Sharing God’s Blessing: How to renew the local church
Robin Greenwood
SPCK £9.99
(978-0-281-07215-6)
Church Times Bookshop £9

I HAVE become caught up in the 2020 vision for the Church in Wales, which is leading to a restructuring of the organisation of the parish system there, and is about turning the Church outwards to address a community- and mission-focused agenda. Dioceses throughout England are engaged in similar exercises. There is a desperate need for accessible material that will involve and inspire congregations.

Robin Greenwood has been encouraging churches in the task of mission for more than 30 years. This is an inspired and useful book for clergy and churches seeking a practical and realistic programme that will enable them to overcome fears and engage with a project of transformation which will, it is hoped, lead to growth.

At the heart of the book is Greenwood’s passion for the theology of blessing. Sadly, the casual over-use of “bless” and “bless you” by some well-meaning Christians has led to the devaluing of blessing as a central concept in God’s activity towards his creation, and among the people he has made. We are called to share that blessing, with one another and with all those who are part of God’s creation. This should be at the heart of our missionary activity and at the heart of the life of the local church.

So conversation is an essential tool. It enables us, by listening to each other’s stories, to grow in faith, commitment to one another, and confidence. There are five conversations for churches to undertake in small groups to rediscover what it means to be blessed and a blessing. All the practical steps to setting up the conversations are laid out, and the book is priced so that it should be within the means of most churches to buy a copy for everyone.

This is more than a Lent book. It moves on to a process of “re-visioning a church through conversation” and engaging young people as church members. There is even a programme for a shared-ministry weekend and a half-day conversation on becoming a more open church. It is a practical programme for church growth and development which can be used by liberal, Catholic, and Evangelical alike. It is relevant to urban and rural contexts.

I liked the range of sources and quotations, and even a chapter on the use of poetry. Greenwood demonstrates his gift for, and experience of, ploughing this furrow. I hope this conversation becomes a blessing for all our churches.

The Rt Revd Stephen Lowe is the retired Bishop of Hulme and Bishop for Urban Life and Faith.