IT was an inspiring conference that challenged delegates to re-think how they treated each other and the rest of society. 

More than 180 of our clergy and lay leaders gathered for three days at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. And few went home unchanged.

It was entitled ‘Touching Earth,Touching Heaven’ and aimed to look in detail at the Church's role in our world. Clergy, Readers, lay chairs of deanery synods, Bishop’s Council members, diocesan staff and youth and children's workers attended.

It included sessions on effective evangelism, and how different generations might think differently. And one morning was given over to a simulation game that challenged our views on different sections of society.

The first speaker, Mark Russell, chief executive of the Church Army, urged delegates to reach out to their community through selfless loving actions that prompt people to ask about our motivations. Then we can talk about our faith.

Graeme Codrington showed how people are shaped and influenced by the eras they grew up in. This has implications for the Church, which might need to re-think its approach to different age groups. 

And Diederick Santer, who was the producer of Eastenders, helped delegates understand the thinking behind issues raised by TV soaps, and their influence on wider society.

The first evening also included a drama sketch on the theme of ‘community’ and the world premiere of our Ministry for Mission DVD, which will also be shown in churches across the diocese.

The simulation game the next morning aimed to address some of the problems inherent in creating a functioning society. It involved groups of delegates being assigned different roles, including ‘the rich and leisured’, ‘artisans’, ‘bankers’, ‘immigrants’ and ‘the poor’. They were asked to draw up the rules for a structured society but – initially at least – could only communicate via postcards sent to other groups.

At one point, those playing ‘the unemployed’ were involved in a confrontation with ‘the rich and leisured’, which involved ‘the police’ being called to restore order. Among the lessons learned was that each category included a variety of different kinds of people, making generalisations dangerous. Another was how easily those without resources could end up feeling isolated.