How to begin a Church at the Margins
Beginning a Church at the Margins workbook
This resource (click picture to open or download) accompanies the course.
Who is it for? Small groups of people (3-12) who want to begin a new Christian community amongst people experiencing poverty.
How to run the course:
- There are six sessions of around 90-120 minutes. This could be done in one sitting with a break, or you might like to take longer and split the sessions over a longer period of time. Ideally, the small group will be facilitated by someone who takes responsibility for setting the times, dates and venue for meeting.
- We recommend running the course fortnightly to give space for the practical activity between each of the sessions.
- This resource contains all the key messages to enable a group to journey together.
- Some video links are included in the sessions, optional if technology is not easily available.
You can access individual chapters here:
Session 1 Introducing the resource
Session 2 Vision and Values
Session 3 Creating connections
Session 4 Nurturing communities
Session 5 Sharing the gospel
Session 6 Seeing transformation
TRAINING SESSIONS FOR BEGINNING A CHURCH AT THE MARGINS COURSE FACILITATORS
Led: by Eunice Attwood
Join a 90-minute training session for anyone leading a small group using the new Beginning a Church at the Margins resource. We will introduce the course and think about how you can share the materials in your context.
Click on the date you wish to attend to book your place.
2024
Tuesday 16th January 7-8.30pm We will be joined by Sarah Hulme, Rural mission and Ministry Officer for this session as we highlight aspects of rural poverty.
If you would like to arrange an alternative time to run a session (for at least 6 facilitators) email:attwoode@methodistchurch.org.uk
Beginning a Church at the Margins: 3 session interactive online course
Aim of the course: A space to think about connecting and becoming a community of new Christians amongst and led by people experiencing poverty.
For: People who are passionate about their community with very little or no experience of this kind of work. Whilst you can attend alone ideally, we would like you to join as a team (you plus one other person from your church or circuit) to share in conversation together (if you are an experienced pioneer drop us an email for more information).
Important: Each session builds on the previous session, so you need to be available for all three sessions. The sessions are interactive rather than formal presentations and will not be recorded.
Hosted by: Eunice Attwood, Church at the Margins Officer and Kerry Scarlett, Regional Learning and Development Officer
Next courses: please sign up for all 3 sessions by clicking each link in red below:
Winter/Spring 2024
Tuesday 6 February 7-9pm: Session One: Creating connections and spaces where people truly encounter one another.
Tuesday 20 February 7-9pm: Session Two: Nurturing communities in which people with lived experience of poverty are recognised as the experts
Tuesday 5 March 7-9pm: Session Three: Sharing the gospel and seeing transformation as people grow in faith and challenge injustice.
If you would be interested in attending this course over two days face to face at Cliff College, please email: attwoode@methodistchurch.org.uk
Also,
On the Edge online course
Church at the Margins is partnering with Crucible to offer the 6-session online module ‘On the Edge’. On the Edge offers a space to think about the dynamics of mission and ministry in marginal urban and rural communities.
For: Anyone who wants to develop their thinking about nurturing communities amongst people experiencing economic poverty either as a practitioner, or, as an advocate (e.g. circuit steward, local preacher) Ideally, people should attend in a team (two people or more) to share their learning and think about how they might respond.
The October 2023 course has sadly been cancelled due to very low numbers.
The next course is in January 2024: See below
Crucible ‘On the Edge’ early 2024
Methodist free place code in 2024 MARGINS2024
Thursdays 7-9pm: 18 January, 25 January, 1 February, 8 February, 22 February, 29 February.
Book here