One assumption [of this new model of ministry advocated by David Heywood] is that the church has ”˜fuzzy edges’, that there is an increasing spiritual awareness in the population at large, and that if people see the church engaged in worth-while activities (like cleaning up a pond at the heart of an estate) and offering meaningful worship they will want to get involved. Belonging, we are told, precedes believing.
Unfortunately I know many people who value the contribution the church makes to their community but simply do not believe the creed it teaches. On the odd occasion they do attend a service they are not impressed by the explanation offered for the Christian faith. Members of an established, national Church have difficulty accepting that they hold the creed of a minority.
”˜Back to church Sunday’ and other initiatives directed towards people on the fringes of the church or people who retain some kind of vestigial Christian faith are certainly important but serious involvement in mission demands an honest acceptance of the fact that millions of people in Britain do not believe the Christian faith. This means giving more attention to theology and philosophy and to the serious study of the culture. One of the dangers of the new model of ministry..is that it underestimates the importance of theology.
–Paul Richardson in this week’s Church of England Newspaper (requires subscription)
I only have access to the quote, but I think it’s spot on.