February 6, 2008 - In January Dr. Charles Nienkirchen was involved in an ecumenical outreach in southwest England called "More to Life/08".  For centuries Christianity was the faith of the British Isles: state churches were dutifully attended by the masses, the clergy administered the sacraments and provided spiritual direction to the faithful from cradle to grave, English legal codes reflected Christian moral values, and all facets of society derived their meaning, energy, and cohesion from the Christian religion.

For more than a century, however, the decline of religion--especially Christianity-- in Britain has been a prominent subject of analysis. A survey conducted in 2000 entitled Soul of Britain claims that only 15% of the population attends church each week. The most pessimistic estimates, based on current rates of accelerated decline, predict that by 2016 a mere 0.6 % will still be regular churchgoers.

Scholars debate whether Britain is actually undergoing secularization or a new spiritual revolution with no Christian orientation. However, it has clearly entered the post-Christian era.

Recently, however, some of Britain's churches have attempted to respond to this de-Christianizing trend by developing creative missional strategies for reengaging the nation with its Christian memory. Churches of several denominations in the towns of Keynsham and Saltford, near Bristol, a ‘sacred city' from a bygone era, are collaborating on a program called "More to Life/08'" Their goal is to encourage the non-churchgoing public to consider seriously the call of Jesus to an "abundant life" by discovering spiritual signposts that manifest themselves in popular passions.

Believing that ‘God plays in every scene of life", they are inviting their communities on a year-long journey of engagement via monthly presentations on topics of contemporary interest, such as travel, family life, sport, hope, gardening, food, politics and media, music and the arts, and recreation

Each month, public awareness of the particular theme is heightened both by coordinated events in schools, clubs and neighbourhoods and by visits by prominent British media, sports, religious and literary personalities. Olympic Gold medalist Steph Cook, former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, "extreme" traveler Benedict Allen, and acclaimed travel writer William Dalrymple are among those scheduled to make guest appearances.

Dr. Charles Nienkirchen helped start "More to Life/08" by delivering a weeklong series of evening lectures in late January on on that month's theme: sacred travel. He entitled his series"Sacred Travel and the Meaning of the Season of Epiphany". He spoke in several venues, including the oldest Methodist chapel in the world (in Bristol), and his lectures included such topic as "The Renaissance of Wonder," "The Christian Calendar as a Guide to the Inner Journey," "The Meaning of 'Epiphany", "The Magi as Our Mentors," and "The Church as the Pilgrim People of God." During the day, he met with individuals and participated in small-group discussions on the nature of the spiritual quest.

Dr. Nienkirchen was "humbled" by the invitation to speak at "More to Life/08." "It was an honour," he said, "to be asked to contribute to such a soulful, missional experiment." He sees this British project as being "relevant to churches in all western countries undergoing revitalization who are seeking to connect in a winsome, incarnational way with their host societies in which 'Christendom' has mostly, if not completely, evaporated." He hopes that the methods of redemptive, community engagement embodied in "More to Life/08", though conceived in a British context, will offer some inspiration and guidance for the future of "Christendom-trapped", Canadian churches that are trying to sustain a vibrant spiritual presence in a country that is also undergoing cultural transformation.

Contact: Dr. Charles Nienkirchen, Professor of Christian History and Spirituality
Phone: 403.410.5905
Email: CNienkirchen@ambrose.edu
Web: www.downancientpaths.com