Authentic Christian communities – an impossible dream?

1st July 2008

  The latest two editions of the Encounters on the Edge series of booklets, written by Claire Dalpra, examine the crucial issue of community. How do we grow mission-shaped churches that will be attractive, authentic communities?

Booklet 1 (Encounters on the Edge 37 - Chasing the Dream: Starting community) looks at issues surrounding the start-up of a community.

Booklet 2 (Encounters on the Edge 38 - The Cost of Community: Issues of maturity) looks at community issues once a community is established.

'My experience of Christian community, thus far, has been frustrating,' writes Claire. 'I have been a member of too many groups who have named this as their intention but in practice have either been disappointingly shallow or disorientatingly short lived.

'I can't entirely ignore those rare moments over the years when it feels as though one or two groups I have been part of have come quite close to a level of honesty, acceptance and caring for each other that I and others would call community. I can't help hoping that if only we took the time to learn from those Christians who have built lasting, transforming community, those rare moments might grow into something more permanent.'

In these honest, challenging but hopeful booklets, Claire draws on interviews she conducted with: Roy Searle of the Northumbria Community; Dave Male who planted The Net in Huddersfield; Sara Savage, author of The Human Face of the Church; Jenny and Steve Hellyer, formerly of Lee Abbey; Chris Russell of St Lawrence in Reading; Phil Potter of St Mark's in Haydock; and Bob and Mary Hopkins and George Lings from Sheffield.

Many of us long to be part of a church that goes beyond mere shallow acquaintance to caring for one another as lives are shared together. Is this kind of community as elusive as sometimes it can seem? Claire Dalpra went to find out.

Encounters on the Edge 37 (Chasing the Dream: Starting community) and 38 (The Cost of Community: Issues of maturity) are now available, priced £4.00 each. To order copies, contact the Sheffield Centre on 0114 272 7451, or email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk