The Kairos Story So Far
OUR STORY
The journey of the Kairos Movement began just before COVID hit in 2020. Leslie Newton (chair of the Methodist Yorkshire North & East District), Andy Lindley (Methodist Presbyter then located in York) and Liane (Lay worker based in the Hull area) were wondering together what the Methodist Church across our Yorkshire might look like in the future. Here, like Methodism in churches everywhere, the season of what has been is clearly coming to an end.
Methodism emerged in the 18th century with a real sense of movement as new communities started with very contextual small groups, and as this evolved, it became a movement of real transformation. As with many things, we like to duplicate and then standardise what ‘works’, and over the years Methodism has become an institution, and then in many ways has become stuck. However, people within the institution have earmarked significant money to explore what new places might look like for new people, and so we decided to make use of that and start an exploration of what new thing might be waiting to grow in Yorkshire North & East.
Officially Launched
A step of faith
It was a step of faith, on behalf of the Methodist church, to release Liane and Andy, to establish this new Movement and to explore, with a small group of others, how we might shape this network of missional communities we call Kairos. Despite lots of research and conversations with others, we travel light, we are growing organically, and seeking to be led by the Spirit as we do so.
Encounter Encourage Explore
We came to recognise some guiding principles for the Kairos Movement – the name for our new endeavour, which we hoped reflected a sense of Divine movement at this time. An endeavour guided by encounter with one another and the Divine, encouraging one another and exploring what that might look like in everyday life. Many of the mini experiments have had very short seasons, such as the regular ‘zoom lounge’ we thought might act like the work place ‘water cooler’ offering space for casual, passing relationships to grow. It didn’t, so we stopped it.
Initially, all our gatherings were on Zoom, it enabled us to meet from across Yorkshire, and was part of most people’s lives anyway due to COVID. As time has gone on, many of us have fallen out of love with Zoom & although still relying upon it, we are gradually working out a balance of connection via social media, WhatsApp, and physically gathered meet ups. Our Movement consists of an organic network of small groups, drawing people together with an itch to explore different spiritual practices, activities, or interests.
We reflect a lot on what the natural world teaches us through the mycelium network (incredibly tiny “threads” forming a vast fungal network that enables nutrient absorption, ecosystem recycling, and symbiotic communication between all land plants and soil) as we connect with those rooted in the different physical and faith communities across Yorkshire. Together, we are figuring out how to support and encourage one another as we experiment with how to live a dispersed community life.
The Kairos Community
The Kairos Movement has certainly done a lot of shape shifting since its conception. The Kairos Community has emerged as a distinct, intentional faith community, within the wider Kairos Movement. The Kairos Movement, its core community and its network of small groups & partnerships continue to provide both a haven and a space embracing a more progressive, inclusive faith for individuals with and without other places of faith belonging.
Our Values
- We Value Everyone – inclusive and affirm LGBTQ+
- We Listen – your voice matters
- We Go Deep – it’s safe to be vulnerable
- We Question – doubts deepen our faith
- We Work Together – in partnership with others
- We Want Change – transforming our world
The Kairos Community don’t have a building, and physical gatherings often involve being outside (often in the rain for some reason), as we try and meet up in different places across Yorkshire, joining in with what is already going on. Usually there are very small numbers at any one thing, but we do try and get as many of us as possible together for a day in the summer and a weekend in the winter.
Many of those who find their way to us have been hurt and burnt out, and/or are in some kind of faith shift from a doctrinally conservative Christian faith. We draw on a breadth of ancient and modern faith practices.
We have steered away from stating a set of beliefs, as each one of us acknowledges that what we believe might change from day to day, and we treasure what doubt and questioning have to teach us!
We aim to be pilgrims alongside those at different stages of spiritual growth, not always anticipating progression. In responding to those who find us, we feel we are responding to a cultural and spiritual shift from linear logic and hierarchy to a more sustainable, intuitive, holistic interconnectedness.
Rather than always being the ones who lead and organise, we try to join in with what is already happening, and encourage one another to be active participants in our dispersed local communities, but also to learn how to ‘be’ and to have a healthy rhythm of life.
Our gatherings are usually participative, with mutual sharing of insights and stories in response to blogs, videos, podcasts or people active in their ministry. Out of deep conversations that emerge as we hang out together, we are discovering a shared spiritual journey and figuring out how to be a co-created community that gently supports and shapes our lives.
Alongside our weekly mailing, our community and each of our groups has its own WhatsApp group, where we continue the conversation and strengthen relationships. We are currently building a rhythm of prayer & meditation throughout the week using Zoom or WhatsApp, something that builds a collective framework for our independent and dispersed lives.
This feels like a very brief glimpse into our journey, please do find out more on our website
We are currently finishing all our physical gatherings by speaking one sentence blessings over one another, so here is my blessing for you, what blessing will you say into the circle?
“May we share a hope that does not fade and embody love that cannot be lost; in the darkness, vulnerability and unorganised mess of real life, may we find and share Light ”
we all have a part to play
One of our key values is that we seek the Flourishing of individuals, families, and the communities around us.
We all have unique giftings, skills and experience.
We’d love for you to join us and play a part in our continued shaping!
Co-Enablers
Liane and Andy are the co-enablers of the Kairos Movement. Both are also Methodist employees. They form part of a wider trustee body, which oversees Kairos, and establishes it, as a ‘Circuit’ and ‘Church’ within the Methodist system, as well as allowing us to have the freedom to shape the Movement, and allow those who journey with us to Flourish, while maintaining the processes and systems which keep us all safe, secure and accountable.
Andy Lindley
Liane Kensett
A taste of Our Original Vision
You’ll find on this website, a flavour of the structure we envisage, and some of our foundational ideas. The rest, will take shape, and in common with others who follow the Jesus Way, we expect God’s Spirit to guide us in that process and will be actively listening and discerning that guidance together, through prayer, meditation, and drawing on individual giftings.
Below is a video we shared back in 2021 with a gathering of those who lead the church across the Yorkshire region, with some of our founder shapers, and their reflections.