Themes from Responses to Churches Together in Farnham Questionaire
Themes from CTF Questionnaire Responses
At the April 2009 CTF Council Meeting a Plan of Action was agreed, and based on this a questionnaire was sent to the 21 churches making up CTF.
It is difficult to summarise all 16 responses, but here are some selected themes:
Individual Churches serve their community in a variety of ways
Coffee Shop, Mums + Toddler Groups, Youth Groups, care of the elderly, pastoral visiting, Newsletter/ magazine, Community Action Day, Lunches, Providing a venue for a wide range of cultural activities and groups, etc.
What we do together as Churches
Participate in CTF activities (See list below)
Joint services, Joint Prayer and Praise, Pulpit exchanges, Joint Lent Courses, Joint harvest Supper, Ministers’ gatherings/ breakfasts / prayer, etc.
What individual Christians do
A number of individual Christians from a variety of churches are involved in interdenominational organisations with a particular area of service, e.g.
ASSIST serving the over 60s
FAST serving Schools with lessons and assemblies
Individuals also serve outside of church activities, e.g. assisting in hospice, volunteer driving etc. Through this service they demonstrate love of neighbour.
Village Situations
A number of churches are in village setting where there are few or no other churches.
Hard to get people to cross boundaries – even to Farnham.
But strong links with village societies and groups.
Lack of Time / Stretched
A number feel stretched meeting existing needs, and have all they can cope with
Comments about CTF
CTF is useful as an umbrella body – but needs to be a fairly “light” umbrella, not be too demanding on time. CTF’s communication role is appreciated and should continue.
Existing Main activities of CTF should continue.
Christmas Lunch, Prayer for Unity, Good Friday Walk of Witness, Herald ‘Friday Focus’, Chaplaincy at UCA Farnham, One World Week .
Source of New Initiatives.
Natural groupings of churches to work together on new initiatives according to their geography and interest.
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