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Editorial:
Faith in the Future? From
the director: Finding ourselves in the City Traveller,
the road is made by walking it The
Word made Flesh: A Sign and Foretaste in Limerick Comment:
The Architecture of Faith The
Word made Flesh: Down and Out in Dublin The
Word made Flesh: Cork Methodist Church, Ardfallen The
Word made Flesh: Reflections from the Maiden City Cathedral
Quarters: Interviews with Rev Dr Houston McKelvey and Very Rev Hugh
Kennedy Review:
Journey Towards Holiness Economics
and the economy: what are they for? Bible
Study: Beyond Silver Coins Reflection:
The 'F' word Review:
Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living Difficult
Conversations: Looking for God in the City... |
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IT IS A CHURCH to which the existing congregation are very committed, due to the nature of the past. During the 1960s and 1970s many of our congregation experienced the bombing of their businesses in the city, intimidation out of their homes, and remarkable inconvenience just to get to church on a Sunday. There were numerous searches and checkpoints around the city and it took literally hours to get to church. This has left its mark on this church. Many young families moved out of the Cityside of Derry, and made their homes on the Waterside, also changing their church allegiance. We lost numerous young families in this way. Others moved too but out of loyalty to St. Augustine’s retained their membership and were extremely faithful in attendance and participation in church life. Nowadays, only a handful of families remain on the Cityside, most of whom live in The Fountain, a Protestant enclave within the walls. Again, on a regular basis, these parishioners and other families in the Fountain experience petrol bombs, paint bombs, and general mayhem lobbed from the city walls onto the estate. It is a distressing and wearying experience, although we are hopeful that our political “new era” will minimise this threat. The loss of many young families led, in recent decades, to the church becoming a more elderly congregation. This has been difficult to change although several young families have joined very recently. It is difficult to get an elderly congregation to embrace or even want change and it is difficult to make things happen without younger members alongside the older ones. The congregation would be the first to acknowledge this. We are faced with several issues: How do we go about making changes in church life that will attract new members, but retain our existing and very loyal congregation? How do we reach out into a community that is, in some cases, the business community, and located in residential areas perceived as “the other side”? Why is it so difficult to get churches and clergy to work together in an area where, although most congregations are declining in number, they remain territorial? There are four Cityside Church of Ireland churches in Derry and there is little appetite for teamwork. One of my main concerns is, quite frankly, trying to do too much. I have plenty of vision – I can see what could and what should happen but, in staff terms, there is only me. We have run Alpha Courses and various other adult education courses, we have started a new congregation in the newly refurbished Diocesan Offices, and we have started a series of house groups. But much need remains – I need someone to develop children’s and youth work. I need someone to oversee the running of the new congregation. As you will all be aware, these days even committed members of congregations are busy people and by the time they work, look after their own families and worship, they are exhausted!! There is a limit to what you can ask them to do with you. Yet there is no chance of change without a team, I am acutely aware of that. This was brought home last year with a visit to our new partnership with a Parish in Bristol Diocese, Malmesbury Abbey. Our visits to Malmesbury have been great and an eye-opener to our own visiting team who saw the reality of progress. Malmesbury has a vicar, a youth worker, a minister for the elderly, an administrator, a staff member who looks after the house groups…I confess to leaving sick with envy!! I am very hopeful for the future. An optimist by nature, I really believe it can be done. With help, I would love to initiate a community project where we were engaging in a real way with our neighbours. I would love to reach out to the business community. I would love to run a cross-community Alpha Course in the city. There is so much that needs doing especially in an increasingly secular and multi-ethnic city – and yet so frustrating that at the moment, I have to recognise the limitations of a staff of one. The vision is there; executing it may be somewhat challenging! Recently, with the help of a facilitator, we undertook a Parish Development Plan, which I found extremely helpful. We focussed on five agreed areas and made an action plan (which, believe it or not, we are actually doing!). We are making progress, but we have a long way to go. Leadership training has helped me to recognise that I need to focus on doing a few things well – but I cannot do everything (and stay sane!). Building a dynamic team will be the key to survival, and much more – growth, development and vibrancy. Am I between a rock and a hard place? Or might it be that it is God who is in control here? PAT STOREY lives presently in Derry, is married to Earl and has two teenage children. She loves her family, her food, her dog, walking and swimming (probably in that order!). She loves to read and is a member of a local book club, and also writes as a hobby and has joined a Creative Writing course here in the city. She believes in the church. |
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