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| Original source: X (formerly Twitter) |
The Church in Wales has announced that it is to invest almost £10m in four projects designed to promote growth in church attendance in Wales.
The Church explained that "The grants are being made from the Church Growth Fund, in which the Church is investing £100m to support projects in a once-in-a generation opportunity to resource confident and consistent evangelism throughout Wales."
The diocese of Monmouth is dedicating £1 million to 'help grow new worshipping communities' by targeting local schools.
This news has not been universaly welcomed.
The South Wales Argus described it as a 'Cynical move' to use schools to ease 'plummeting' church membership.
Their community content editor writes:
"Campaigners have urged local authorities to ensure schools 'will not be used as mission fields', after the Church in Wales announced plans to 'build stronger links' with schools in South Wales.
"The diocese plans to install a 'Schools Engagement Pioneer' in areas including North Monmouthshire, Islwyn and Abergavenny to focus on 'relationship-building with primary and secondary school-age pupils in a manner which goes beyond school assemblies'."
A spokesperson for he Diocese of Monmouth explained that it has secured funding of more than £1m to help grow new worshipping communities by building stronger relationships with schools.
What is a Church in Wales 'worshipping community' today and what sort of relationships?
Recently a pride service was held at Newport Cathedral. Their same sex partnered bishop preached. The Celebrant was transgender.
For building 'inclusive' relationships in the Church in Wales see this entry published six years ago. The then preacher now occupies an influential post at Newport Cathedral while the concelebrant has been appointed bishop of Bardsey.
For the love of Christ?
It seems to me that they may be some genuine questions to ask about this Schools Engagement Pioneer as one may be unhappy at "targeting" schools, especially non-Church ones, in this way. However I think that the Secular Society has a tendency to suggest that religion should play no part in school life, whereas in my view true secularism allows various religions and philosophies to be discussed in an open and dispassionate way. Teenagers in particular are full of questions and I don't think it's wrong to offer them an understanding of the Christian Gospel within the school setting, so long as no pressure is put on them to believe it. They also need to understand how religion has shaped so much of human history, literature and thinking.
ReplyDeleteBut ... why on earth have you jumped from discussing this new initiative to talking about a Pride service at St Woolo's (and the Bishop's partnership)? Apart from happening within the same Diocese, the two matters are not related to each other.
I seldom disagree with you BT but on this one, you're maybe wrong. The two matters - the CinW taking its 'mission' into the classroom and the Gay/Pride cabal taking advantage - are connected. The church might innocently slip the latch-key to school entry but pound-to-a-dollar, the Gays will then go crashing through. If I thought that maybe, perhaps, the Welsh Senedd as standard-bearers for school education might lay down some conditions that might relieve my fears ... but they too have been woeful in this area. Suffer the little children ... etc.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't let the cult in Wales anywhere near school children, but to be even handed, I wouldn't let Islam anywhere near school children either.
ReplyDeleteJesus sent his disciples out without money. Evangelism takes being grounded in Christ and the Gospel, not cash.
ReplyDeleteThe church can never grow by this sort of 'mission', but only by drawing people to it through conviction and authority as in Islam. Will they never learn?
ReplyDeleteThese milksop community efforts are doomed from the start, immediately swamped by LGBT - a major impediment within the church.
LW
"Never, in all my days, have I seen such a display of poofery. NEVER!"
DeleteWO2 Shuttup Williams
(Windsor Davies)
It ain't 'alf hot Mum
It will all come to nought.
ReplyDeleteIt's as if the chocolate teapot and the other plankers have forgotten they're already involved in church schools.
The vast majority of the children attending ignore them, including my grandsons thankfully.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/09/25/university-louisville-professor-sacked-gender-critical-view/
ReplyDeleteRight to free speech on trans issues violated.
Quelle surprise!
Bewildered
John Shirley Davies released £10 million pounds some years ago. Can anyone tell us what that achieved? You pewsters really need to wake up. The Church in Wales' coffers are being plundered.
ReplyDeleteSir Omicron Pi .
What are the odds on the Headmaster and head of R.E. being gay?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/26/boarding-school-ditches-catholicism-to-attract-more-pupils/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/26/soul-survivors-mike-pilavachi-played-naive-celibate/
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't make good reading either but will hardly come as a surprise.