Church without Walls WEST DUMBARTON Reshaping the local church At our May meeting, we looked at the Church without Walls report. We split into various groups to deal with various sections of 'The shape of the local church'. Each group came back with suggestions for implementing the various recommendations made in the report. Some of the suggestions will form the subject of more detailed discussions, while others can be implemented through immediate action. Getting deep into a Gospel Recommendation: That congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation. Suggestion: Bible Study groups should be set up and taken by minister or lecturer with indepth knowledge of subject. Graceful living Recommendation: That congregations reflect on the cycle of grace and what it means to live out that grace in our life together. Suggestion: Church members should show warmth, forgiveness and friendship towards each other and to those in the local community who think that we (the church) want nothing to do with them. Worshipping with the community Recommendation: That kirk sessions undertake a review of the worship of the existing congregation and assess potential for developments within and beyond the congregation. Suggestion: Reach out to the community as part of our own Restoration II programme, eg service in the community and celebration services. Action: The worship group is doing this in an on-going basis. We have community services - six a year planned and we now invite all the organisations to our festival services. Church around a kitchen table Recommendation: That congregations consider how the cell, congregation and celebration dimensions of being the Church might be applied locally. Suggestion: We recommend the creation of 'fellowship groups'. These groups would be small enough to meet around a kitchen table. When the groups become larger than this it is envisaged they would split. The purpose of the groups would be to provide support and fellowship for our members. However, they would also be open to 'enquirers'. The meetings could take the format of a simple meal, during which news is shared; followed by a short act of worship (a performance could be supplied to give a starting point); followed by Bible study, or group discussion on another topic of interest. Once (or twice) a year groups could come together to share with each other. Worshipping with children Recommendation: That congregations determine to integrate children and young people into the life of the congregation; or to offering the resources to plant a church for a new generation alongside the current congregation. Suggestion: We recommend the Sunday School services continue and that Sunday School children are encouraged to continue leading the prayers of dedication in our normal pattern of worship. Action: We are currently doing this through the work of the worship group. Finding paths for searchers Recommendation: That congregations form paths for the spiritual journey to help people become Christian disciples in today's world. Suggestion: We recommend that 'searchers' be encouraged to join in a 'fellowship' group and to be befriended by the group. At the same time new ways of learning about the Christian faith could be explored, eg Alpha courses, etc. Leadership in a vacancy and beyond Recommendation: That kirk sessions review the current leadership structure, consider what ministry team is needed for current needs and determine how it might be developed in the next five years. Suggestion: The kirk session undertook a review of the leadership structure and ministry during the vacancy which will last another two to three years. However, we must always ensure the right people have the right tasks and allow groups to grow, driven by need and to come to an end when the task is complete. Learning together with neighbouring churches Recommendation: That kirk sessions offer an opportunity for all elders who have not undertaken training in the past three years to share the current vision of the role and expectations of an elder in the Church of Scotland. Suggestion: Implementation of a rolling programme of elder training topics with local churches, to accommodate new elders and up-dating for current elders. We should also have 'elder information sessions' to attract new blood! Communicating the work of the session Recommendation: That kirk sessions develop appropriate open styles of meeting and processes of communication. Suggestion: Current use of The Messenger and notice boards - duplicate information and remind the congregation; publicise the agenda for session meetings on the notice boards; hold open session meetings; more active use of a suggestion box.