The Alpha Course was developed seventeen years ago by the Rev. Charles Marnham of Holy Trinity Church, Brompton. Five years ago the course came under the direction of the Rev. Nicky Gumbel. "Gumbel realized that Alpha could be used as a tool not just for education but for evangelism, and so he gave the course a new perspective. It became a fifteen-session practical introduction to the Christian faith, with further adjustments made in order that it be more attractive to non-church goers." In 1992 there were fewer than 10 Alpha courses throughout Britain, today there are more than 3,000.
In Canada, Alpha was officially launched at a conference at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church (now Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship) 31 August 31 - 1 September 1995.
Following article "Toronto Alpha Conference 1 & 2 August, 1996" includes list of Canadian Anglican churches with experience with Alpha courses.
"The Rt. Rev. Nigel McCulloch declared his diocese to be a `missionary' diocese. `Post Christian England makes `darkest Africa' look like Leeds Road football Ground under floodlights', says the Bishop."
"More than 17,000 people are expected to return to church in September [2007] as Back to Church Sunday expands to take in 1700 churches across England. Resources to invite a friend Back to Church and to welcome them on Sunday, September 30th [2007] are now being delivered to more than one in 10 of the Church of Engaland's churches. With 19 dioceses taking part this year, the 1700 churches involved is a tenfold increase on the 160 churches that took up the venture when it began, in Manchester, in 2004." "Recent research revealed nearly three million people would consider going to church with 'the right invitation'."
Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, was enthroned as Lord Bishop of London in January 1996. His installation sermon centred on good communication and the Gospel. Excerpts from the sermon.
"Published 1995 for the Board of Mission of the General Synod of the Church of England by Church House Publishing". -- verso of t.-p.
"[B]y Robert Warren: The Church of England's National Officer for Evangelism".
Bibliography: p. 54.
This paper "represents the fruit of the work of Canon Robert Warren during the first year as the Board's National Office for Evangelism as he has reflected on the Lambeth 88 call for the Church of England to become `a movement for mission'. "... it is intended to stimulate thought about how the Church should be the Church as it prepares to enter the third millennium. In view of the rapidly changing culture in which we live, this is an important issue. In this debate both `revolutionists' and `evolutionists' will hopefully develop their arguments". -- Preface.
Contents: Preface / The Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Butler, Bishop of Leicester, Chairman of the Board of Mission -- Introduction -- Culture shift as the context for mission -- Understanding the pastoral mode -- Defining the missionary mode -- Can a missionary congregation work ? -- How can a missionary congregation work ? -- Concluding reflection -- Appendix A: The marks of a missionary congregation -- Appendix B: For further reading.
Colophon: Printed in Scotland by Bell and Bain Ltd, Glasgow. Production organised by Indeprint Print Production Services, London.
Archbishop Carey has appointed two evangelists, Bishop Michael Marshall and Canon Michael Green, a tutor at Regent College, Vancouver, "to practice evangelism and try to reach people beyond the church". They will lead Spearhead.
The author is a priest in the Church of England who says: "Living and working in the Church of England in a country where less than 10 per cent of the population is to be found in the churches on a Sunday, I am committed to the belief that liturgical worship can be effective in evangelism". He writes from the particular perspective of a "parish priest with over 30 years' commitment to the Adult Catechumenate (RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) as a way to accompany men and women in the early stages of faith".
Text of 32 addresses and short sermons delivered 1991-1992 on a wide range of subjects.
No index.
"The addresses and sermons assembled in this book were all designed for particular gatherings of people -- ranging from congregations in English cities to political assemblies in the Council of Europe. .... This book contains only a sample of a constant outpouring of addresses and excludes contributions made in media interviews and newspaper articles. It is not therefore a fully representative cross section of my ministry, but it does show the great variety of issues with which I engage as Archbishop of Canterbury at a time of challenge in the Church and the wider society, both at home and abroad". -- Preface.
Contents divided into three main sections: Values in a Confused World -- Mission in a Questioning World -- Challenges Facing a Changing World.
Contents: Preface / George Cantuar i.e. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury -- Introduction / Richard Holloway -- Prologue: Enthronement -- Christianity and the New Europe -- Education: Commitment, Co-operation, Challenge -- Do We Need God to be Good ? -- Universities: The Grit in the Oyster -- Industry: Burying its Talents ? -- Not to be Served, But to Serve -- God, Goodness and Justice -- The Spirit of Charity -- Trust in the People: Democracy and the Christian Faith -- Unity and Diversity -- Human Rights in Europe -- Church Planting: A Tool for Mission -- The Challenge of Renewal -- Evangelism: The Glory of God -- Hope for the Homeless -- The Church's Priorities -- Who Do You Say I Am ? -- Healing in a Broken World -- Decoding the Decade -- A Charter for the Church -- The Gospel as Public Truth -- Affirming Catholicism -- The Ordination of Women -- Christ Our Peace -- Jerusalem: Mission and Joy -- Unity with Roman Catholics -- Multi-Faith Worship -- Taize: A Lesson in Simplicity -- European Co-operation -- Anglican-Roman Catholic Relations: The Fullness of Truth -- Epilogue: Pressing Toward God's Future.
"The addresses and sermons assembled in this book were all designed for particular gatherings of people -- ranging from congregations in English cities to political assemblies in the Council of Europe. .... This book contains only a sample of a constant outpouring of addresses and excludes contributions made in media interviews and newspaper articles. It is not therefore a fully representative cross section of my ministry, but it does show the great variety of issues with which I engage as Archbishop of Canterbury at a time of challenge in the Church and the wider society, both at home and abroad". -- Preface.
Contents divided into three main sections: Values in a Confused World -- Mission in a Questioning World -- Challenges Facing a Changing World.
Contents: Preface / George Cantuar i.e. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury -- Introduction / Richard Holloway -- Prologue: Enthronement -- Values in a Confused World -- 1. Christianity and the New Europe -- 2. Education: Commitment, Co-operation, Challenge -- 3. Do We Need God to be Good ? -- 4. Universities: The Grit in the Oyster -- 5. Industry: Burying its Talents ? -- 6. Not to be Served, But to Serve -- 7. God, Goodness and Justice -- 8. The Spirit of Charity -- . Trust in the People: Democracy and the Christian Faith -- 10. Unity and Diversity: On Being European -- 11. Human Rights in Europe -- Mission in a Questioning World -- 12. Church Planting: A Tool for Mission -- 13. The Challenge of Renewal -- 14. Evangelism: The Glory of God -- 15. Hope for the Homeless -- 16. The Church's Priorities -- 17. Who Do You Say I Am ? -- 18. Healing in a Broken World -- 19. Decoding the Decade -- 20. A Charter for the Church -- 21. The Gospel as Public Truth -- Challenges Facing a Changing World -- 22. Affirming Catholicism -- 23. The Ordination of Women -- 24. Christ Our Peace -- 25. Jerusalem: Mission and Joy -- 26. Unity with Roman Catholics -- 27. Multi-Faith Worship -- 28. Taize: A Lesson in Simplicity --29. European Co-operation -- 30. Anglican-Roman Catholic Relations: The Fullness of Truth -- Epilogue: Pressing Toward God's Future.