http://www.arxitecture.org.uk

 1: MISSION STATEMENT

page updated January 2002

Elsewhere (and described below) I have called this the Great Commission for Architects.

 The X in arXitecture is the Greek letter chi for Christ and symbol of the cross; and to bring Generation X to Christ.

The Great Commission for Architects

The Great Commission for Architects has three components which interact in a circle which can be joined at any point.

GC is the Great Commission given by Jesus to all his followers Go and make disciples of all nations ......teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

CM is the Cultural Mandate developed from God's command to Adam and Eve to tend the garden, to fill the earth and subdue it, making use of its resources in a sustainable way for the equal benefit of all mankind, across the world, for the present and into the future.

CCPD is Continuing Christian Professional Development; it applies the teaching of the Bible to professional development, here specifically for architects and planners. It covers not only the process and product but also the people (whether architects or not, professionals or not) who contribute to the built environment.

2: How this is being achieved through the arXitecture website

a:

The website is being advertised as an ethical approach to architecture based on Christian principles; I have redesigned the introductory pages to reflect this before advertising it to the secular world.

b:

The site begins with the ethical approach (CCPD), goes on to the Christian background (CM), and then on to the basics of Christianity (GC). All three sections are shown on the home page. The evangelistic section uses the Why Do We Build? article to introduce man's spiritual and sinful nature in the context of architecture. See News and Reviews for this article.

c:

Offer free gospel to those requesting one, plus a booklet on how to become a Christian.

d:

News, Reviews and Articles page to be updated monthly with new material.

e:

Links to other Christian sites for Bible reading/study, explanatory literature, finding a church and Alpha Course.

Link to Christians in Architecture and Planning (www.capsite.org.uk) formerly the UCCF professional group ACPA, and email to arXitecture.

3: MAKING arXitecture KNOWN

a:

Let friends, especially architects know. Being done.

b:

Inform schools of architecture and appropriate CUs. This is now under way, and individual email letters have been sent to heads of schools. Hard copy letters with A4 posters and/or postcards will also be sent.

c:

Through CAP and UCCF, travelling secretaries; and IFES.

d:

Press release to technical and Christian press and radio with new address. Done.

e:

Try getting letters and articles published in technical and Christian press. The site has been reviewed in the Architects Journal .

f:

Contact other known Christian architects and organisations. Ongoing.

g:

Search for news groups, chat rooms etc. on the topic of architecture, and join or subscribe where appropriate.

h:

Get listed in search engines. Looking for free listing!

i:

Write to former colleagues, especially from student days. (ARB Register)

4: PRAISE AND PRAYER

4a: Praise

a:

When I went online, initially to help in jobseeking, I did not know that I would also get a free website, and had not thought of using the Internet in this way.

b:

The leaflet Why Do We Build? was ready to adapt for a web site.

c:

Website design is relatively easy; set up the page in a table in Word for Windows, and save as HTML! It can then be further edited here.

d:

Confirmation of the idea came from a sermon on Acts 17, Paul preaching at Athens, and a contemporary picture of the Athenians surfing the web; and from a gift for me to develop my ideas of Christian training and evangelism.

4b: Prayer

a:

For God to prepare people to visit/find the site, and respond positively.

b:

This is spiritual warfare, so need protection for myself, computer and software, and ISP.

In July 2001 my modem was knocked out by a thunderbolt! There was no other damage and a friend supplied a spare modem.

c:

Continuing wisdom to decide what to put on the site. New ideas.

d:

Writing new material and updating site frequently to encourage return visits.

e:

Follow up.

f:

Guidance for the future, which will depend on the response.

g:

Time for all these activities.

5: FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

a:z

After the initial setting up is it a spare time activity with a few (or no) responses, at one extreme; or at the other needing a full time organisation, with larger web site, notice board, and publishing letters and articles by others; or somewhere in between?

http://www.gentle.org/voice

http://www.brigada.org

 Please email constructive criticism to leslie.barker@virgin.net

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