Thursday, March 09, 2006
Trinity Grants Consultation
Well we have made it to day 2 of the consultation. I am here with two other Brits and lots of ECUSA presentatives regarding developing initiatives for promoting and developing Christianity to people in their 20s and 30s. I am here with good friends like Karen Ward, and Bob Carlton from the emerging church. I am pleased also to meet Travis Smith, the Anglican ordained assistant priest with COTA. He is coming over to do a placement with Moot and St Matthews in the summer subject to funding from ECUSA.I am not sure I knew what I was expecting, but there has been some great exploration of new monasticism, as an approach to promoting the Christian faith to 'young adults'. Very much in keeping with Gareth's thinking. I have learnt a lot, and shared some of our thoughts and experiences in Moot including our shaping of a rythmn of life. Tomorrow, I will talk about the UK scene along with Steve Hollinghurst and others, and will push emergingchurch.info site, Matt and Ben, talk about your projects to ensure they get heard. They have made it very clear that funding has to be USA related, but I do think there may be some opprtunities for UK driven projects in the future, who have a project idea that could be used in the USA. A bit like Jonny's labyrinth kits for the USA, that sort of thing. Sadly, I don't think they will ever fund emerging church projects in the UK for their work, or a project idea in the UK, as this remains outside of the 'young adults' remit. However, I have taken their annual report to see what they have supported to see if there are any other ways in. I will be looking at this on my flight home.
However, I am pleased I am here, not only to make new friends, including Bowie Sodgrass - amazing name I hear you say, who is great and will be over to the UK in the summer, and also to meet Travis who is great. I think it has been important to raise the profile of Moot and our vision, and has not done us any hard to get known by those who make funding decisions!!
So here for 2 more days, before going back to NYC, and some time at the Church at Trinity Wall Street.
