Comments on: Hope 08

By: Clive Purser

Clive Purser — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:35:40 +0000

Reading all the posts it leaves me bewildered. Is there any hope for us as a group of Christians if we remian so cynical about God and his power to change hearts and minds. Statistics are one thing but only God really knows what went on through Mission England or whatever. Our role is to get up and do something, Hope 08 might just enable us to do simply that. Come on let’s give God the credit nor get crestfallen because we can’t see the results straight away.

By: webweaver.pttw

webweaver.pttw — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:58:05 +0000

revjoc,

I found you alliteration

mission mobilising

and even remembered to use British English,

from across the pond where it is still a sunny Thursday afternoon

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:50:56 +0000

Liz,

I think “she doesn’t need counselling, she needs medication” should be your tagline and used at every opportunity.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:18:21 +0000

Regarding Kathryns comment – at the beginning of the process we approached every denomination and stream that we could think of to invite them to take part. For the CofE a letter was sent to each Diocese, targeting the person who it was felt was most likely to respond. The letters came from a National officer (Paul Bayes). Several Bishops have endorsed the initiative (http://www.hope08.com/Group/Group.aspx?id=57017) from a range of churchmanships but we are always keen for more. However the nature of engagement within each Diocese has been a reflection of each of these individual structures. Let me know which Diocese you are part of and I am happy to inform you regarding the way in which we think the ideas have been disseminated.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:07:17 +0000

Hi Kathryn,

I think that Churches together is passing on information, and am aware of some local churches together groups looking at this – but could of course be wrong!

Steve

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:26:07 +0000

Ah I remember Mission England; in the absence of a babysitter, my father dragged my unwilling young self to the glamourous environs of the Fairfield Halls Croydon, mistaking my protestations of “I’m starting a migraine”, for an attempt to fake illness in order to get out of it (to be fair to him it was at best a 50-50 call ).

I can’t recall anything of what the speaker said, only that he shouted it out at us. Really shouted. This combined with some shocking problems with the pa system had the effect of booming noises bombarding my seizured head.

I ended up in tears of pain and on the verge of vommitting profusely, before my dad would accept that perhaps I really wasn’t well and we left.

On exiting the audiotorium, we were pounced upon by well-meaning prayers, who refused to accept that these weren’t tears of conviction, but a sodding chronic illness.

It was at this point my father regained my good opinion, by swatting away their evangelical zeal with words to the effect of “oh for goodness sake leave her alone, she doesn’t need counselling, she needs medication”.

By: revjoc

revjoc — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:56:55 +0000

For me, Hope08 is about permission – a logo and a brand providing the necessary ‘umph’ to get outside of the church building and see what God is already doing in the communities where we are.

It is permission giving
idea illustrating
theology thinking
mission (need alliteration and cannot think of one…)

Caution is good and understandable. But it’s quite exciting too, I think…

By: Russ

Russ — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:54:37 +0000

I quite understand your caution on this, Dave, and many of us probably identify with the sense that small is beautiful and large can be unwieldy, unfocused and risks exposing our friends to potentially embarrassing platform statements. Then again, I sometimes have no more confidence in my own ability not to make a complete pig’s ear of Christian living and discipleship on a daily basis in front of my own friends and family. I guess everything has its risks.
What I think marks Hope08 out a little from previous endeavours is that it is simple: do more, do it together and do it in word and deed. And churches can interpret that pretty much how they like, in doing whatever is appropriate for them and they people they live amongst. Doing something with hope and prayer has always got to be better than doing nothing, and maybe the ‘buzz’ and resources available will help people be a little more excited, imaginative and adventurous than normal. If God’s in it, good things will follow.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:37:29 +0000

Ummm….is Hope08 aimed at a particular cross section of churches? I simply ask because, though only a humble curate, neither I nor my vicar have received any news of it at all before your blog. Of course, the decision may already have been made that life in my parish is past hope…but all the same…
Off to investigate the website, but kind of wondering whether there will be alot of response, if churches aren’t invited.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:39:58 +0000

Yes, perhaps Mission England wasn’t a good one to include in my list. It was perhaps more ‘successful’ than many other such initiatives.

Ian – thanks for popping in and welcome. Please do stick around. Thanks for your perspective. I can see that feeling one is part of a greater and larger ‘thing’ is a good motivator for people. I do wish you all the best in your endeavours. By the way – a good pre-emptive strike with the ‘HYPE’ line!

Dave – Ah yes – ‘Jim’. I knew there were some more of these things I hadn’t remembered.