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Continuing our series on the challenges
to be faced over the next 10 years, Carolyn Smyth, this year’s
Assembly Chaplain, who ministers in Glasgow, looks for a freeing of
the potential which is already present in our churches
Come with me to Drumchapel – a post-war housing scheme on Glasgow’s edge; a place where, in rich Britain, people live with poverty. Poor housing, bad health, unemployment, low educational attainment, substance abuse and domestic violence all conspire to undermine people’s self-worth and hope for the future.
It’s not the most comfortable place to be (the minister doesn’t live there by her own uncomfortable choice). But for all the difficulties put in people’s way of fulfilling their potential, there is creativity and purpose and, for many, a sense of pride in being from this part of Glasgow. Today it’s a re-generation area: housing is being demolished and replaced and ... the churches are changing too!
Six congregations of four denominations, and a family/community project, are covenanted together in a grass-roots-inspired partnership. What is striking, apart from the extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment of those involved, is that the Partnership has strengthened not only relationships between the churches but also relationships between church and community. We’re discovering that ecumenism and mission are related – they work best when done together! Not only that, but we are experiencing the beginnings of what I hope will become an increasing emphasis on lay leadership (for example, the Partnership’s representative Lay Team is a clergy-free zone!).
Truly, the potential is huge. Local people are finding a voice and renewed purpose. We’re on a journey – we don’t know all the paths we’ll take; we don’t know what the Partnership will look like next year never mind in 10 years time but we’re trying to be ‘a Spirit-blown people’, travelling hopefully, in the company of Jesus Christ – and it’s great! Our witness is becoming the stronger for it – and people are noticing.
Two strong imperatives arise from this unfinished story which shape my vision for the URC (and the whole church): firstly, that local congregations put mission and unity first, that is working with others in the community and ecumenically. In fact I hope we relegate survival and maintenance to the bottom of our agenda, if they have to be there at all, because they are not the Church’s purpose and get in the way of mission. I am bold to say that we all need to hear Drumchapel’s story, and others like it! Not because Drumchapel Churches Partnership has got it all right but because we need to be heartened and challenged by what is possible so that we can challenge and encourage each other and grow more confident in being Christian.
secondly, that our commitment to people whose lives are crippled by poverty in the developing world is mirrored by an equal commitment to those who live with poverty in the UK. The health of the whole church is measured by our shared commitment to the poor – those on our doorstep as much as to those furth of our coastline. My vision is of a Church which realises its corporate responsibility to learn from and with the Christian community in areas of urban and rural deprivation and to prioritise sharing good news with the poor. So, (if I may stray from vision to strategy!) do we have an overall picture of where all our ‘urban and rural priority area’ congregations are?
do we have a strategy to ensure these congregations have sufficient resources – including money and appropriate leadership?
how do we receive their insights and gifts so that we may all be transformed?
can we sharpen our commitment to the ministry of the whole people of God by giving greater priority and resources to lay ministry and begin to nurture lay-led congregations (perhaps clusters of them with a resourcing Minister).
The potential is great, within – and on the edges of – congregations to discover and make real new ways of being church. Let’s bring all this God-given potential to fruition!
Carolyn Smyth ministers at Drumchapel Essenside URC
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