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"Urban churches need to react radically to stop an accelerating decline in numbers." That's the message being presented before an important meeting of Presbyterians this Tuesday evening. The warning comes from Rev Derek McKelvey who is co-organising a "Consultation on Urban Mission", a meeting specially called for the three Presbyteries which make up the Presbyterian Church across Greater Belfast.
The meeting takes place in Ballyhenry Presbyterian Church, Ballyhenry Road, Glengormley, at 7.30pm . It will feature the presentation of two practical papers which will be debated by over hundred influential ministers, elders and church members.
The first paper, "Reaching the Urban Parish" will be introduced by by Rev Martin Allen,Church of Scotland minister of Chryston Parish, an inner city district of Glasgow. He has ministered there for twenty three years and has been at the forefront of mobilising church members into parish based outreach activity.
"Reaching the City Centre" is the second title and will be presented by Rev McKelvey, who is minister of Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Malone Road, Belfast. He comments
"We need to encourage Presbyterians to urgently assess what their priorities are with respect to urban development. It is estimated that nearly 90% of the world's population will dwell in urban areas by 2050. Tuesday night will be an ideal opportunity for us as a Christian community to begin to re-think our attitude towards city outreach, otherwise our church will have no city base at all. We must ensure that our thoughts lead to renewed action, with God's Blessing."
One of the key priorities of the "Consultation on Urban Mission" is to stimulate action within Presbyterian congregations in and around Belfast. In common with many other denominations, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has seen decline in church membership in urban areas, particularly in parts of Belfast. The Consultation in Urban Mission however, hopes to be a 'defining moment' in terms of identifying the challenges posed in reaching out to the broader city population which have no connection with a church.
Issued by Martin McNeely, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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