Editorial: Life begins at forty
Anna Rankin

Comment: Leadership on the move
Stanley McDowell

From the director: The discipleship factor
David W Porter

Four things for leaders to do at the end of the world
Derek Poole

Pastoring people in prophetic living
David Montgomery

Being a servant leader
Diane Clutterbuck

Interview with Maria Garvey: Oil and water
Anna Rankin

Nurturing the next generation
John-Mark Mullan

The Word made flesh - East Belfast
Glenn Jordan

The Word made flesh - North Belfast
Bill Shaw

The Word made flesh - Derry
Sue Divin

The Word made flesh - Enniskillen
David Cupples

The Word made flesh - Poleglass
Martin J Magill

Resisting temptation
Drew Gibson

Review: And now let's move into a time of nonesense
Claire Martin

Review: Christianity for Dummies
Scott Vance

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THE WORD MADE FLESH
Five examples of church in the local commnuity

DERRY

WHEN SAINT COLUMBA established his Celtic Christian monastery on the 'island hill oak grove' (Doire) surrounded by the River Foyle, he could hardly have imagined how, in centuries to come, Christianity could so divide the place known simultaneously as Derry and Londonderry. Celtic Christianity pre-dated the reformation, pre-dated the Plantation, and found a way of impacting communities across Europe in the dark ages. Is it still relevant to communities today?

Wellspring is a small Celtic Christian community in the heart of the Bogside and close to the site of St Columba’s Well. A stone’s throw from ‘Free Derry Corner’, under the gaze of soon-to-be-decommissioned watchtowers on the city walls, and in a tight-knit community still genuinely impacted by memories of Bloody Sunday, much of the ‘traditional culture’ associated with ‘Northern Irish’ Christianity would be a cultural anathema here.

If a missionary were travelling to the Middle East they would no doubt seek to understand local ways in order to avoid unintentionally causing offence and to communicate the gospel in a relevant way. Do we consider this when we move amongst different cultures and communities in Ireland? Is it fair to assume that American, British and Australian choruses, or traditional hymns or gospel songs will impact all communities and individuals here in the same way?

Wellspring’s church roots go back 10 years, having developed out of an informal prayer group of local Christians from predominantly Catholic backgrounds who, for various reasons, no longer related to other established churches. The importance of God’s grace and a desire to see culturally relevant church in the local community have remained key. Creativity and exploration around worship and church format (a ‘new song’) have been equally important.

Culture in a church setting is not a straightforward thing to define. Obvious symbols like flags are more easily pinpointed than subtle cultures of language, dress code, informal conversation themes, social norms or music styles. For many people from nationalist or republican backgrounds, experiences from the Troubles can mean that exploring Christianity necessitates crossing huge social, political and cultural barriers. What if you support Celtic? Smoke? Love football (that’s GAA)? Are unemployed? Fear entering areas flying ‘Union Jacks’? Struggle with alcoholism or depression? Have had relatives killed by the British Army? Have always lived in a ‘Catholic’ area which has seen some of the worst violence of the Troubles? How many churches can you walk into and feel normal, never mind accepted? How much of yourself might you feel necessary to hide, change or deny?

Wellspring is a very small church and it doesn’t claim to have all the answers. However, local people can walk in and sense that their culture and background is understood and shared by the majority of Christians in the room. It is also a cross-community church and is predominantly ‘working class’, similar to its sister churches ‘Coracle’ (Falls Road, Belfast), ‘The Gathering’ (Galway) and ‘Preshal’ (Govan, Glasgow), and maintains links with STAROS and Christian Family Centre Armoy (Christian ministries to those with addictions).

The meetings are quite informal. Wellspring has met in houses, a community centre, and currently rents a ‘unit’ in a row of shops behind the Bogside Inn. If you happened to walk into a normal meeting you would probably find it would start (late, after coffee and optional smoke) with prayer and silence to focus thoughts, before praise and worship. If you imagined an Irish traditional music session focused on praise and worship of God, you are probably close to sensing what Wellspring is like. Devoid of overhead projectors, PowerPoint presentations, microphones, song lists or orders of service, there is not always even a clear ‘worship leader’. Guitars, tinwhistles, bodhrans and congos give a ‘Celtic’ feel to some widely recognised Irish hymns or well-known choruses, but more frequently accompany lesser-known songs written by ‘Wellspringers’. Occasional lyrics in Irish, and reflections with music alone, psalms or silence also resonate with church members and visitors, and people often pray aloud or share something they experienced that week. Often a church member or invited visitor will share a longer biblically based reflection, which could lead to discussion before the meeting ends (with another coffee and optional smoke). Bible studies, prayer meetings, Alpha courses, fasting and retreats happen flexibly, taking into account the practicalities of being a small church with individuals having other responsibilities and interests and not wanting faith-life to become a series of endless meetings. However, in a context where Christian commitment can mean risking relationships and community alienation, personal faith and relationship with Jesus Christ remains constant and central. Church, in a very real sense, is a lifeline, a family and a community.

SUE DIVIN is a member of Wellspring and works as Community Relations Officer for Derry City Council.

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