in the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre [SECC] in Glasgow, along with other significant events around the country, have shown us that there is a sizeable body of opinion in the Church now motivated enough to believe that Church without Walls [CWW] is not just another programme, but a movement through which the Holy Spirit is calling the Church of Scotland to repentance, renewal and radical reform. 
Here are some comments we received after these events:
When CWW was brought to the Assembly in 2001, we handed it to the people “trusting the Spirit of God and trusting the people of God". That trust has not been misplaced. On Saturday we handed the vision back into the hands and hearts of 3,000 people.
How remarkable a gathering it was: people from all over the county, and very many of whom I didn't know at all. Not another gathering of "the usual suspects" then – instead an indication of how many congregations and people are taking the CWW agenda seriously.
That was a great day – easily the most hopeful thing to happen in the Church of Scotland for a long while.
It can now be demonstrated that the on-going restructuring of the Church is discovering permission-givers at the centre who are celebrating the vision-casters who have been on the edges. 
The National Day of Celebration was an inspirational experience for all who attended and sent a clear message to all within the Church and beyond that we have a huge wealth of talent, vision and passion within the family of the Church of Scotland. It is time to harness that talent to communicate with the people of Scotland the good news of the Kingdom. To see thousands of people arrive from trains and buses was in itself such an encouragement. The programme and timetable of events of the day are enclosed as an appendix to this report.
The planning of the event itself was a mammoth task. It involved over 17 managers to prepare the programme for the day, under the leadership of a dedicated project manager. It also required 300 staff to deliver the programme, many of whom were volunteers from congregations. The organisation was a credit to the team and reflects well on the Church of Scotland as we bear witness to our faith in the commercial world. 
The EICC duty manager commented that the conference was the biggest they had ever hosted in the nine years the centre had been open. This was the first conference to have utilised every part of the building from 10 am in the morning till 11 pm in the evening. Some of the exhibitors had been in the building since 2 am that morning. Indeed, at one point the Centre management had to close the doors because the building had reached its maximum capacity. In fact, they stopped the escalators for a period to ensure safety! 
Well over 4,000 people visited the Centre and some estimates have taken the figure to 4,500. The comments from the feedback sheets have been phenomenal. Most people have expressed the desire for follow-up to the event and many people, including those who had been sceptical about it, have approached the Planning Group to urge them to consider a similar event in 2008. One person commented later about their experience: I attended the conference dripping with suspicion and left glowing with enthusiasm.
Modelling and Motivating
Part of the success of the day was that the Group phoned round every congregation in the land to encourage attendance, enlisting a group of over 60 people to make the phone calls. One particular lady was anxious to highlight her credentials. During a phone call, she described herself as “a hard bitten 72 year old Presbyterian Session Clerk” and she doubted if anyone in her kirk would be going to Edinburgh. The interesting thing to note was that at least two people turned up from her congregation. Whether because of her, or in spite of her, her kirk was represented. These phone calls were invaluable because they gave us an insight into how leadership at the local level feels about the Church. Most people were encouraged by the courtesy and enthusiasm the phone calls engendered.
The Group has demonstrated its creative and entrepreneurial ability by delivering to the Church a series of successful events well within budget, by attracting match funding and using existing resources to lever services “in kind “ into the various organised events. 
The Big Saturday event is a prime example of this. The Planning Group gave a grant of £15,000 to the Clyde Presbyteries Group. Using this investment they delivered a programme that cost £50,000. This particular group met all the remaining costs through match funding, ticketing and partnerships with trusts and businesses. The National Planning Group pursued the same policies, but decided from the outset that entry to the day would be free and would be subsidised. 
The Positive Response Continues 
As we write this report, a further conference is being planned in Aviemore to motivate and re-energise congregations. To date over 350 people have registered representing nearly 200 congregations. This conference has been at minimal cost, subsidised by the Planning Group’s budget and generous match funding from outwith the Church. This conference will model links across the theological spectrum, in the breadth of our keynote speakers, in the variety of denominations invited to send representatives and in the range of organisations who have requested exhibition spaces.
A People’s Assembly
The legacy of these events and others to the Church is that a whole new group of talented church leaders and elders has been identified who are looking for leadership into the next phase. It is our hope that the Church will to continue to engage and encourage this new grassroots leadership. We are a church brimming over with talent and gifts. We just need more opportunities to allow the gifts to be used. It would be the Planning Group’s wish that this talent within the Church should continue to be encouraged at a local and national level, through a series of events over the next few years. One idea is that a “People’s Assembly” should be held in 2008. In the process of planning such a conference again, it may be that we can use our experience as a lever of change to bring about a General Assembly in 2008 preceded by an inspirational event that might, in turn, shape and inform the business of the Assembly.
We have some wonderful stories of hope and encouragement to share with each other. When we add to the National Celebration the other celebrations in Dunfermline, Inchworm Island, the Big Saturday in the SECC in Glasgow, along with imaginative events in Castle Douglas, Lindisfarne and Perth, we can register over 10,000 people, celebrating the life of the Church in our land over the summer months of 2005. As one participant wrote us:
As we left Holy Island, we took with us that sense of peace and calm and serenity, but there was more to the day than worship and appreciation of the past. The theme of the day was “Follow Me” which we did throughout the day as we were led in worship and pilgrimage. Lindisfarne was talked about as the “powerhouse of mission”, a place to recharge the batteries of the saints. The saints were also brought down to earth and shown as real people dealing with the harsh realities of life, doing God’s work among people who were indifferent or even hostile to them – a tough job in a harsh world. 
We are privileged to be part of a significant movement of the Spirit for renewal in the Church and we believe we have a responsibility to help this renewal continue throughout the land. There is a reality about this movement: it recognises that it has a tough job in a harsh world, but the call to discipleship has always been to carry the cross. 
The Figures Speak for Themselves
Figures show that over 44% of the charges in the Church took part in the National Day of Celebration and around 75% of the Clyde Presbyteries took part in the Big Saturday. This group alone represents nearly one third of the Church. 
2005 was designated by the General Assembly as the year to celebrate the milestones of faith brought about by CWW Report 2001. The final push came with material for use during the Christmas season. This was an opportunity to share the Gospel with neighbours and friends. The team prepared resources for use during the Advent season. In a creative and pioneering spirit a web-page was designed and material was posted on the web. Around 100 congregations asked to receive the DVD containing PDF files and a number of multimedia presentations. 
The Planning Group wishes to continue to post material from time to time on the Resources web page found at www.cwwresources.org.uk 
Resources are Essential for Success
We believe the success of our planning has been that we have had freedom and autonomy to pursue ideas and create events that have sought to model and motivate the Church. We have also worked across the theological spectrum of the Church and found a oneness that can only be found in Christ. We have co-opted expertise from all quarters, both within and without the Church and this in itself has been a valuable and enriching experience for all concerned, a true modelling of Church without Walls. 
Much of our confidence happened because we were given a budget to manage this project and we exercised strict budgetary controls. We were also protected from the pressures of changing priorities of boards and councils because our remit came directly from the General Assembly. If we had been a project developed out of a board or a council, it is almost certain that we would not have survived the pressure and the economic trimming of the restructuring. We hope that those who once felt our budget to have been unnecessary will now see how an investment of £180,000 has grown to attract match funding of at least another £100,000 not including the massive additional support it engendered through benefits in kind from all sorts of people. This marks investment in 10,000 people.
Relating to Others
One distinctive contribution is that we have been the showcase for both the Parish Development Fund [PDF] and also the Panel on Review and Reform. We have been in constant contact and we have sought to work together relationally. The stories of hope and renewal have often been tied to a grant received from the Parish Development Fund. We would like to urge all concerned to ensure that the PDF continues to receive inward investment from the Church’s annual budget. It is the opinion of the Planning Group that this fund is by far the most creative and direct way to stimulate and motivate local initiatives. It has gained a reputation already among the grant-making trusts in Scotland, and this in turn makes it easier for congregations to attract match funding. 
The church has been through a rigorous process of restructuring. The success of this restructuring for many will be its ability to recognise and respond to the emerging and fluid mission strategies that local congregations are initiating and seeking to sustain. 
The EPIC Church
Professor Leonard Sweet, one of our keynote speakers at the EICC, captured our imaginations by describing a Church without Walls as an E-P-I-C church: a church that is Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich and finally Connected with the world in which we live. In a wonderful way, God allowed us to model such an EPIC church at our conferences in Edinburgh, Glasgow and elsewhere in 2005. 
What creates renewal in the church is the Spirit and the Word of God. The Gospel is not a structure, a programme or a policy. It is the good news of the Kingdom, the reign of Christ in every detail and aspect of our daily lives. This proclamation excites and renews the people of God and fascinates the world we would win for Christ. This is one place where the new church is emerging.
What Now?
The CWW Planning Group see themselves as a creative group within the Church modelling and motivating the Church at a local and national level through a variety of inspirational events. While it has fulfilled the remit given by the General Assembly of 2001 the Group is keen that the energy and momentum which it has generated should not be lost to the Church. The Group is pleased to report that at time of writing discussions are taking place with the Council of Assembly with a view to identifying ways of supporting further initiatives. The outcome of these discussions will be reported on by the Council in its Supplementary Report. 



In the name of the Planning Group

ALBERT BOGLE, Convener


APPENDIX

CWW 2005 National Celebration – Programme Details

Time
Event 
Venue
Level
All day
Teas, coffees and light snacks
Available to purchase
Strathblane 
Hall
0
12:00 – 14:45
Keynote Seminars 


All day
Weaving the Word
An exciting new way of helping people think about how we can apply the Word of God in our everyday lives.  Large scale art installations which will inspire people to take another look at the Book and enthuse some others who have never read the Bible to open the pages of the Good Book, some who only listen in church to discover new places to read and some who love the Word to delight in our attempt to re-present what has been written. Weaving the Word comes to you in partnership with the Scottish Bible Society and is supported by Wesley Owen and R.L. Allan & Son (Publishers).
EICC
All
All day
Theatre without Walls
Written by Donald Smith and directed by Rachel Hammerton and featuring professional actors, a huge dollop of humour and a sideways look at what it means to be part of a Church without…  The production aims to assist guests to think about the purpose of the day and to make everyone smile.
EICC
All
All day
Busking style worship
Prepare to be amazed at just how accessible worship can be – all day throughout the building.
EICC
All
All day
Get Connected!
Please see separate sheet for full details and timings.
Tinto
0
All day
Church through the Looking Glass 
Join the fairground atmosphere and enjoy the circus as we invite you to see God’s world through new eyes. Olive Drane and her troupe of clowns will take a subversive look at worship and John Drane will challenge us to get alongside today’s spiritual searchers (We will alternate hourly between worship and mission throughout the day to express the reality of being church without walls – and if you want to take a fresh look at what Communion means, then join Barni the tramp for an experience that could change your way of seeing life 
* Focus on Worship at 10.30, 13.00, 17.00
* Focus on Mission at 12.00, 14.00, 16.00, 18.00
* Barni’s Communion at 15.00
Moorfoot
0
All day
Themed Workshops
Details at individual times below.
Carrick
1
All day
The WoW ‘we could do that’ Creative Showcases
Details at individual times below.
Ochil
1
10.30 – 13.45
and
15.00 – 22.00
Prayer Room
An oasis of quiet reflection in a very busy day.

Harris 1
1
10.00 – 10.30
Arrivals
Strathblane Hall
0
10.00 – 13.30
Labyrinth
A journey into self and into God. An adventure into silence and movement. A trysting place of the soul. Journey from the outside to the centre and back again and meet God on the way in this ancient form of pilgrimage.
Cromdale Hall
-2
10.30 – 11.30
Opening Ceremony
See and hear what God is doing in our churches as we set the scene for a life-transforming day.
Pentland Suite
3
10.30 – 11.45
Workshop – Creating & Building Church for Young People
Hear how a local Church in Glasgow is seeking to create new models of church for children, young people and students which sit alongside the established congregation. The Chrysalis Project reaches these age groups effectively and enables them to build “church” in a way that fits with their culture and peers. Invest is a year long training programme run by the congregation to raise up new leaders for this developing pattern of Church Planting.
Carrick
1
10.30 – 11.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Choir 
This fun session introduces the music and role of the choir in church and community. Led by the Glenkens choir from rural Galloway and their leaders Jean Mason and David Bartholomew.
Ochil
1
10.30 – 11.30
Parable Puppets 
Richard Medrington presents Parable Puppets this will be something fun and educational, especially for those looking for something special for their own congregations. . Particularly as later on Richard will lead a workshop in which he will provide assistants and information for churches wishing to develop this form of ministry.
Kilsyth
0
12.00 – 12.45
Keynote Seminars



* Seminar 1 	Locality/Culture – Leonard Sweet
Leonard is a frequent speaker around the globe and is well able to read the signs of our times and culture and reflect on what they are saying to Christians today.
Pentland
3

* Seminar 2 	Gospel – Elaine Storkey 
Dr Elaine Storkey is one of the most experienced writers and speakers in relating the Christian Gospel to contemporary culture.
Sidlaw
3

* Seminar 3 	Friendship – John Miller 
For over 30 years, the main focus of John’s ministry has been building friendships within his own parish of Castlemilk East, Glasgow, where he is chaplain to five schools and offers support to families of drug users. John also served as Moderator of the General Assembly 2001. 
Fintry
3

* Seminar 4 	Jigsaw of Gifts - Peter Neilson
Discover the gift that you are, the gifts that you have and the gift you may become and how all of our jagged edges fit neatly together to create a beautiful picture!
Kilsyth
0
12.00 – 13.45
Workshop – Pilots, an exciting new Youth Organisation 
Pilots is an ecumenical Christian Organisation for children and young people from the age of 5. It is based in churches but every child is welcome. Pilots was born out of a great historical 'story' which is so exciting every child wants to hear about it. Come and hear about the developing experiences of a church in Nairn.
Carrick
1
12.00 – 12.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Storytelling 1 
Women in the Bible with Linda Bandolier.
Ochil
1
13.00 – 13.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Hymn-Singing 
Alison and Charlie Robertson, two major contributors to the publication of CH4, will lead us through this wonderful new hymn book.
Ochil
1
14.00 – 14.45
Keynote Seminars 



* Seminar 1 	Locality/Culture – Leonard Sweet
Repeated – full details listed at 12.00 noon
Pentland
3

* Seminar 2 	Gospel – Elaine Storkey 
Repeated – full details listed at 12.00 noon
Sidlaw
3

* Seminar 3 	Friendship – John Miller – Fintry
Repeated – full details listed at 12.00 noon
Fintry
3

* Seminar 4 	Jigsaw of Gifts  - Peter Neilson
Repeated – full details listed at 12.00 noon
Harris 1
1
14.00 – 17.00
Children’s Programme - “Break Down the Walls!”
Every Presbytery has been invited to send five children to be involved in this programme. It is an action packed afternoon! Song, story, and lots of arts and crafts for and by children culminating with worship at 4.30 to which a limited number of ambassadors are welcome to attend.
Cromdale Hall
-2
14.00 – 15.45
Workshop – Forming Lay Ministry Teams 
Gordon Reid describes how the lay ministry in his congregation has been transformed. Members of his congregation have been trained for a whole range of areas of ministry, including leading worship, pastoral care and mission.

Carrick
1
14.00 – 14.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Puppetry 
Richard Medrington shares material and techniques with those who would like to consider using puppets in their own work with children.
Ochil
1
14.00 – 15.00
Caithness Church Drama Group – Thurso West Church 
Edgar Fisher presents the first of two different fifty minute dramas on Biblical Themes. This group is one of the very best in the country and writes its own material presenting Biblical themes for modern audiences. 
Kilsyth
0
15.00 – 15.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Storytelling 2 
Grace Banks will help us to develop our own talents in communicating with and encouraging children through the medium of storytelling.
Ochil
1
15.30 – 16. 30
Adrian Plass 
Adrian Plass is a writer and speaker of international repute. Adrian’s motivation is his love of Jesus and his passion is to communicate the need for reality in faith, a truth he learned during an extremely difficult stage in his life:  “God is nice and he likes me.”
Sidlaw
3
15.30 – 17.30
For the Islands I sing - by George Mackay Brown
A celebration of island life - and so of all life -- through the stories of George Mackay Brown. Perhaps Scotland's greatest twentieth century Christian artist, Mackay Brown brings his serene spirituality to storytelling as an art, a tradition and a way of understanding our pilgrimage at its deepest level.
Pentland
3
15.30 – 16. 30
World Without Walls 
A new project which will develop relationships between local communities globally. Using a video-diary and web-cams, World Without Walls will allow the voices of the World Church to impact our local communities.
Fintry
3
16.00 – 17.00
Caithness Church Drama Group – Thurso West Church 
The second of two dramas – full details listed at 14.00 
Kilsyth
0
16.00 – 16.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Hymn-Singing
Repeated – full details listed at 13.00
Ochil
1
16.00 – 17.45
Workshop – Exploring the Purpose Driven Life Campaign 
Gordon Reid’s Gillespie Memorial Church in Dunfermline partnered Saddleback Church in Lake Forrest California to explore Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” with members of his congregation.
Carrick
1
16.45 – 17.45
World Without Walls 
Repeated – full details listed at 15.30
Fintry
3
16.45 – 17.45
Adrian Plass 
Repeated – full details listed at 15.30
Sidlaw
3
17.00 – 17.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Drama in Church 
Practical advice on how to make it part of your own worship scene, with questions and discussion with Mike Mair and Donald Smith.
Ochil
1
18.00 – 18.45
Workshop – Mind the Gap
How can we address the gap between church culture and the world ‘out there’?  Tony Brown from Agapé introduces an exciting new series of DVD-based workshops that help churches think through their approach to evangelism among the un-churched.  Not a blueprint on how to do it, but lots of good, tried and tested ideas on how to build in good practice and some creativity whilst gaining the enthusiastic involvement of church members.
Carrick
1
18.00 – 18.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Heritage 
The small congregation at Luss is building on the heritage of their founding saint, Saint Kessog, and the tradition of pilgrimage associated with him. Minister, Dane Sherrard and members of the congregation will share some of their adventures and the lessons they have learned at this workshop.
Ochil
1
18.30 - 21.00
Film Festival ‘Living the Dream’ 
SAMYP, the Multi-Media Youth Project at St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Bo’ness, present their second national film festival – Living the Dream which encourages more congregations to take seriously the place of visual language in today’s world of communication. The evening will take the form of an Award Ceremony, with films being judged and nominated in three categories: Documentary Style, Visual Meditation and Original Drama. Awards will be presented to the winning films.
Pentland Suite
3
19.00 – 20.45
Workshop – What is Eco-Congregation?
Many Christians are concerned about the environment but don't know what they can do. Eco-congregation is an ecumenical programme to help congregations understand environmental issues. 66 Scottish congregations are already finding that caring for creation brings a new wonder and joy in worship, gives young people a leading role, allows the church to engage with other community groups, and involves people who have never set foot in a church. Come and hear some stories.
Carrick
1
19.00 – 20.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Use of Church Space 
How do you use the space within the walls of your Church? What kind of space is best suited for worship today? Come and listen to interesting discussion and share your views with those who have been thinking and working through these questions. With John Munro, Scott Burton and Donald Smith.
Ochil
1
19.00 - 22.00
Storytelling Ceilidh
Music, Song and Story presented by Rachel Smyllie from the Village Centre, St. James’ Church, Pollock. Storytelling at its very best from a project supported by the Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund and which brings you stories from around the world.
Kilsyth
0
19.00 – 22.00
Youth Night 
The evening will offer a chance to worship, to talk, to laugh and to think. It will give young people a sense of being involved in a bigger church than they know. The youth event will be run separately and must be booked independently, for more information visit: www.cosy.uk.net.
Cromdale Hall
-2
21.00 – 21.45
Creative Showcase - Creative Reflections in Words & Music 
Graham Blount is the Church of Scotland’s Parliamentary Officer. His meditations on themes of land, ecology and stewardship will bring these series of workshops to an appropriate close.
Ochil
1
21.30 – 23.30
A Praise Evening with Ian White and friends 
Why not round off an amazing day at the EICC by worshiping God together, along with Ian White and some of his talented friends including a ten year old drummer! His team will lead us in a real mix of styles, from meditative worship through to rousing praise – worship without walls! 
Pentland Suite
3
22.00 – 01.00
Ceilidh – with Jiggers Band 
The Jiggers are talented exponents of the traditional, Scottish down-to-earth ceilidh. Guiding you every step of the way through raucous reels and gentle waltzes at the Church without Walls National Celebration Ceilidh. Come and finish the celebration with a celebration!
Cromdale Hall
-2
For the most up to date information visit www.wow2005.org.uk



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