Does this church sound at all like Chilwell Road? It is in a region where 70% of people describe themselves as being “without religion” [The Times: April 23].
It’s hard for the congregation to go public; there is a deep family-networked conservatism which makes it hard to attract new members; there is no history of community service or outreach which could provide a meeting place or public arena in which the church can engage. It seemed to be symbolised by the tinted windows of the church which had been painted over decades ago to make them even more opaque. The paint was now cracking and very ugly but the members resisted changing them.
This is an extract from a recent report about the Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche in Brand Erbisdorf, Saxony, East Germany, whose minister is Rev Colin Barrett. When Colin becomes our minister here in Beeston in September, we can show him a different sort of church.
