Looking Out – 16 January 2022

We are reminded in an old hymn that “the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord”.  If we fast forward to today, the underlying principle remains the same.  However, what we are observing is that the structures built on the foundation are showing signs of wear and tear.  Not the buildings necessarily, but the congregations gathering therein. 

Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today and forever.  Our world, including the life of our churches, sadly have not always remained as robust as we would have liked.  And Carlingford is no exception in this assessment as we have witnessed decreasing numbers, an increasing age demographic, a decreasing number of families with young children, an absence of youth and so on.  Carlingford is not alone in recognising that the ministry and mission it might want to be involved in cannot be initiated and provided with the congregational resources we have at this time.  This observation is also being made at West Epping and Marsden Road churches.

These observations underpin the discussions that are underway between representatives of these three churches.  The Working Group is seeking to discern God’s leading in identifying the way forward in a time when the world “has passed us by” and we are no longer equipped to be vital, vibrant missional churches that can stand on their own two feet and address the mission field on our doorstep.  However, entering into a new arrangement whereby the three churches rationalise their resources, including property and people, provides opportunities to reinvigorate the life of our churches in the community.  Central to the discussions is the need to avoid the creation of one large congregation which continues to age and decline.

Hard discussions are being had.  Consideration is being given to the ministry needs of the area, the mission direction appropriate to a combined group of churches (or individual churches), the need for members of each worship centre meeting and developing relationships with each other (it is unfortunate that the proposed New Beginnings Dinner scheduled for 24 January has had to be postponed because of the current Covid situation) and even the relevance of the property resources maintained in the name of each worship centre.