FIEC: at the Hub
The annual Hub Conference 2015 took place in January leaving participants feeling that the FIEC is in encouraging shape.
David Shaw FIEC Theological Adviser
Two things were noticeable. One: how hard it is to guess the age of FIEC. And two: this is very encouraging.
There were 120 or so delegates, many of them in their twenties and thirties, exploring routes into paid gospel ministry and what it means to lead God’s people. In the context of many denominations anticipating a crisis when an ageing clergy retire, this is essential and a sign of God’s kindness. Of course this needs to set that against the massive need of our nation, where millions perish without the hope of the gospel and hundreds of communities lack a faithful outward-looking church. But nonetheless, the youthfulness of the conference feels like the start of something.
But, there was, truth be told, a lot of grey hair at The Hub Conference, and this too is a good thing. Few conferences have such interaction between the generations. Every attendee could spend concentrated time and pray with someone more experienced in ministry.
Forgiveness in church
Ray Evans explored different aspects of Christian leadership, and his experience showed clearly in these talks. In part of one talk he looked at what forgiveness looks like in the local church, how vital it is, and how destructive it can be for a church to settle for anything less than biblical forgiveness. The choice to spend time on this issue reflected his long experience in ministry.
In another talk he spoke of something he’d learnt recently: his experience of 30 years’ worth of mistakes to look back on and to help us learn from. Invaluable!