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Lawrence Moore describes the work of the Windermere Centre
The Windermere Centre has been serving the URC as its residential training centre since 1985. Originally the manse for Carver Church, the Centre was the vision of Stephen Thornton, then-minister of Carver, who proposed its establishment as a training centre ‘for the whole people of God’. Deeply committed to the Reformed principle of the priesthood of all believers, Stephen could not understand why the Church invested huge sums of money in colleges that trained people for ordained ministry, but made no comparable investment in the training of its membership for Christian ministry.
In that sense, the Windermere Centre has been a Resource Centre for Learning (RCL) for the URC for 22 years. It plays host to arguably the largest cross-section of the Church every year, hosting courses, church weekends, networks and residential committees that are attended by approximately 2000 members and visitors annually.
a resource for a church-in-mission
When we adopted the Growing Up report in 1999, we said that the URC defined itself by mission: that to be the Church meant to be engaged in God’s mission of salvation – or transforming the world into the Kingdom of God. We talked about moving ‘from maintenance to mission’, by which we meant that, instead of focussing all our attention on maintaining the structures of the Church, and agonising over its survival, we would focus on our involvement in mission. What is important is not that we were necessarily successful (we said), but that we are faithful – and being faithful to God is to be involved in all that God is doing to save the world.
That is what defines the Centre’s role and approach. The Centre is a resource to equip the Church for mission. Each year, the Centre produces a programme of courses designed to equip the ministers and members of the URC for effective mission. The programme is designed quite deliberately to be a menu from which churches and individuals can choose courses that meet the needs of their local circumstances. So there are typically courses from Bible and theology, through prayer and spirituality, engaging with and understanding contemporary culture, worship and preaching, new ways of ‘being Church’, right through to finance and administration and computers! Importantly, the programme is drawn up with a view to being useful to ministers when planning their annual Education for Ministry.
In an ideal world, each local URC would begin the new church year and ask itself, ‘What resources do we need in order to be effective in mission?’ and look to the Centre as a resource. If we as a Church were to make the best use of our investment in the Centre, each local church would be encouraging different members or groups within the congregation to use the Centre where appropriate. In that way, the churches would be looking strategically at their mission and the Centre would do best what it is set up to do: serve the local churches of the URC, rather than simply provide courses for people with particular interests. The Centre would also be a ‘first stop’ for elders and ministers looking ahead to the next year and planning the minister’s annual education and learning programme.
a venue for meetings, gatherings and holidays
In addition to providing a comprehensive programme for resourcing the whole people of God in mission, the Centre is a popular venue for church weekends and times away, residential committee meetings, networks and retreats. The en-suite rooms, delicious home-cooked meals, state-of-the-art conference facilities and the Lake District itself make it an ideal venue for special get-aways. The Centre is happy to fit in with your requirements – from ensuring that you are welcomed and comfortable to providing part or all of your programme
‘Place’ is important, and we encourage you to make full use of the opportunity to explore the Lake District. Instead of doing everything in the Conference Room, how about planning evening prayers up at Castlerigg Stone Circle, or doing Bible study on the shores of the lake, or prayerful reflection on top of a mountain? In coming to the Centre, you’re not just coming to work or study: you’re coming to encounter God and discover more about God’s direction and purposes for you. And if it’s simply a holiday that you’re looking for, you can use the Centre as a hotel. As long as there’s room, you can book in for B&B, half- or full-board – and at incredibly reasonable prices! Or maybe you’d like to book the Centre to host a family house party over Christmas, New Year or Easter? That can easily be arranged, too.
fully equipped and fair trading
The Conference Room is equipped with a computer, digital projector and touch-operated Smart Board. There is a surround-sound speaker system for playing CDs and showing DVDs and videos. For larger groups, or groups that require more space, the Centre uses the beautifully refurbished Carver Church sanctuary as a Conference Room. The Garden Room is the Centre’s chapel area, and there is a first floor lounge with television and library.
Our food is freshly prepared, using Fair Trade products where possible. The meat and poultry is free range and we cater for all dietary requirements. The bar stocks TraidCraft wines, and the shop sells Fair Trade food, snacks, cards and gifts. We also sell olive wood from Bethlehem, helping a Palestinian Christian family to support five other families in Bethlehem.
the hannah fund
‘No one should be prevented from coming to the Centre by financial hardship’. That is the conviction of Ruth and Raymond Clarke, who set up the Hannah Fund in honour of their daughter, Hannah Clarke. The Fund makes grants to people who would otherwise be unable to take part in the Centre’s courses. You can apply on your own behalf, or on behalf of anyone in the church who might benefit. Simply ring, write or email the Director.
vision4Life
Vision4Life began three years ago from a consultation at the Centre on evangelism within the URC. For the next three years, one of the major focuses of the Centre will be resourcing Vision4Life. The 2008 Programme has been designed around the themes of Bible study, prayer and evangelism, with the focus in 2008 on the Bible. So if you’re serious about the vision we believe God has for our Church, come and use the Centre to inspire, equip and encourage you.
it’s your place
The Windermere Centre exists to resource, equip and serve the URC. It’s the Centre’s job to support the Church – not the other way round. Setting up the Centre was a bold vision. A thorough review commissioned by Mission Council in 2002 concluded that there was a continuing need for the Centre. The Catch the Vision group reported to General Assembly this year that they saw the Centre playing a central role in the next stages of Catch the Vision.
At the end of the day, though, the Centre is your place. It is your money that funds the Centre. That is a real investment in the mission and future of the United Reformed Church. How much you will benefit from that investment is up to you!
Lawrence Moore is Director of the Windermere Centre Email: windermere.centre@gmail.com Website: www.windermere.urc.org.uk/
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