Librarians' Christian Fellowship

 

Delegates at Connaught Hall

Our anniversary conference attracted a good turnout of around 50 people, including several who had been present at the inaugural conference in 1976.

Delegates also present at our inaugural conference, from left to right:
John Wickenden, John Andrews, Janice Paine, Roger Devenish, Ann Winser, Norma Waller, Richard Waller, Arabella Wood

The day started with a short worship service led by our London regional representative, Louise Manners and included the regular business of the AGM, two thought provoking talks and a delicious lunch provided by the staff of Connaught House.

The two speakers were Ros Turner and Elaine Storkey.

Speakers Ros Turner and Elaine Storkey

Ros Turner is the co-ordinator of the former Christian Workplace Forum, (now Transform Work UK) a project of the Centre for Contemporary Ministry, based at Moggerhanger Park in Bedfordshire.

CWF, a project of Clapham Connections, is following in the footsteps of the18th century “Clapham Sect”, in encouraging Christians to make an impact in politics and society. The first Clapham group was responsible for social reforms such as the abolition of slavery and the foundation of charities such as the Shaftesbury Society.

The new initiative, whose vision is to strengthen Christian fellowship groups in the workplace and to encourage and support Christians in the contribution they make to society through their work was founded in 2004. CWF has links to over 80 professional and workplace groups, providing training and networking opportunities and organising events such as last year’s Faith in Work conference.

Ros's talk, entitled"New Initiatives in Mission Through Workplace Associations" introduced the work of the CWF and encouraged delegates with stories of what is happening in groups across the country. Her enthusiastic account was a spur to creative and innovative action.

Elaine Storkey, a well known writer and broadcaster, and a senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford was our afternoon speaker. Her presentation, "Changing Culture: Implications for our Life and Work" considered the accelerating pace of change over the 30 years since LCF was founded and gave a whistle stop tour of global social and cultural trends including globalisation, consumerism, post-modernism, cultural conflict and ecological crisis, as well looking at changes affecting working life, leisure and religious affiliation.

Her talk was illustrated with telling quotations from secular and religious prophets such as Samuel Huntingdon, Callum Brown and Lesslie Newbigin and closed with the challenge facing the church to avoid the twin dangers of withdrawing into a ghetto or becoming so absorbed with contemporary culture that it loses distinctiveness and fails to be a carrier of God’s truth.

The day concluded with the cutting (and consumption) of the 30th anniversary cake, made by LCF member Janet White.

Kirsty Robinson, Chair and Gordon Harris, President
cutting the 30th anniversary cake,
with Graham Hedges, Secretary looking on.

The LCF conference 2006 was a great opportunity to meet and get to know each other a bit better. It also gave us much food for thought and much to challenge and inspire us for the future.