Death of a dream?

The January edition of EN carried the Stop Press news that the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) had cancelled plans for the Cheltenham Bible Festival (CBF) in 2008. Some readers will understandably be asking why.

Living the dream

It was an amazing providence that enabled CBF to go ahead last August as scheduled. The severe floods which hit the headlines for days had knocked out the region’s main water treatment plant and the Army had occupied the site until a week before the event. Water was reconnected with just one day to spare.

Ironically, after the wettest July on record, the sun shone gloriously throughout the three days — affording the 2,500 who attended the Festival the perfect opportunity to enjoy a magnificent venue set in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. After years of meeting in dark and unpromising locations like Neptune’s Palace and The Carousel Club it was good to welcome everyone attending the main preaching meetings to the state-of-the-art auditorium at Cheltenham.

Don Carson was the principal speaker. Taking 2 Thessalonians under the heading of Hope for Our World, he expounded each chapter in turn with the titles: ‘Living in Difficult Times’, ‘Waiting for the End Times’ and ‘Working in the Meantime’. As a friend put it well: ‘He was as stimulating and challenging as usual — a true example of the preacher-theologian, so rare in our times.’

Behind the dream

CBF built on the previous annual events run by FIEC at Pwllheli and Caister — great Bible teaching, a stimulating seminar programme and a unique opportunity to bring believers together. But it differed from them in two important respects.

Firstly, instead of FIEC setting the agenda, other agencies sharing FIEC’s doctrinal basis and Bible-centred ethos were invited to run their own tracks and promote their own ministries as part of the programme. This led to a greater depth and diversity than had been possible previously. At times there were as many as a dozen activities going on simultaneously. Anyone labouring under the illusion that CBF would be light on Word ministry was in for a surprise.

The second innovation lay in the very idea of a ‘Festival’. This was a conscious attempt at celebrating God’s good creation and giving expression to the seemingly infinite variety of creative gifts he has poured out on his children. There was a deliberate emphasis on culture and the arts. Marquees dedicated to music-making and crafts added to the holiday atmosphere and helped broaden the perspectives of those attending. An excellent track was laid on for those with learning disabilities. And, for many, the crowning innovations were evening concerts featuring Phatfish and Stuart Townend.

There was an almost tangible sense of delight and gratitude to God that permeated the event and the response of the guests was overwhelmingly positive. For many CBF was the best Christian event they had attended — ever! This is a great tribute to the members of the planning teams, individual team managers, as well as the many contributors, exhibitors and volunteers, whose flair, commitment and expertise gave so much to the event.

Gone but not forgotten?

Many will mourn the cancellation of so creative and innovative a venture as Cheltenham Bible Festival in 2008. So, why pull the plug after such a ‘successful’ launch? After all, events of this sort take time to establish themselves. Are not the leaders of FIEC guilty of lack of vision or a failure of faith?

CBF was a high-cost, high-risk event. It put a strain on our resources that was unsustainable in the short-term. Financially, the break-even point was drifting away from us and committing to Cheltenham for the next two years without a substantial increase in the number of guests attending would have bankrupted the Fellowship. Moreover, we would effectively have had to say no to other key aspects of our vision — including the re-evangelising of the nation and the raising up of a new generation of church leaders and gospel workers.

We are still on a journey of understanding and, at this point, I’m not sure where the Lord is leading us. But resting in the great truth of his sovereign love and with hearts that have seen a glimpse of what can be, we need to consult with our churches honestly and humbly, but optimistically. It’s back to the drawing board, but not back to Square One.

Championing true unity

Almost every line in the FIEC’s doctrinal basis is under attack — and often from those who still want to call themselves ‘evangelical’. In these days when the tectonic plates within the church are shifting unpredictably, the need to champion evangelical unity and to express great Bible truths in contemporary ways has never been more urgent.

Cheltenham Bible Festival won many hearts last summer; it was a brave and exciting initiative. The Lord has led us to abandon plans for Cheltenham 08, but that cannot and must not cause us to abandon the vision. Plans change; the dream lives on.

Richard Underwood,
General Secretary of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches

About cancelling Cheltenham Bible Festival 2008

Living the dream

Behind the dream

Gone but not forgotten?

Championing true unity

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