Conference Report: Cafe Culture

FANCY A CUP OF COFFEE?

On Wednesday 25th April, over a hundred of us from many different churches and denominations, decided to sample the coffee and croissants on offer at Southcourt Baptist Church, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The event was organised by RUN to introduce us to 'Caf� Culture' and to challenge us to consider how we might introduce some of the ideas into our own church situations.

The speakers from New Horizons Christian Fellowship Hemel Hempstead, Taste and See Kidsgrove and Cafeplus Haddenham gave us insights into why and how they had set up their informal meetings. A heart to connect with contemporary life and win people for Christ were common aims, coupled with a realistic awareness of declining numbers in traditional church services and an aging congregation. By looking at our 'coffee culture' and seeing how it could be used as a place where unchurched people could meet with Christians in a comfortable situation, various models have arisen.

New Horizons have run caf�- style services every Sunday for a number of years. They are committed to getting alongside people and offering contemporary worship and Bible based talks to help and encourage people in their day to day lives. People sit around tables in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. There is time and space for discussion and prayer. Arno Andreasen, who leads the fellowship, stated that they endeavour to keep to their mission statement of: Uniqueness, Mission, Vision and Theology.

Taste and See is an actual coffee shop in Kidsgrove, set up by the Methodist Church. Their leader Ashley Cooper was challenged by the words from Ezekiel 37 "Can these dry bones live?" - how can we reach the 20-40 age group in particular? He said that we can be "a church with a past but not a church in the past." The coffee shop atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming and acts as a bridge between the church culture and the community. Christians reach out with God�s love by building relationships leading to discipleship. In the evenings, they use other rooms in the building for prayer, healing ministry and for worship.

Tim Shaw leads Cafeplus in Haddenham, which is in a rural rather than an urban setting. They meet in the village hall one Sunday morning each month, replacing the usual service. Their aim is to provide a connection to the community beyond the church and for church to express itself in a new way. Their emphasis is on building relationships leading to discipleship. To that end they provide many and varied activities for all ages.

Nick Cuthbert, founder leader from Riverside Church, Birmingham brought the day to a close by speaking about the church moving out rather than trying to gather in. Food and drink are essentials for life and provide a "safe environment to hear an unsafe message".

In a warm and welcoming environment, with abundant food and drink, we were all able to share in the vision and commitment of these churches. There was time to network and discuss issues and situations. There was also a valuable time for asking questions.

I would guess that we all went away with ideas, insights and inspiration to look at our own church situation; to see what God is calling us to be and do, in order to share his love, compassion and grace with all whom we meet.

Janet Bayly is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England working with the Schorne Team of Churches in rural North Bucks and studying to become an ordained minister.