CWM Europe

Faith Sharing in Europe


Whereas 'Shaping the Church for Mission' focuses particularly on the church, 'Faith Sharing in a European Cultural Context' focuses specifically on European culture and on those who are not part of a church community.

Throughout the century the Christian faith has witnessed a radical shift in Europe from occupying a position of power and influence to increasing irrelevance in many people’s lives.  Christianity has been displaced as the primary source of ethical values and cultural meaning after centuries of dominance in Europe and now finds itself in a culture that is progressively secular.  Faith sharing among people who have known the Christian story, but have largely turned away from it is a new challenge that has not been faced before.  How can the CWM Europe churches and Christian people share faith in this setting?

In this context, the church is challenged to communicate with people in entirely new ways. “Faith Sharing in a European Context” will provide the space to explore faith sharing and evangelism. This programme area would also include issues such as multicultural ministry, inter-faith relations, and barriers to faith sharing within our own churches.
  • Faith Sharing in a European Cultural Context

    Being the church in Europe brings pressures and challenges to the life and witness of the Christian church. How does the church in Europe address and understand these challenges and pressures?

    A group of 17 people involved in a variety of ministries in CWM Europe member churches met in Brussels for a four day workshop. 

    During the workshop the group considered:

    European Integration

    Current economic situation

    Diakonia and service

    Migration in Europe

    We were pleased to be joined by partners in Eurodiaconia, Council of European Churches and the Churches Commission on Migrants in Europe.  Representatives of these organisations based in Brussels were able to act as resource people for the workshop.  Along with Harm Dane, Study Secretary for the Protestant Kerk in the Netherlands and Frank Kantor, Secretary for Church and Society in the United Reformed Church.

    A fascinating paper was presented to help participants “Set the Scene” at the beginning of the workshop, and is available here (pdf).

    The planning group are intending to produce a series of Bible Studies for use in local churches as a result of the workshop.

     

    A group of 17 people involved in a variety of ministries in CWM Europe member churches met in Brussels for a four day workshop.  During the workshop the group considered:

     

    European Integration

    Current economic situation

    Diakonia and service

    Migration in Europe


    We were pleased to be joined by partners in Eurodiaconia, Council of European Churches and the Churches Commission on Migrants in Europe.  Representatives of these organisations based in Brussels were able to act as resource people for the workshop.  Along with Harm Dane, Study Secretary for the Protestant Kerk in the Netherlands and Frank Kantor, Secretary for Church and Society in the United Reformed Church.

     

    A fascinating paper was presented to help participants “Set the Scene” at the beginning of the workshop, and is available here (pdf).

     

    The planning group are intending to produce a series of Bible Studies for use in local churches as a result of the workshop.

     

  • Sharing the Gospel

    Sharing the gospel in our post-modern contexts

    We frequently hear that we live in “post-modern” cultures with all that means - distrust of authority, relative about absolute, placing importance on individual spirituality rather than organised religion etc but what does this mean for the church and the good news we are called to share with others?

    A group of twenty-five mission enablers and trainers from CWM Europe member churches spent time in Manchester considering the relationship between post-modernism and the gospel. How does post-modernism impact on the gospel and how does the gospel impact on post-modernism?

    The workshop considered:

    Post-modernism and evangelism – in what ways to people encounter God and what is the nature of the good news the church is called to share?

    Post –modernism and approaches to the Bible – how does post-modernism impact on the Bible and the Bible on post-modernism? How are they changed or seen in new ways due to the interaction?

    Post-modernism and worship – how does post-modernism and the cultures in which we are set impact on how we gather for worship?

    Post-modernism and science – post-modernism has taken away many old certainties and ideas. Where do people know look for certainty and security in a fragile world?

    Post-modernism and the shape of the church – what does post-belonging times and a network society mean for a church still rooted to a particular time and place?

    The following resources are available from the “Sharing the Gospel in our post-modern contexts” workshop.

    Papers:

    Presentations:


CWM Europe is one of the Regions of CWM, a partnership of churches in mission. The object of CWM Europe is 'to spread the gospel of Christ in word and action.