Nearly 1000 Presbyterians from all around Ireland have registered for a special conference entitled "Get A Life" to be held next month at the University of Ulster campus in Coleraine which will explore how the church can provide meaningful worship, authentic fellowship and effective witness in the 21st century.
"We need to understand better the mind-sets and lifestyles of people today that are proving so resistant to the gospel," explains Rev Harry Robinson, co-convener of the organising committee. "If we can begin to do that then we hope our conference will develop new ideas for ministry and witness that will better communicate a God which we believe is real and relevant to everyone, whatever their situation."
Keynote speakers at the summer conference planned for August 9-12 are American academic Prof Don Carson and Church of Scotland minister Rev Martin Allen.
Don Carson is Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, and is arguably the most prolific and respected evangelical academic in the world today. He has written over 40 books at every level, including a major work on contemporary culture, 'The Gagging of God'. He combines a massive intellect with a passion for the church and evangelism.
Rev Martin Allen has been the minister of Chryston Parish Church, north of Glasgow since 1977. A late entrant to ordained ministry after a career in commerce, Martin is committed to relevant Bible-teaching and to ensuring that the church connects with people where they are. A thriving ëchurch plantí by the congregation bears witness to the validity of his approach.
Each day of the residential conference begins with a 'no punches pulled' session putting the message of the church into today's cultural context and is followed by Don Carson considering what the Bible has to say on the particular issue in question. Afternoon seminars allow delegates to discuss the topics for themselves in smaller groups before coming together in an evening of celebration and Biblical reflection led by Martin Allen.
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ken Newell hopes that this special conference will "inspire the Church to believe that God can put new heart into local congregations. I believe that the Risen Christ will take this 'sacred space' in our busy lives and fill it with such insight, affirmation and challenge that none of us will be quite the same again."
This is the third special assembly that the Presbyterian Church has held in Coleraine in recent years. The first, 'Transformed, not Conformed,' took place in 1990 and the second, '2020Vision,' in 1997. "Without doubt, these events have contributed to the renewed vibrancy of faith and witness that many detect throughout our Church," added the Moderator.
"This is not a conference just for the sake of a conference!" argues Harry Robinson. "It must lead on to a process of discussion and decisions at congregational level where, while we face immense challenges we have infinite resources through our faith."
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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