Norwich conference is moving experience
 Reflection, repentance and renewal were the themes of an absorbing and stimulating annual Transforming Norwich conference for city churches and Christian organisations held on June 17.
Keynote speaker Bishop Malcolm Menin, who recalled an historic inter-church meeting in the city back in 1965, said: “God has moved us on a great deal since then by the power of his love and we are still moving.
“We do not agree about everything but what unites us is so much more important than what divides us.”
Transforming Norwich (Churches Together in Greater Norwich) chairman John Betts said: “God sees the whole church not the fractured separate parts.”
In a section of reflection participants joined together in small groups to reflect on where the church in Norwich was now and where God might want us to be.
Focussing on repentance, Rev Nick Vesey said: “The church is often more interested in getting other people to repent than on repenting itself. The aim of repentance is love which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith and it leads to a restoration of relation ships with each other.”
Many attendees then joined in moving public acts of personal repentance.
The conference moved on to look at renewal and networknorwich.co.uk editor Keith Morris outlined the progress made to the Norwich Christian community website in the last nine months.
The Street Pastors initiative in Norwich, and various other possible initiatives, were discussed such as a large outreach musical event and a co-ordinated Good Friday walk of witness.
Pictured above is keynote speaker Bishop Malcolm Menin.
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