Church for the 21Church for the 21stst Century Century

‘ ‘ What does it look like to form God’s What does it look like to form God’s people in a place where the mapspeople in a place where the maps that once guided us so well no that once guided us so well no

longer help us to make sense of the longer help us to make sense of the territory in which we find ourselves.’territory in which we find ourselves.’

Alan Roxburgh

•Ancient pathsAncient paths

•New map through the biblical narrativeNew map through the biblical narrative

•New maps on the journeyNew maps on the journey

•Continuity and changeContinuity and change

•Free and rootedFree and rooted

•Catholic and ReformedCatholic and Reformed

•Unity and diversityUnity and diversity

‘ ‘ The only people who canThe only people who can discover how discover how

to be a Christian in a to be a Christian in a particular culture areparticular culture are

those living in it.’those living in it.’

Steve HollinghurstSteve Hollinghurst

What are our specific mission tasks now?What are our specific mission tasks now?What are our central convictions about life?What are our central convictions about life?

Who are we now in this missionary situ?Who are we now in this missionary situ?

1. A larger city church has started a student congregation.

2.A church in Perth which has two congregations which meet in the same premises at the same time – one using English, the other using Korean…….

3. A congregation that meets in the school hall at 3.30 pm on Monday afternoons in order to reach parents/carers and their children.

4. People can log onto a cyber-church to receive teaching and pastoral advice, leave prayer requests and share in discussion.

5.An Christian organisation has started a church for prostitutes and drug addicts who have been converted through their work.

6.An evangelist is starting a ‘walkers church’ – a monthly hike with

Christian meditations en route 7.A gathering in a pub organised by a pioneer after playing football together

which includes eating together and prayer

8. A church founded by a Nigerian pastor to reach Nigerians in the CBD

A fresh expression is a church plant or a new A fresh expression is a church plant or a new congregation. It is not a new way to reach peoplecongregation. It is not a new way to reach people

and add them to an existing congregation. It is notand add them to an existing congregation. It is notan old outreach with a new name. (rebrand) Nor isan old outreach with a new name. (rebrand) Nor isit a half way house, which people belong to for a it a half way house, which people belong to for a

while, on their way into Christian faith, before while, on their way into Christian faith, before crossing over to ‘proper church.’ crossing over to ‘proper church.’

This is proper church.’This is proper church.’

Graham Cray. Graham Cray. An Introduction to fresh expressionsAn Introduction to fresh expressions

So what is church ?So what is church ?

‘‘Theological reflection on the identityTheological reflection on the identityand calling of the church followsand calling of the church follows

on from its existence as a on from its existence as a community of faith.community of faith.

Alister McGrath

““ And so from the start , where Jesus is,And so from the start , where Jesus is,there is the church, the church is the there is the church, the church is the

assembly of those who are finding their assembly of those who are finding their relationships, their lives transformedrelationships, their lives transformed

by the presence of Jesus.”by the presence of Jesus.”

Holy

“UP”

Apostolic“OUT”Catholic “OF”

“IN”

One

Enduring Marks

Four linkedJourneys

Jesus focusJesus followers

Church is any expression of the

life of Jesus in communal form

OHCA

Organised OrganicOrganised Organic

One DiverseOne DiverseHoly CharismaticHoly CharismaticCatholic LocalCatholic LocalApostolic PropheticApostolic Prophetic

Howard Synder , Decoding the Church. Baker BooksHoward Synder , Decoding the Church. Baker Books

•Unity in freedomUnity in freedom•Catholic in partianshipCatholic in partianship•Holiness in povertyHoliness in poverty•Apostolic in sufferingApostolic in suffering

J. Moltmann, The Church in the power of the Spirit. SCM 1977J. Moltmann, The Church in the power of the Spirit. SCM 1977

“ “ The missionary church will not aim to spreadThe missionary church will not aim to spreadits own form. It is not a subsidiary of the old one.its own form. It is not a subsidiary of the old one.

It is a ‘new church’ of the same apostolate. ItIt is a ‘new church’ of the same apostolate. Itpreserves its unity when it fulfils Christ’s preserves its unity when it fulfils Christ’s

apostolic mission to its own historical situation.”apostolic mission to its own historical situation.”

“ “ the theological doctrine of the church the theological doctrine of the church cannot be simply expressed in abstract termscannot be simply expressed in abstract terms

about the churches timeless nature. It willabout the churches timeless nature. It willhave to provide points of departure for have to provide points of departure for

reforming the church, for giving it a more reforming the church, for giving it a more authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh

start are not antitheses in start are not antitheses in the history of the Spirit.”the history of the Spirit.”

OpenOpen before God before God before humankindbefore humankind

before the future before the future

Three dimensionsThree dimensions

You have just left the future!You have just left the future!

“ “ A gospel of reconciliation can only be A gospel of reconciliation can only be communicated by a reconciled fellowship.”communicated by a reconciled fellowship.”

Four areasFour areas

1.1.Eschatological churchEschatological church2.2.Reconciling churchReconciling church

3.3.Foretaste of the KingdomForetaste of the Kingdom4.4.Uniting-restoring harmonyUniting-restoring harmony

““The church is the pilgrim people of God. It is on the The church is the pilgrim people of God. It is on the move….Therefore the nature of the church is nevermove….Therefore the nature of the church is neverto be finally defined in static terms but only in termsto be finally defined in static terms but only in termsof that to which it is going. It cannot be understood of that to which it is going. It cannot be understood

rightly except in a perspective which is at once rightly except in a perspective which is at once missionary and eschatological.”missionary and eschatological.”

The Household of God.The Household of God.

‘ ‘ Diversity is part of God’s gracious purpose but Diversity is part of God’s gracious purpose but separation and mutual recognition is not.’separation and mutual recognition is not.’

‘ ‘ There must be new ‘forms’ of church, outside the wallsThere must be new ‘forms’ of church, outside the wallsof the existing church and distinct from the of the existing church and distinct from the

community from which it came. Separation there community from which it came. Separation there must be- for the sake of mission but equally separationmust be- for the sake of mission but equally separation

cannot be the last word for the gospel is about Godscannot be the last word for the gospel is about Godspurpose to unite all things in Christ.’purpose to unite all things in Christ.’

Ecumenical Review 29Ecumenical Review 29

•Culturally part of its localityCulturally part of its locality•Witness relevant to its communityWitness relevant to its community

•Physical form and operating structures Physical form and operating structures culturally appropriateculturally appropriate

•Acts on its own initiative in Acts on its own initiative in leadership & mission.leadership & mission.

Local Local

So what would be your essentialSo what would be your essentialmarks of the church? marks of the church?

Anglican ecclesiologyAnglican ecclesiology

•It did not start in 16It did not start in 16thth Century Century

•There is no definitive AnglicanismThere is no definitive Anglicanism

•It is globalIt is global

“ “ The Church of England is The Church of England is partpart of the One, Holy, of the One, Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church worshipping the one Catholic and Apostolic Church worshipping the one true God, true God, Father, Son and Holy SpiritFather, Son and Holy Spirit. It professes. It professes

the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures andthe faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures andset forth in the catholic creeds, which faith set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Churchthe Church

is called to proclaim afresh in every generationis called to proclaim afresh in every generation,,lead by the Holy Spiritlead by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to the , it has borne witness to the

Christian truth in its historic formularies, the 39Christian truth in its historic formularies, the 39Articles, the BCP and the Ordinals of Bishops, PriestsArticles, the BCP and the Ordinals of Bishops, Priests

and Deacons.and Deacons.

Preface to the Declaration of Assent . Canon C15Preface to the Declaration of Assent . Canon C15

““There seems to be a mandate for some There seems to be a mandate for some reinterpretation, re-expression and making reinterpretation, re-expression and making

the faith relevant, provided that this exercise,the faith relevant, provided that this exercise,imperative as it is, remains faithful to the imperative as it is, remains faithful to the

Scriptures and the creeds.”Scriptures and the creeds.”

“ “ one that is full of vitality and manoeuvrabilityone that is full of vitality and manoeuvrabilityand which has the flexibility to make and which has the flexibility to make

contact with the contexts of our pluralistic world.contact with the contexts of our pluralistic world.

Paul Avis, The Identity of Anglicanism, T&T Clark,2007

1.1.Start at different placesStart at different places2.2.The danger of waiting for the perfect churchThe danger of waiting for the perfect church

3.3.Bigger and broader than we conceiveBigger and broader than we conceive4.4.Gathered and dispersedGathered and dispersed

5.5.Issues of maturity and sustainabilityIssues of maturity and sustainability6.6.Importance of interdependenceImportance of interdependence

1.1.Passion focused more than projectPassion focused more than project2.2.Network not just neighbourhoodNetwork not just neighbourhood

3.3.Fluid more than fixedFluid more than fixed4.4.Fragile more than finishedFragile more than finished

5.5.Lay not just ordainedLay not just ordained

How might our tradition help in developingHow might our tradition help in developing fresh expressions? fresh expressions?