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Fresh Expressions of Church

200430,000 copies sold

Unanimous approval at General Synod

Discussed and implemented in

DiocesesInfluence in UK

EcumenicalWorldwide influence

A fresh expression is a form of church

for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are

not yet members of any church.

The Mixed EconomyThe Mixed Economy

both-and both-and

continue to grow and develop the church as it iscontinue to grow and develop the church as it is

establish fresh expressions of churchestablish fresh expressions of church

This is not new but fresh

A missional A missional re-engagementre-engagement

with societywith society

2007 Tear Fund survey of 7000 adults in contact or not with church

“ “ this majority (66%) presents a major this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are challenge to churches. Most of them are

unreceptive and closed unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing isto attending church; churchgoing is

simply not on their agenda.”simply not on their agenda.”

Churchgoing in the UK.Churchgoing in the UK.A research report from Tearfund. April 2007A research report from Tearfund. April 2007

Playing Away

A re-imaginationA re-imaginationof what church isof what church is

(and could become) (and could become)

The point of Fresh Expressions is the point of the Church itself, that is to provide a place where Christ is set free in our midst, if one can use such an expression……..

So you’re going to hear something now about being the Church, and being the Church of England, not about something marginal, something eccentric, but about the very life blood of who we are and what we are”.

A re-orientation A re-orientation towards whole lifetowards whole life

discipleship.discipleship.

‘‘a discipleship movement a discipleship movement shaped for mission’shaped for mission’

This is about This is about being……….being……….

ContextualContextual

‘ I have become all things to all people,so that I might by any means save some.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel,so that I may share in its blessings.’

1 Corinthians 9;16f

Shaped by the constants of the faithShaped by the constants of the faithand the context of the mission.and the context of the mission.

How is faith experienced and How is faith experienced and embodied now?embodied now?

‘ ‘ It is important to remember that It is important to remember that what counted as an appropriatewhat counted as an appropriate

response to God in one generationresponse to God in one generationand culture will be very different in and culture will be very different in

another.’another.’

Abbot Stuart Burns, Mucknell AbbeyAbbot Stuart Burns, Mucknell Abbey

• ‘…do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have been before.’

Vincent Donovan

‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

Missional

““The day of the churched cultureThe day of the churched cultureis over. The day of the missionis over. The day of the mission

field has come.”field has come.”

Kennon L CallahanKennon L Callahan Effective Church LeadershipEffective Church Leadership

‘ ‘ the church is missionary the church is missionary by it’s very nature…….by it’s very nature…….

the church does not havethe church does not have a mission a mission

but the mission has but the mission has a church.’a church.’

Prophetic Dialogue. Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and ScroederBevans and Scroeder

“ we understood mission oneway and organised life to accomplish it. We have awakened to find out the mission moved on us. To keep focusing on mission, wehave to turn the furniturearound and face a differentdirection. We may even have to move into another room.”

Loren Mead. The Once and Future Church

‘‘Mission is often described as if it wereMission is often described as if it werea planned extension of an old building.a planned extension of an old building.But it fact it has usually been more likeBut it fact it has usually been more like

an unexpected explosion.’an unexpected explosion.’

John V Taylor John V Taylor

FormationalFormational

The glory of God is the human person fully alive

Irenaeus of Lyon

The details of theThe details of the shape of shape of

Christian livingChristian living

“ We are not inviting people to join an institution, nor to educate people in a

process of interior transformation. We are inviting people into a renewed

creation made possible by Christ through the Spirit.”

Rowan Williams

•How we see God

•How we see ourselves and others

•How we see our community

•How we see creation and society

“ If not part of a mutuallyIf not part of a mutuallydiscipling community the discipling community the culture will disciple you.”culture will disciple you.”

Graham Cray

What kind of people are we called to be?

What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?

EcclesialEcclesial

Proper Church!Proper Church!

““ 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.”

““every expression of the church is, in it’s every expression of the church is, in it’s own way, another worked example of whatown way, another worked example of what

the encounter with Christ looks the encounter with Christ looks like in the life of a particular community.”like in the life of a particular community.”

“ “ 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.”

Jurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the SpiritJurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit

““what we need is the patience and nervewhat we need is the patience and nerveto start telling the story again and to start telling the story again and

let the God of Mission recreate his church.”let the God of Mission recreate his church.”

+Stephen Cottrell+Stephen Cottrell

Unity and diversityUnity and diversity

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

•Who is the mission for?

•Who is the mission by?

•Who is the mission with?

D x V x R x FS > PCD x V x R x FS > PC

To start something you needTo start something you need

DissatisfactionDissatisfactionVisionVision

ResourcesResourcesFirst stepsFirst stepsPerceived costPerceived cost

DxVxRDxVxRxFS >PCxFS >PC