by Pat Ross and Margaret Ayres

Almost a year ago we made the commitment as a parish to look at our future direction and despite much discussion we feel as though we are yet to begin. The article from Very Rev Rob Yule in the August issue of sPanz on where the church would be in 5, 10, 20 years time sparked a discussion between a few of us in our church.

Can we connect the parish with the local community in worship?

Yes, folk do seem to respond to services for special events, service clubs, volunteer groups or grandparents/grandchildren. Making these user-friendly and involving church members is the challenge that requires planning, sensitivity and cultural appropriateness.

What about the changing pattern of people's lives over weekends that keeps them from being active members of our congregations? Why do so many of the young people brought up in the church no longer feel that the church is relevant?

Certainly people's lives have changed with different pressures over weekends but do we necessarily need to do everything on Sundays? Maybe services and activities mid week or Friday nights could be attractive.

The effect of communication, the internet, cell phones, access to transport, the opportunity for sport and leisure activities make the life of young people more varied and open to many different influences that past generations did not have. We need to provide the opportunities for contemporary worship and socialising that are meaningful to young people and their families.

How effective is our local mission work?

We already have an established community outreach programme. The question we ask ourselves is - how well are we connecting up with the people who come to our centre?

When we realise that during any given week we have upwards of 350 people using our building - 70 children once a term in a school holiday programme and the Girls and Boys Brigades. Many of these people have no connection with the church and they need to know that they are part of a loving, caring, Christian community.

There are more questions than answers that has stimulated discussion. One of the helpful things from Rob Yule's article is to know that it's not only our parish that has to face challenges. It would be good for the whole church to be in open dialogue. We know that change is inevitable. Do we as a church have the hope and faith, the proactive persistence, openness, willingness and passion in the Christ work that we are called to share in?

Margaret Ayris is an elder and Community Centre Co-ordinator at St Johns/St Philips Presbyterian Church, Papatoetoe as well as Girls Brigade leader.

Pat Ross is an elder of St Johns/St Philips Presbyterian Church, Papatoetoe and currently South Auckland Presbytery Clerk