Hats, big hair and bling may be stock-in-trade at racecourses but Ladies’ Day at CRE National 2019 will subvert the stereotype. In partnership with Mothers’ Union and Project 3:28, our final day looks in depth at issues faced by women in today’s church and world.
Rooted in Christian tradition and biblical values, a range of speakers and specialists will consider issues such as gender stereotyping and the barriers women face in achieving their potential.
Read on for the details of each seminar, plus other Ladies’ Day events.
#metoo, #churchtoo, #ustoo?
Natalie Collins, Project 3:28
Thursday 17 October, 11am, Park View Suite
Stories of women being subjected to sexism, harrassment and violence have gained widespread media coverage. The church is not immune with cases emerging of women and children being abused and mistreated by those in power. How do we create safe churches that hold abusers accountable and enable women to flourish through Christ? Natalie Collins (pictured), a gender justice specialist, offers insight into the issues and outline core principles for building safe churches.
In this seminar you will:
• Reflect on the #metoo and #churchtoo movements
• Be challenged about the issues your church faces
• Consider what you need to do to make your church a safe space
• Learn how to help those who have been abused, possibly within your own church
• Be introduced to resources to help you learn more
Where have all the black saints gone?
Dr Sanjee Perera, University of Birmingham
Thursday 17 October, 12 noon, Park View Suite
Many of us will know the stories of aristocratic saints who lived centuries ago but have we considered how their stories might clash with the earthy biblical narratives that speak of prostitutes alight in Grace, of famine and slavery, of unbending dictators, genocide and the fall of empires? Dr Sanjee Perera (pictured), research fellow at the University of Birmingham, had to search to find the stories of black women who have served the church and she takes us on a poetic journey through Victorian stained glass and alabaster angels in verdant graveyards, to examine how goodness, holiness, beauty and virtue became synonymous with whiteness, and how this becomes a double burden for women with black and minority ethnicities.
In this seminar you will:
• Learn about important women in Christian history
• Find out more about the racist and colonial history of the church
• Be challenged about racism within your church
• Consider how your church can become more welcoming and inclusive
• Reflect on the significance of your church furnishings in responding to racism and sexism
Women in leadership
The Bishop of Dorking, Rt Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells
Thursday 17 October, 1.15pm, Park View Suite
Bishop Jo (pictured) identifies and responds to the particular challenges women face in pursuing God’s call to leadership, including theological objections, practical challenges, institutional barriers and internal obstacles (confidence issues, imposter syndrome etc). How far have we got to go to ensure women and girls are liberated and fully included in the church?
In this seminar you will:
• Hear about Bishop Jo’s own leadership journey
• Reflect on what the Bible says about women in leadership
• Learn about the internal barriers faced by women in leadership
• Understand how to respond to the external barriers faced by women in leadership
• Be encouraged, as a woman in leadership or as a supporter of women in leadership
Reviving biblical womanhood
Rachel Gardner, Youthscape
Thursday 17 October, 2.30pm, Park View Suite
For many within Christian culture, womanhood looks a particular way – but is it biblical? And what does it mean for women and girls who don’t fit that ideal? Drawing from her new book, The Girl Deconstruction Project (Hodder), Rachel Gardner, director of partnerships at Youthscape, offers a new vision for women in the church and inspires as to realise that vision in our own churches, communities and families.
In this seminar you will:
• Reflect on the meaning of biblical womanhood
• Be encouraged about God’s purposes for women and girls
• Discover the diversity of what it means to be a woman who loves God
• Be inspired by Rachel’s journey towards self-acceptance
• Hear about the ways women and girls are making a difference in the church and world
Ladies’ Day plenary
Hosted by Natalie Collins of Project 3:28
Thursday 17 October, 3.15pm, Park View Suite
Ladies’ Day also includes:
11.30am – Songs from Marilyn Baker (Arts Café)
12pm – Being a mother to the motherless: Helping the next generation to be the women of God has called them to be, with Lizzie Price, EDGE (Seminar Room 1)
12pm – Emily Feltham (pictured) of Saltmine Theatre Company performs an extract from Chosen, a play about the life of Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers’ Union, and talks about Saltmine’s partnership with the Mothers’ Union for this production (Arts Café).
12.30pm – Music from Daughters of Davis and Asamoah (Cindy’s Bar)
2pm – Exploring wellbeing for ordained women, with Rev Jackie Johnson, Diocese of Lincoln (Seminar Room 1)
2pm – Using digital technology to make women’s lives better, with Jo Swinney, CPO (Seminar Room 2)
2pm – Saltmine Theatre Co present a duologue and monologue from Mary Magdalene (Arts Café)
3pm – Marilyn Baker in concert (Cindy’s Bar)
Welcome to Day 1 of CRE, which includes the following seminars and special features. If you’re planning your visit, you might find it helpful to download and print out our day-by-day seminar programme guide.
• Being playfully serious: How Messy Churches create new space for faith with Claire Dalpra
• Getting started with Messy Church with Dave Martin
• Awkward, but essential: How to talk effectively about relationships and sex in church with Sarah Smith
• The greatest secret: Why adoption changes everything about discipleship with Krish Kandiah
• Metamorphosis: How to move beyond the church walls with Alison Fernandes
• How to protect your church from terrorism
• Sharing Bible stories in primary schools with Julie Jefferies and Val Ralston
• Report on Bible distribution at the London Olympics 2012 with Edward Diggines
• Church Buildings: How to make them happen with Jim Hamett and Nigel Walter
• From detached to disciples: The building blocks of outstanding youth ministry with Dan Lodge
• Can you hear me at the back? with Tim Horton
• Free will: God’s choice, our choice with Anthony Mitchell
• Arts Café
• AfterWorkNet programme
• Walk Through the Bible programme
• The Original Cindy’s Bar
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Starting a community project in your church
John Marsh, Mark Eddison and Justyn Larcombe, MEB Design
Thursday 17 October, 2pm, Room 3
Practical advice and case histories from churches that have been successful in community projects.
In this seminar you will:
• Consider the specific needs of your local community: possibly loneliness, poverty (food and money), addiction, illiteracy etc.
• Learn how to create the right welcoming environment – ensuring you have suitable facilities in which to operate
• Reflect on the type of project you wish to establish. Will it be run by an external agency or is it a facility run by church members that anyone can use?
• Consider the management implications by way of financing and staffing, in particular the likely pitfalls of employing people from the church
• Receive guidance about regulations and hear of successful projects including the Recovery Course (Justyn Larcombe), West Central Cafe, Redhill (Nik Ball), Debt Advice and others
Social action and church growth
Matt Adcock, Church Urban Fund
Thursday 17 October, 12 noon, Room 3
Exploring new research on the relationship between social action, discipleship and church growth.
In this seminar you will:
• Receive the latest research into the link between church growth and social action
• Hear examples of where churches have grown disciples through social engagement
• Find out how communities can work together to meet social needs
• Be enriched by a combination of learning, challenge and encouragement
• Take away resources for helping those dealing with issues such as debt
Healing for those hurting from porn and adultery
Mike Genung, Blazing Grace
Wednesday 16 October, 2pm, Room 3
Mike Genung of Blazing Grace shares his story and provides steps to freedom for those ensnared in porn or sex addiction.
In this seminar you will:
• Find out what the path to freedom looks like for people who are addicted to pornography
• Consider wives – the forgotton ones: what their healing journey looks like
• Discover how porn and adultery affects those ensnared by it – chemically, emotionally and spiritually
• Be informed of the number one reason churches avoid talking about the topics of sex and pornography
• Find out what churches can do to members who are hurting from the porn epidemic
Weddings, baptisms and funerals: Grasping the opportunity
Tom Pearson, Church of England, Life Events
Wednesday 16 October, 3pm, Room 2
We’ll be looking at the ministry and mission opportunities of weddings, baptisms and funerals in the Church of England, with the Life Events Diary to manage the administration.
In this seminar you will:
• Get an insight into the many opportunities Church of England churches have to build relationships with those who come to them for life event services
• Gain a better understanding of the ways that those who come to church for a life event service wish to be contacted, for how long – and about what
• Find out how the Life Events Diary, free software for every Church of England church, can assist with administration of event services, allowing churches to focus on ministry and mission
• Be informed how Church of England churches can record legal and personal data about those who come to them for life event services – safely and securely
• Walk away with a clear understanding of how engagement, relationship and follow up is so important to those who come to church for life event services – and why it’s also so important to your church