A major one-day conference will be hosted by Church Army in collaboration with Church Mission Society later in the month to help Christians understand more about mission, culture and the church.

The event themed, Listening to Culture, draws insights from overseas mission that can be applied to many varied cultures in society, ethnic groups and differing social contexts.

"The culture of the UK is changing, and an increasing number of people have had no real contact with what we often regard as 'normal' ways of being church," explains Church Army's Jenny Richardson.

"The church has unwritten rules that are more to do with our culture than the gospel - and we're often not even aware of them. This day gives a rare opportunity to draw on understanding about culture and mission from those who have experience from world mission, plus an opportunity to hear about research into evangelism in post Christian culture in this country - and will give space to think about how the insights from the day apply where you are."

Paul Thaxter of CMS is one of two guest speakers at the event. He will share with participants some of his personal insights into from overseas mission. Church Army's Steve Hollinghurst, meanwhile, will talk about his research into culture and evangelism in the UK, which he says has now become like a foreign mission field.

"The churches mission often only reaches those raised within a Christian context, people who understand the language and culture of church," states Hollinghurst.

"100 years ago this was true for most in Britain, today it is getting rare. Much of Britain is effectively now a foreign mission field and the insights of cross cultural mission are much needed. The cross cultural mission field of contemporary Britain is one of the world's greatest mission challenges, it is not one culture but many, each needing culturally sensitive mission.

"It is also a nation that feels it has tried Christianity and it doesn't work and is turning to new post modern spiritualities, or other sources to find meaning. This is a situation rare in the 2000 year history of Christianity, but one we are called to face."