Setting the Church on Fire?
The following is a personal reflection on this year's 'On Fire Mission' Conference. The views expressed are entirely my own and are not intended to represent those of the Trustees or the Conference Organising Group.
I was glad when they said unto me, "We will go to an in-person gathering of On Fire Mission".
In reality, the latter joy was somewhat short-lived (and its selfishness appropriately rewarded) as on the day the conference started there had been two major incidents on the M6, so the journey took almost as long as that to High Leigh.
Unlike High Leigh, which is primarily a Christian Conference Centre, Yarnfield is basically secular and specialises in the training of telecom engineers and members of the emergency services. This made for an interesting first impression as I pulled into the Car Park, wondering if there were any spaces to be had amongst the dozens of 'Open Reach' vans, whilst paramedics and firefighters were rushing around in what was, thankfully, an exercise of some kind.
The irony of the initial presence of fire appliances was by no means lost on me, and I know that I was far from alone in wondering quite how comfortably 'OFM' might sit alongside these other groups. In reality, I suspect the presence of others with quite different interests and concerns helped our gathering to feel rather more grounded and incarnational. I would hope too that our presence, and perhaps especially the laughter and warmth that was so much in evidence, would be a good Christian witness and might challenge a few preconceptions.
I lost count of how often I heard the quip, "Now I know why there's never an engineer available to sort out my broadband", and it was equalled by the number of times I heard, "I'm missing High Leigh". I had some sympathy with both views, but so far as the latter is concerned, although I'd only attended two OFM conferences at High Leigh, it doesn't take long for a strong association of place and event to establish itself. So yes, I missed High Leigh too, but I also enjoyed getting to know a new venue, and I fully support the rationale behind the move, principally that (thanks be to God) we need space to grow, and Yarnfield can certainly offer that. If it becomes our new regular venue, I'm sure it will quickly become as well-loved as its predecessor.
More important than any venue, however, are the people who attend the conference. I frequently describe OFM as a 'family'. I know we often talk - sometimes rather glibly - about the 'Church family', but at the institutional level that's at best a rather dysfunctional family. OFM, on the other hand, whilst it would make no claim to be perfect, really does have the ethos of a warm and welcoming family - and a family that is constantly being extended. It was a real joy, therefore, to meet with many good friends whom I've not seen for some time. Others were absent, no doubt for a variety of reasons - ill health, anxiety about Covid, other work commitments and perhaps inevitably an objection to the change of venue. They were much missed, of course, and one hopes that many of them will reappear in future years, but it was good to note that at least half of those at this year's conference were newcomers or 'explorers', and noticeably younger than the more seasoned attenders (or indeed many a church congregation).
The keynote speakers were colourful, lively and thought-provoking, the various workshops interesting and useful, the worship vibrant and yet reflective (there is something very special about 'Charismatic Compline and Benediction) and as always the music was powerful and uplifting.
There was, perhaps inevitably, a sense of weariness amongst the attendees. It has, after all, been a very difficult two years for everyone, and many of us were clearly feeling spiritually drained and had had to grapple with various forms of loss and lament in the wake of Covid. This weariness was quite palpable at times, especially during the prayer ministry sessions and in some of the confessions that I was privileged to hear, but as the conference went on, I sensed a definite lifting of spirits and a real sense of healing - both individual and collective.
In the course of the conference, and as part of a participatory exercise looking at a future strategy for OFM, we watched a recorded interview between our Chair, Leah Vasey-Saunders and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cotterell. It was evident that Archbishop Stephen was genuinely excited about the renewal that Charismatic spirituality can bring to the Catholic movement, and also the potential for OFM to cultivate new common ground between Evangelicals and Catholics. At one point he said he wanted OFM to (I quote) "set the Church of England on fire". I hope he meant it, but I have to confess that I raised an eyebrow at that point as I'm not sure that the current hierarchy could actually handle such a development. Charismatic spirituality - even when it's channelled within the well-disciplined framework of Anglo-Catholicism can be (in a good sense) very dangerous and I'm not sure that our present leadership really 'do' danger. My hope and prayer for OFM is that it remains healthily dangerous and edgy and that it doesn't fall into the trap of becoming respectable in order to court approval.
And that brings me to the elephant in the room!
One of the many reasons that I am such an enthusiastic supporter of OFM is its genuine commitment to inclusivity and its remarkable ability to be naturally and unselfconsciously inclusive. I know from conversations in the bar (where, of course, much important work and ministry takes place) that I'm far from alone in feeling that OFM could be a template for a much more open, inclusive and less neurotic Church of England. But sadly I did overhear a couple of comments that reminded me of how far we have yet to go, for example this from one (I presume) first-timer, "The Charismatic stuff is OK, but of course they're not sound on the big issues".
I think we can probably all guess what that person was really saying and where they were coming from, but I hope and pray that OFM will remain firmly 'unsound' and will continue to model a scandalous inclusivity that is truly Christ-like and into which we can welcome even those who disagree and make such remarks.
Due to a work commitment, I had to leave the conference before the end, so I missed the final Eucharist, which is always particularly poignant and powerful. Part of me regrets this, but part of me is perhaps relieved, because for a variety of reasons this was a particularly emotional conference and the final sending-out and farewells might actually have been more than a touch overwhelming. I left, however, in good heart, renewed and affirmed, and with a very
real sense that God has great things in store for OFM in the months and years to come. So I end with three simple words, "Bring it on!".
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