Churches together in Shrewsbury
The President's proposals for a more effective CTIS
CTIS should be representing and encouraging all churches in our town. At present it consists of a faithful but non-representative group meeting four times a year with speaker-led meetings, attended by between 20-30 people.
To attract a wider more representative attendance we might:
1. Leave all executive decisions to a more representative Executive, leaving time for meetings to be more challenging, interactive and attractive.
2. Circulate succinct details of meetings to all church officers, asking for them to be featured on pulpit notices, church leaflets and posters.
3. Make all meetings open to members of all churches, including non- members of CTIS as a Body, excluding non- members only where voting is required. Ensure plenty of time for informal chat over coffee.
4. Encourage all church leaders to meet with each other on an informal basis.
5. Hold cross-denominational worship meetings from time to time, at which well-known national figures would be invited; ones who would attract interest from all churches right across the spectrum, to give us a vision of what is happening in the wider sphere.
6. Include prayer at our quarterly meetings as a matter of course, in a form which would be inclusive of all types of churchmanship.
7. Use our income to support all kinds of activity - embracing both local evangelism and outreach as well as assistance for the marginalised.
8. Communicate with the local press on a regular basis detailing our activities and concerns. (Letters pages and editorial)
9. Update our website on a regular basis, including all quarterly meetings and worship gatherings - encouraging attendance by both Christians and non-Christians.
10. Endeavour strenuously to be inclusive of both young and older, evangelical and liberal, Pentecostal and sacramental, orthodox and charismatic; ready to learn from and support each other, with a generous respect for each others strengths and traditions; seeing the good in each other and assisting each other wherever possible.
Yes, we are aiming for a utopia! We may not achieve it but let's give it a go!
Andrew Wright - President CTIS.
