FAC AGM today
Churches in France are declared to the government as Associations Cultuelles - associations for worship.
Strictly speaking, according to the law of 1905, an Association Cultuelle can only do things that are directly related to worshipping God. So training pastors would be OK. Holding workshops, music practices, Sunday schools, prayer meetings - all these things would be OK.
However what about a church holiday ? A kids camp ? Outreach to different groups ?
For these activities some churches in France just carry on regardless. Laws can be hard to interpret anyway.
Other churches form Associations CultuRelles to provide the legislative framework for activities not directly related to the worship service.
Thus today we have the Annual General Meetings of the Association Culturelle, FAC, established for outreach to students.
It's been compared to Campus Crusade, but a moment's reflection will reveal how mistaken and flattering that is. The Chairman of the association is our elder, Patrick. There's two staff on the association, Fiona and myself. Two volunteers, Abigail and Nicola. There's a handful of other members, including Dik, Hetty, Patricia, some students and some other young adults who are involved in the work.
Strictly speaking, according to the law of 1905, an Association Cultuelle can only do things that are directly related to worshipping God. So training pastors would be OK. Holding workshops, music practices, Sunday schools, prayer meetings - all these things would be OK.
However what about a church holiday ? A kids camp ? Outreach to different groups ?
For these activities some churches in France just carry on regardless. Laws can be hard to interpret anyway.
Other churches form Associations CultuRelles to provide the legislative framework for activities not directly related to the worship service.
Thus today we have the Annual General Meetings of the Association Culturelle, FAC, established for outreach to students.
It's been compared to Campus Crusade, but a moment's reflection will reveal how mistaken and flattering that is. The Chairman of the association is our elder, Patrick. There's two staff on the association, Fiona and myself. Two volunteers, Abigail and Nicola. There's a handful of other members, including Dik, Hetty, Patricia, some students and some other young adults who are involved in the work.
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