Book Reviews...


Everybody Welcome: The Course Where Everybody Helps Grow Their Church


Bob Jackson and George Fisher Church House Publishing 2009


Course Leader's Manual £14.99. ISBN 978-0715141908 Course Member's Booklet £3.99. ISBN 978-0715142196 DVD £24


Heard the one about the Churchwarden who superglued the thermostat at “Low” so no-one could ever turn the Church heating up? Or the Church that waited until any visitors had left before they drew back a curtain to reveal coffee for “regulars only”? Or the Sidesman who told the visiting couple they’d have to move out of Mrs Jones’ seat – only to realise a moment too late that it was the Bishop and his wife in mufti? Just a few of the horror- stories recounted in Everybody Welcome, a new course to help Churches evaluate and improve their welcome


Those were examples of how not to do it. The main question behind the sessions was more positively framed: “How do we help people to move from being casual or occasional visitors to our Church to being full, participating members?” This is a question that should be at the front of every Church’s thinking, whether rural or urban, and the course is an effective tool to help any Church address it.


The Parish of Wadebridge, comprising four congregations in and around a small Cornish town, used the course as part of its Mission Action Planning and found it challenging and enjoyable. About 35 people from all the congregations gathered over four consecutive weeks at two comfortable and neutral venues, to participate in the four sessions. In fact, more people finished the course than started it,


24 www. countryway. org. uk


which must be some kind of a recommendation, and all enjoyed the chance to share together café-style in a way not normally possible in our ancient pewed buildings – a challenge there in itself.


Each of the four main sessions uses a blend of DVD clips, quick-response questionnaires and group work, backed up by an attractive course booklet, to provoke some lively and


interesting discussion. The Leaders Manual suggests a fairly rigid timetable to keep the sessions to time.


The four sessions focus on: • making the Church more visible • making the buildings more inviting • a welcoming God and a welcoming people


• belonging to the Church Community.


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