NETWORK FX in a CAFE- SANCTUS1 ON HOLY GROUND

"Do not come any closer," God said.
"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
Exodus 3:5

Prologue:
I drove past the breathtakingly beautiful Peak District Moorlands wishing I could stop and take it all in. Maybe next time. I had never seen anything like it. High rounded hills devoid of trees, covered instead with inhospitable peat.

The forest cover used to extend much higher than it does now. We humans played a part in denuding these hills. By the early Neolithic period, the burning of woodlands to attract large game animals to clearings helped to reduce the woodland cover to what it is today. As the peat became waterlogged, little else would grow.

Commerce can kill.

I carried on through and past Snake pass (it is as dangerous as it sounds), as I nervously made my way to Manchester. This was the acid test of my abilities to drive in UK roads and to follow Guinevere (our sat nav) as she politely called out her patient instructions.

By God's grace we made it she and I.

After meeting Fresh Expressions director of training, Norman Ivison and FX International Liaison Bob Franklyn at Manchester Cathedral we headed over to Marks and Spencer's (Marks and Sparks) for dinner. Picking up a cheap sweater which would become my constant companion for the rest of the three weeks - it turned cold the whole time - I headed out on foot to find Nexus, home to "one of England's longest-established emerging churches" (J. Drane).

NEXUS ART CAFE (www.nexusonline.org.uk/), home of Sanctus1 (a young adult church), can be found in the Northern Quarter of Manchester – a busy commercial centre.

Manchester's modern sky-line is dominated by lofty business towers almost completely concealing the massive Manchester Cathedral. (In the picture above, it is to the left of the centre and the tall white tower, about a 1/3 of the way in from the far left. Come on, surely you can find it: it's brown, looks old and is 139 feet high - with a clock. See what I mean!)

On to Nexus

Occupying a space beneath a 200 year old building (a Methodist church but you’d never know it), Nexus is "a place of encounter for artists, musicians, dreamers and those who seek an oasis." For the 15-30 who meet there at 7:30 Wednesday nights (from a base membership as large as sixty) it is a holy place. There is also a smaller Sunday gathering beginning to incorporate a few of the members and leaders children.

“Descend the steps to discover ever changing art pieces which inspire and challenge. Meanwhile, fair trade coffee is being freshly ground, a variety of loose leaf tea is brewing away and delicious fresh food is cooking. Listen to music, surf the internet with free wi-fi, read a book, engage with art, or even enjoy a game of jenga. Meet with friends or make new ones.”

So says their home page. And enjoy I did: a delicious red-rocket sandwich (humous, sundried tomato, and olives on multigrain bread) and chai tea – my favourite - served with smiling grace.

SANCTUS1

Nexus is merely the venue: SANCTUS1 is the church; and what a church it is.

"We believe that God is already in the world and working in the world. We recognise God's indefinable presence in music, film, arts and other key areas of contemporary culture. We wish to affirm and enjoy the parts of our culture that give a voice to God and challenge any areas that deafen the call of God and prevent human flourishing."

"This is inclusivity with a vengeance," writes John Drane in Mission Shaped Questions (Church House 2008, p. 97). Dr. Drane describes in MSQ, four marks of maturity for the church that is current with our times: it will

1) be concerned with an organic [global] way of being,

2) look beyond ourselves so as to grasp the big picture of what God is doing

3) be inclusive (as above) and

4) live the story, not just regurgitate it.

Sanctus1 in my experience was all of the above.

"In July 2001, [Anglican] Church Army evangelist Ben Edson was
appointed as City Centre Missioner, to help create a fresh
expression of church for people engaged in a journey of
creative exploration into faith, worship, evangelism, friendship
and lifestyle.

Ben initially met with four committed Christians who had not
found a church. In January 2002 they held their first public
act of worship at Manchester Cathedral, attended by 20
people, and leading to setting up a monthly public worship
service. The core community, who meet on a Wednesday
night, has grown... [meeting] for discussion, worship and friendship.

Public worship services have attracted between 14 and 50
people, and use a DJ playing contemporary secular music,
as well as using video and art. The aim is to provide a
sacred space in the midst of a busy city.
Sanctus 1 has generated a number of insights, in particular
that new creative churches need to re-imagine mission,
worship and community, and that fluid structures are needed
to facilitate long-term sustainability and adaptability. (From Mission Shaped Church, p. 147)

Says Rev'd. Dr. Keith Davies, Chair of the Manchester and Stockport Methodist District, “Sanctus1 is a community of people who gather together to discover more about Christ, culture and community. Sanctus1 seeks to push at the boundaries; exploring God and spirituality within the city, in contemporary film and art, and within each other.

"Nexus is both an exciting project and a vibrant community which the Methodist Church [and their Anglican partners] is proud to support and encourage. It is both innovative and true to the essence of the Christian tradition. I personally value its openness and hospitality and I am delighted to endorse its work and encourage its vision."

Oddly, Sanctus1 does not describe itself as a café church, though I would gladly eat and lounge there anytime.

The common factor that draws its members into this network-focused, alternative worship church is their shared love for the urban-heart of Manchester. Few of the members of Sanctus1 live downtown but many work there. Launched as an attempt to reach young urban adults, and journeying through various spaces in their four-five years of existence, Sanctus1 has, for the last three years, found Nexus a warm inviting home. There is sufficient income from the café to cover its own expenses as well as of the cafe staff. The salaries of the two clergy are provided by their denominations.

People find Sanctus1 through Nexus, and also through flyers posted around town, at the cathedral and various other places. Several said they first heard about it at Greenbelt www.greenbelt.org.uk/, "an independent Christian festival working to express love, creativity and justice in the arts and contemporary culture in the light of the Christian gospel."

So, many of those who find Nexus/Sanctus1 have an affection for Christian things and the art before they arrive. They come because they have not found a home in a local parish. In technical FX lingo, these then might be considered open-dechurched: people who once went to church and might be open to returning if the right thing was on offer.

Our Canadian Anglican church - along with many mainline denominations - does poorly at attracting and holding such young adults. We have much to learn.

"I love this church" said one enthusiast. No singing and no sermon!"

Conversation flowed naturally as people settled into or draped themselves across stylish comfy chairs and sofas spread about. "There is a stage but it has never been used for that," said "Carla". Through the evening she graciously explained to me what was going on and who was who helping me to feel right at home.

The "service" began - both clergy speaking elsewhere that night - volunteer Laura Drane lit the candles – three wicks in one base – invoking the creator, redeemer and sanctifier, and read a responsorial prayer at the end (see the next post: "So Here's To A Place"), as well as the substance discussed clearly identified Sanctus1 as "church" (as did its members in conversation).

Tonight’s session was a riveting two-hour-small-group exploration of what fellow Torontonians Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat presented last week from their new book “Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire.” (This would not be the last time in the UK I would follow in the wake of canucks.)

In groups of three or four we were to identify what Empires we face today and how those Empire's power, control, mythology and imagery could be subverted by the Kingdom of God we proclaim.

Was it this discussion? Or the charming unique eateries we visited all across England? Or "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser? Whatever but on arrival back in Canada I find I have lost all patience with North American monoculture (for one take on what this means see http://patrickdeneen.blogspot.com/2008/04/against-monoculture.html)

Though there was no sermon – is a monologue always the best pedegogical tool for everyone? - The session was carefully organized, and the groups effectively coached. The plenary discussion was fascinating as we each encouraged the other to rage gently against the machine by living different - by biblical kingdom values.

The profound summary MS Deane gave at the end belied the informality of it all. She knew where we would need to be heading and made sure we heard what we ourselves had been saying. The art on the walls, the lyrical arrangement of furniture, the intimacy of the setting and restrained tone of the conversation, all combine to revive the soul.

One may love the urban core but if you are not careful, commercialism can kill the soul as surely as it did trees on the Moorlands. I regret that by the time we left at 9:30 pm I could not join them for the afterglow at their favourite pub. No drinking tonight. I had an appointment with deadly snake pass on my way to my Sheffield home.

"No preaching" – true – but this was Christian substance nonetheless - motivating us all to subversive Christian action against whatever dehumanizing machines seek us out. Sanctus1 is truly holy ground.

So here’s to a place…”