A Weekend introductory course to Faith-Rooted Community Organising practices
Faith-Rooted Community Organising enables us to turn hopes and vision into action for change and transformation, both within our churches and in our wider community.
At the heart of all community organising is the desire to see and name the challenges of ‘the world as it is’, yet to also hope for and work towards ‘the world as it should be’. Church communities are already seeking to do this through prayer, worship, witness, and service.
Faith-rooted Community Organising (FRCO) is a way of working, informed and guided by our faith, that focuses on building relationships, and gathering people together, to use their collective power to act for justice, change and transformation.
FRCO is not a new approach for Methodism, but does involve making a decision to do things differently. Through FRCO, we are rediscovering many of the ways in which early Methodism grew, flourished and transformed lives. FRCO is rooted in and shaped by the same theological principles that we have adopted in A Justice-seeking Church alongside the core values of Church at the Margins.
In this course, we are exploring Faith-Rooted Community Organising as a foundation to:
- Develop existing churches
- Establish new forms of Christian communities
- Embed the principles and practices of A Justice-seeking Church.
Who is this course for?
- People who want to develop, or are already nurturing a new Christian community within their circuit or district.
- People who want to explore how FRCO can help strengthen their local church or circuit, and to build effective relationships and collaborations in their local communities.
- People who feel called to justice-seeking and transformation within their local communities and beyond.
The course has most impact when you are able to come as a team, rather than alone, so that you can learn and reflect together on what this means for your local contexts. We suggest at least two people from each team, with a maximum of four. Each person needs to complete their own form, so that we have their contact details and are aware of any dietary or access needs.
What will we learn?
What is distinctive about (Christian) faith-rooted community organising is that it is grounded in who we are as a people of Christian faith; rooted and centred in God, in our practices of prayer and worship, and in the way we live out and share our faith.
By the end of this course, you will:
- Better understand the Faith-Rooted Community Organising process.
- Understand the importance of listening in building relationships.
- Better understand power and power dynamics.
- Have explored moving from listening to action.
- Have considered your own next steps in Faith-Rooted Community Organising.
Important information.
- The weekend course is held at Cliff College, Calver, begins with dinner at 6pm on Friday and ends after lunch at 1pm on Sunday.
- Full attendance is essential as the course builds on each session.
- The sessions are highly interactive and participatory.
BOOK HERE:
Choose from ONE of the following weekend dates PLEASE CLICK HERE and we will confirm your place, which includes accommodation at Cliff College, within a couple of days. The course runs from dinner on Friday (6pm) to Sunday lunchtime (1pm).
17 -19 October 2025
20-22 March 2026
2-4 October 2026
Travel costs to be paid by attendees (if this is prohibitive, please contact us).
Trainers: Carmel Murphy, Urban Life, supported by Kerry Scarlett, Faith-Rooted Community Organising Officer, and Eunice Attwood, Church at the Margins Officer.