How inclusive is your church? - CFN Newsletter 109

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 109

> Does your church welcome people with disabilities? Peter Dilley
looks at the work of Causeway Prospects
> News:
> Support Christian teachers' vital role
> Sir Cliff says 'Yes!' to evangelist's resource
> Men @ work with God: CVM conference
> Your View: 'Thanks, CFN!'
> Sites:
> For step-families
> Bible stories for Mills and Boon fans
> Give a great gift this Christmas
> Wanted: your school/church nativity video
> Marriage MOT: For better, for worse
> You've got to laugh: Three engineers
> Members' Zone latest

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Dear All

Is your church genuinely welcoming to all? Or do we only feel comfortable with 'people like us'? Leading the way in helping disabled people encounter and worship Jesus, and helping churches benefit from the many gifts disabled adults and children bring, has been Causeway PROSPECTS. Take a look at our piece from Peter Dilley this week and see what you can learn ...

Work starts next week on the winter Families Together magazine, and we're encouraged by the churches who have already signed up to receive a bundle of 50 to use, at just 50p each.

If you'd like a bundle (or more) for use in your work with families of all kinds inside and outside the church, just mail Lyn Bedford on lynbedford@christianmedia.org.uk or call her direct on 01903 602126.

If it's half-term where you are - enjoy some time with your kids. And don't forget to tell them you love them, however hard work they can be!

Shalom

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

Your feedback, positive and negative, enables us to develop CFN in the way that is most useful for you - so please tell us if we're off the rails or on the button!

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

ADVICE

Becoming an inclusive Church

  • PETER DILLEY discovers the story of Causeway PROSPECTS, helping to meet the spiritual needs of the 1.2 million people in the UK with learning disabilities

Celebrations at major Christian events do much to raise the profile of Causeway PROSPECTS’ work with adults with learning disabilities, but this is just a part of a nationwide ministry and resource base, with a growing network of smaller groups.

Tony Phelps-Jones is currently director of Causeway PROSPECTS, but he stressed that the original impetus behind it came from Rev David and Madeleine Potter (the organisation’s founders), as they were developing the Living PROSPECTS residential projects:

“Their thoughts turned to the rest of the 1.2 million people with learning disabilities in the UK – they couldn’t provide residential care for them, and their spiritual needs weren’t being addressed effectively by local churches. What could they do about that?

“They felt God directing them to start something that would help the spiritual lives of many more people with learning disabilities. So Causeway PROSPECTS began with awareness-raising, and they produced the first few resource materials (Bible studies etc) to help churches to get educated and set up small ministry groups, after Madeleine and David had realised that the group they were with in Reading were understanding very little of the church service and sermon each week.

“At much the same time, David Potter was invited to be a seminar speaker at Spring Harvest, and he observed that there was nothing at Spring Harvest which was suitable for people with learning disabilities, so after talking to Clive Calver they were invited to come back and run something.

“We’ve been doing that for 18 years now, along with Keswick Convention and FIEC Pwllheli, and we’re gradually working to encourage other conferences to be inclusive by having programmes especially for adults with learning disabilities.”

At a local level too, Tony believes there’s a biblical imperative for churches to become more inclusive:

“When I talk to churches, I often use the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 12 – Paul’s description of the body being made up of many parts. Parts, although different, are of no less value: ‘Those parts which seem to be weakest are indispensable’ (verse 22). It’s really on that basis that I paint this picture of an inclusive Church – it’s our perception of them as being weaker, measured by our standards, and the Bible says they are ‘indispensable’, we cannot do without them, we’re incomplete without them.

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

Support Christian teachers' vital role

Christian teachers really do make a difference. That's the theme of the Association of Christian Teachers in England one-day conference next month.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

Cliff says 'yes' to evangelist's It's A Boy resource!

Sir Cliff Richard has given his support to the launch of Steve Legg's It's A Boy Christmas resources range.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

Men @ work with God

Getting God to Work is the theme for Christian Viewpoint for Men 's 2003 conference.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> YOUR VIEW

Thanks, CFN!

I have just read your article on bullying on your website and think it is brilliant. I am currently home educating two of my children, having taken out my middle child due to there being insufficient protection for him from the bullies in school. The schools just did not take the bullying seriously, or take action to protect my child.

I would support any action you take to try to increase the Government's awareness of the problem and of how it is being ignored, rather than dealt with.

Hannah Leigh

Do your family's experiences with bullying echo Hannah's? Mail us, or put your views on the Bulletin Board

> MARRIAGE MOT

For Better for Worse

What fearsome words – how little we know what may lie ahead. Sometimes we marry thinking that our love will change our spouse – we’ll soon cure those bad habits or break that addiction. All it needs is a little love.

Have you heard what the bride said as she went up the aisle to the altar? “I’ll alter him”.

We all like the sound of “Better”, but sometimes easy times may lead our hearts to wander as we take each other for granted. “Worse” is more ominous, but we hope with boundless optimism that everything will be all right. It won’t happen to us.

And then we wake up one morning to remember the tears of the previous night as we confronted our loved one for letting us down, or see the empty pillow and remember the argument that led them to sleep in the spare room or remember the unpaid bills or the doctor’s diagnosis. Where do we turn at those times? How do we find a way through?

Facing our problems fair and square. Taking responsibility for our own actions and forgiving each other. Being prepared to be the one who bears the weight of life for a weakened partner. Setting our face with determination to get through. Choosing to love our spouse when there seems nothing attractive or loveable about them and the pain threatens to engulf us. Leaning on God if we know Him.

Why do we do it? Because we don’t want to be alone. Because somewhere inside we long to go on. Because we made a vow all those years ago to do it. Because we want what’s best for our loved one and our children. Because we hope that would do it for us. Perhaps because they are beside us working through it, too. Because we believe there is hope beyond the pain.

Have you been through some of those “worse” times? What helped you through? What did you learn? Do you know each other better? Did your marriage grow stronger through it?

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk
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> WANTED: NATIVITY VIDEOS

Have you caught any funny nativity-play moments on camera? Would you like to see your children elevated from the school stage to small screen? BBC1 needs your footage for a magical Christmas family show. If you have suitable material, send a VHS videotape to Freepost: I Want to Be Mary (no stamp required) - and if it's used, you'll receive £100! Please ensure that your videotape is cued up in the correct place, and remember to include your name and address for it to be returned to you.

> EVENTS

Catch up with the latest in our Events guide at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp

Send your family/church event to info@cfnetwork.co.uk for a free listing.

Small groups, growing churches 2004

Almost 1,000 small group leaders enjoyed a day's teaching, inspiration and encouragement as part of the 2003 Small groups, growing churches tour organised in March by Christian Herald, Scripture Union and CPO.

Now plans are almost complete for 2004, with three dates planned for March in Leeds, Tonbridge and Plymouth, and three for October.

If you would like to be kept up to date with information about Small groups, growing churches 2004, mail Lyn Bedford on lynbedford@christianmedia.org.uk or call her on 01903 602126.

> SITES WORTH SEEING

www.thestepfamilylife.com is a weekly online column about stepfamilies written by a Christian stepmum, with links to stepfamily resources and a free newsletter

Starting to think about Christmas shopping? Well, why not head for www.great-gifts.org where you can take a look at World Vision's Alternative Gift Catalogue - where you can give money to provide gifts of real value for needy families around the world. You could find yourself giving a flock of goats or a mosquito net ...

The Church of Scotland is repackaging Bible stories in striking softback format to reach Mills and Boon lovers everywhere. Take a look at www.bookofgod.org

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

There are three engineers in a car: an electrical engineer, a chemical engineer and a Microsoft engineer.

Suddenly the car engine shuts off, leaving the three engineers stranded by the side of the road. All three engineers look at each other, wondering what could be wrong.

The electrical engineer suggests stripping down the electronics of the car and trying to trace where a fault might have occurred.

The chemical engineer, not knowing much about cars, suggests that maybe the fuel is becoming emulsified and getting blocked somewhere.

Then, the Microsoft engineer, not knowing much about anything, comes up with a suggestion: "Why don't we close all the windows, get out, get back in, open the windows again, and maybe it'll work!?"


> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> How your church can become truly inclusive
> Eric Spellman on making the most of your Windows Accessories
> Kate's marriage tips - For better, for worse ...

> Resources

> Moments for Mum - with columnist Elisabeth Corcoran
> Parentalk survey on working mums
> Bruce Cameron tries to teach his son tennis
> The story of a hug

> News

> Take binge drinking seriously, says Christian charity
> Involvement is a right, not a privilege
> Call for youth sex education at seven described as 'deplorable’

PLUS News Extra: Crime for children to meet on the streets?
Big Scots drive to reach 18-30s

> Top sites this week

> For step-families
> Bible stories for Mills and Boon fans
> Give a great gift this Christmas + MORE

> Events: More of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 600 sites at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

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