THE word “Christian’’ seems to be used mainly as a noun, describing a person, place or thing.

That is to say that a Christian is a person who believes a certain set of things and/or a person who goes to Church.

To understand “Christian” fully though, is to realise it is better understood as a verb – an activity, an action.

Jesus calls his followers to “love their neighbour”, and to be “salt and light’’ – doers and influencers for justice, good and truth.

In fact Jesus has far more to say on the way Christians should live out their faith, than he had to say about doctrinal beliefs and formal worship gatherings.

He calls his followers to a radical way of life that embodies, love, forgiveness, generosity, justice and kindness. This is the activity of faith that happens day by day through the lives of ordinary Christians in the communities and places they find themselves.

On September 20 Anglican Churches members will gather in Oxford to celebrate our collective life and calling, reminding ourselves that we are part of something bigger.

The day will see us worshipping and praying together, eating, questioning, laughing and learning. One of the meeting points is the “Living the Difference Café”, where the idea of Christian as a verb is the focus.

The guests include all sorts of people who are working out what it means to live differently in the places they find themselves. We’ll be welcoming, for example, eco-activists, justice campaigners, musicians, theologians, athletes and aid volunteers.

I’m excited to be part of this venture, not because it is unique but because it is about the really-real in the Christian faith and about encouraging one another to live differently, to love greatly and to make a difference! And it’s all accompanied by Fairtrade and locally sourced food and drink, so even better.