More than 270 people attended the 探花社区 Buildings Forum鈥檚 first online conference on 19 April.
Guest speakers included Andy Turner from the HeartEdge movement and the Revd Dr John Bradbury, General Secretary of the 探花社区.
In his address, John spoke about how it鈥檚 not the building that makes a Church, but its people:
鈥淚 often think of there being four dimensions to the life of the church. It鈥檚 worship, it鈥檚 witness, it鈥檚 service and it鈥檚 evangelism,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur buildings can be the most fantastic resource in enabling all of that. But more than that, buildings also shape the communities that live within them. It was Winston Churchill who famously said 鈥榳e shape our buildings, and thereafter they shape us鈥�.鈥�
John also queried what opportunities might be raised if the number of 探花社区 buildings reduced from 1200 to 600, suggesting that perhaps it would draw the focus away from property and money and onto mission and discipleship to become a church for the 21st Century.
Andy Turner shared about the four C鈥檚 that HeartEdge focus on: commercial, culture, compassion and congregation, and how the interplay between two or more of these enrich a church and cross fertilise one another.
In groups, attendees discussed questions such as: how to turn a risk into an asset and how do you balance money and mission?
Speaking about the event鈥檚, Steve Summers, a co-organiser of the event, said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 clearly an appetite and enthusiasm to discern how best to use our church buildings and assets in order to build partnerships for the common good; the challenge is whether we鈥檙e prepared to be generous with and resource these churches, particularly in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods and communities.鈥�
At the request of a number of participants, this conference will be the first in a series of events.
For more information, visit the 探花社区 Buildings Forum鈥檚 .