FRESH EXPRESSIONS TORONTO

A Tale Of Two Reports

THREE YEARS PROGRESS 21,500 copies sold National Evangelism Officer (Paul Bayes) Senior Staff coordinator in 40 dioceses ‘ Fresh Expressions’ organisation (+Methodist) 635 registered projects, 35% of parishes in 2005 count. New legal Framework: ‘Bishop’s Mission Order’ Mission leadership criterion for all ordinands Pioneer ordained ministers

21,500 copies sold

National Evangelism Officer (Paul Bayes)

Senior Staff coordinator in 40 dioceses

‘ Fresh Expressions’ organisation (+Methodist)

635 registered projects,

35% of parishes in 2005 count.

New legal Framework: ‘Bishop’s Mission Order’

Mission leadership criterion for all ordinands

Pioneer ordained ministers

THREE YEARS PROGRESS Pioneer lay ministry guidelines Resources: books, pamphlets, DVDs, ‘ Share’ - Online guide www.freshexpressions.org Training courses: ‘Mission Shaped Intro.’ ‘ Mission Shaped Ministry’ Additional financial provision, national & diocesan.

Pioneer lay ministry guidelines

Resources: books, pamphlets, DVDs,

‘ Share’ - Online guide www.freshexpressions.org

Training courses: ‘Mission Shaped Intro.’

‘ Mission Shaped Ministry’

Additional financial provision, national & diocesan.

A SHIFT IN CULTURE ‘ Essentially the Fresh Expressions program is not simply about a kind of scattered set of experiments; it’s about that gradual, but I think inexorable shift, in the whole culture of our church that has been going on in the last few years, and which will undoubtedly continue to grow and develop.

‘ Essentially the Fresh Expressions program is not simply about a kind

of scattered set of experiments;

it’s about that gradual, but I think inexorable shift, in the whole culture of our church that has been going on in the last few years, and which will undoubtedly continue to grow and develop.

PART OF THE BLOODSTREAM And that shift in culture is about the way in which discovering new expressions of the Church’s life has now, rather paradoxically, become part of the blood stream of the traditional, mainstream churches’ life.

And that shift in culture is about the way in which discovering new expressions of the Church’s life has now, rather paradoxically, become part of the blood stream of the traditional, mainstream churches’ life.

Rowan Williams To be, so to speak, an ordinary average Anglican, to be an ordinary average Anglican diocese, to be an ordinary average Anglican bishop, now involves you in thinking about, planning for, and involving yourself in, some quite extraordinary and, on the face of it, sometimes rather un-Anglican bits of new life.

To be, so to speak, an ordinary average

Anglican, to be an ordinary average

Anglican diocese, to be an ordinary

average Anglican bishop, now involves

you in thinking about, planning for, and involving yourself in, some quite

extraordinary and, on the face of it,

sometimes rather un-Anglican bits of

new life.

BEING THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND 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 .’

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 .’

THE NEW FRONTLINE FROM - How to share the gospel Alpha, Emmaus Etc. TO - How to be church So that people can hear and see the gospel. FROM - Church ‘where’ people are TO - Church ‘how’ people are.

FROM - How to share the gospel

Alpha, Emmaus Etc.

TO - How to be church

So that people can hear and see the gospel.

FROM - Church ‘where’ people are

TO - Church ‘how’ people are.

A CHANGING CULTURE Greater mobility A network society Weakening neighbourhoods Porous boundaries

Greater mobility

A network society

Weakening neighbourhoods

Porous boundaries

MISSIONARY CONTEXT ‘ Ministers in the Church of England must pursue their vocation increasingly aware of the missionary context in which the church is set. In previous generations ministry was exercised in a culture where Christian beliefs and behaviours were the norm: today’s context is more of a spiritual and moral market place.’ Criterion H

‘ Ministers in the Church of England must pursue their vocation increasingly aware of the missionary context in which the church is set.

In previous generations ministry was exercised in a culture where Christian beliefs and behaviours were the norm: today’s context is more of a spiritual and moral market place.’ Criterion H

Church attendance segmentation in 2006 Fringe churchgoers (at least 6x yr. ) 3% Open de-churched 5% Closed de-churched 28% Open non-churched 1% Closed non-churched 32% Unassigned 2% Other religions 6% Regular (at least monthly) churchgoers 15% Occasional churchgoers (at least annually) 7% Base: UK All adults (unw. 7069 w. 7000) at TAM Wave 2 Leaving aside the minority who are of other faiths, the UK adult population segments fairly evenly between the Non-churched, De-churched & churchgoers.

Percentage of child population in Sunday School UK, 1900-2000 ©UK Christian Handbook Religious Trends 2001/2001 No.2

CONCLUSION The existing parochial system alone is no longer able to deliver its underlying missionary purpose. We need a mixed economy of the old and the new.

The existing parochial system alone is no longer able to deliver its underlying missionary purpose.

We need a mixed economy of the old and the new.

NOT EQUIPPED ‘ We know that our much loved and treasured parochial system is not equipped to meet all the challenges of young, mobile populations, whose patterns of life and work are not those of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.’ +Rowan Williams

‘ We know that our much loved and treasured parochial system is not equipped to meet all the challenges of young, mobile populations, whose patterns of life and work are not those of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.’ +Rowan Williams

COMMUNITY CHURCH? ‘ A church in every community in the land” is an empty boast if it boils down to there being a church in a given geographical area, without any reference to accessibility or culture.’ +Michael Nazir-Ali

‘ A church in every community in the land” is an empty boast if it boils down to there being a church in a given geographical area, without any reference to accessibility or culture.’ +Michael Nazir-Ali

OUR PEOPLE? ‘ The Anglican pattern of ministry, built around parish and neighbourhood, can lead to a way of thinking that assumes that all people – whether attending or not attending are basically ‘our people’. All people are God’s people, but it is an illusion to assume that somehow the population of England is simply waiting for the right invitation before they will come back and join us.’

‘ The Anglican pattern of ministry, built around parish and neighbourhood, can lead to a way of thinking that assumes that all people – whether attending or not attending are basically ‘our people’. All people are God’s people, but it is an illusion to assume that somehow the population of England is simply waiting for the right invitation before they will come back and join us.’

OUR PEOPLE? The social and mission reality is that the majority of English society is not ‘our people’ – they haven’t been in living memory, nor do they want to be. The reality is that for most people across England the church, as it is, is peripheral, obscure, confusing or irrelevant.’ ‘ The task is to become church for them, among them and with them, and under the Spirit of God to lead them to become church in their own culture.’

The social and mission reality is that the majority of English society is not ‘our people’ – they haven’t been in living memory, nor do they want to be. The reality is that for most people across England the church, as it is, is peripheral, obscure, confusing or irrelevant.’

‘ The task is to become church for them, among them and with them, and under the Spirit of God to lead them to become church in their own culture.’

THE CHURCHES’ RESPONSE New forms of church plant - into networks From cross boundary to non-boundary Churches transitioning to cell Fresh expressions of church

New forms of church plant - into networks

From cross boundary to non-boundary

Churches transitioning to cell

Fresh expressions of church

CALLED TO PROCLAIM AFRESH ‘ Which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation.’ ‘ Bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation.’

‘ Which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation.’

‘ Bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation.’

FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCH Alternative worship communities Base ecclesial communities Café church Cell church Churches arising out of community initiatives Multiple + midweek congregations Network focused church School based or linked congregations

Alternative worship communities

Base ecclesial communities

Café church

Cell church

Churches arising out of community initiatives

Multiple + midweek congregations

Network focused church

School based or linked congregations

FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCH Seeker church Traditional church plants New monastic movements Traditional forms of church inspiring new interest Youth congregations Fresh expressions for children Fresh expressions for under 5s and their families

Seeker church

Traditional church plants

New monastic movements

Traditional forms of church inspiring new interest

Youth congregations

Fresh expressions for children

Fresh expressions for under 5s and their families

changing Sundays church at different times fresh expressions of church changing relationships changing cultures less knowledge of faith deeper spiritual hunger church for different networks church in different cultures church for beginners church for explorers

Post Alpha congregations COME, Ignite Nightclub Chaplaincy Maidstone Café Church Bobbing Y Youth Congregation Whitstable Carpenter’s Arms network church plants - Deal + Sandwich New congregation and café services in school hall Bearstead Time Out Canterbury Alt Worship service after Choral Eucharist Cranbrook Crosslinks Community Regeneration - Dover Harvest New Anglican Church Thanet (Cell)

8 til late Balcony

8 ‘til late Greenerway CoNnect Bridging the Gap Lighthouse 8 til late 8 til late Emerge Centrepoint Balcony Nelson Stepping Stones Trans 4m Greenerway “ NO LIMITS”

CHANGE OF EMPHASIS Unplanned consequences of other pieces of Christian ministry Church where people are, not bridges to get people to church Church more deeply related to daily life Church when people can attend

Unplanned consequences of other pieces of Christian ministry

Church where people are, not bridges to get people to church

Church more deeply related to daily life

Church when people can attend

POLICE & GOTHS

FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCH 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. It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples. It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.

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.

It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples.

It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.

KEY PRINCIPLE 1 Inculturation (Embodying the Gospel) Planting not cloning. 'Dying to live’ Something new grows

Inculturation (Embodying the Gospel)

Planting not cloning.

'Dying to live’

Something new grows

THE PRICE OF MISSION The church must always be willing to die to its own cultural comfort in order to live where God intends it to be. John 12:24 ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies it bears much fruit.’

The church must always be willing to die to its own cultural comfort in order to live where God intends it to be.

John 12:24 ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies it bears much fruit.’

DYING TO LIVE ‘ The seed loses its previous identity, which was to be part of the sending church with its particular manifestation and culture. It will become something different from what it was before. Dying to live is inherent in the planting process.’ Mission Shaped Church

‘ The seed loses its previous identity, which was to be part of the sending church with its particular manifestation and culture. It will become something different from what it was before. Dying to live is inherent in the planting process.’ Mission Shaped Church

INCARNATIONAL Entering their world. Taking it as seriously as they do. Helping them to find Christ there.

Entering their world.

Taking it as seriously as they do.

Helping them to find Christ there.

INCULTURATION ‘ Inculturation is essentially a community process “from below”. Its purpose is to allow the gospel to transform a culture from within. No serious attempt at inculturation can begin with a fixed view of the outward form of the local church.’ Mission Shaped Church

‘ Inculturation is essentially a community process “from below”. Its purpose is to allow the gospel to transform a culture from within.

No serious attempt at inculturation can begin with a fixed view of the outward form of the local church.’ Mission Shaped Church

KEY PRINCIPLE 2 FROM - Detailed advance planning TO - Discernment in context. ‘ Seeing what God is doing and joining in.’

FROM - Detailed advance planning

TO - Discernment in context.

‘ Seeing what God is doing and joining in.’

WATCHING ‘ We must relinquish our missionary presuppositions and begin in the beginning with the Holy Spirit. This means humbly watching in any situation in which we find ourselves in order to learn what God is trying to do there, and then doing it with him.’ John V Taylor

‘ We must relinquish our missionary presuppositions and begin in the beginning with the Holy Spirit. This means humbly watching in any situation in which we find ourselves in order to learn what God is trying to do there, and then doing it with him.’ John V Taylor

TOGETHER TO GOD’S FUTURE ‘… 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

‘… 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

HEALTH WARNING! DON’T TAKE ‘MODELS OF CHURCH’ OFF THE SHELF? FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT? AN INVITATION TO IMPROVISE!

DON’T TAKE ‘MODELS OF CHURCH’ OFF THE SHELF?

FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT?

AN INVITATION TO IMPROVISE!

Prayer and Support Connection Listening and Following God’s call Loving Service Evangelism and Disciple- Making Forming Community Evolving Worship

THE ‘MIXED ECONOMY’

Celebrating and building on what is mission-shaped in traditional forms of church… … and finding new, flexible, appropriate ways to proclaim the Gospel afresh to those who do not relate to traditional ways the mixed economy

Celebrating and building on what is mission-shaped in traditional forms of church…

THE CHALLENGE TO THE DIOCESES ‘ It is for dioceses to think creatively about how to connect the old and the new, to encourage traditional parishes to share prayer and energy with new initiatives in church life, and above all to help break down the perennial suspicion between the historic mainstream and the risk-taking innovators. The historic mainstream, after all, had its origins in risk-taking innovators.’ ++Rowan

‘ It is for dioceses to think creatively about how to connect the old and the new, to encourage traditional parishes to share prayer and energy with new initiatives in church life, and above all to help break down the perennial suspicion between the historic mainstream and the risk-taking innovators. The historic mainstream, after all, had its origins in risk-taking innovators.’ ++Rowan

SYMBIOSIS ‘ We are going to have to live with variety. The challenge is how to work with that variety so that everyone grows together in faith and eagerness to learn about and spread the Good News.’ ++Rowan ‘ The brightest hope for church after Christendom is a symbiotic relationship between inherited and emerging churches. We need each other.’ Stuart Murray

‘ We are going to have to live with variety. The challenge is how to work with that variety so that everyone grows together in faith and eagerness to learn about and spread the Good News.’ ++Rowan

‘ The brightest hope for church after Christendom is a symbiotic relationship between inherited and emerging churches. We need each other.’ Stuart Murray

WHAT IS CHURCH? ‘ If ‘church’ is what happens when people encounter the Risen Jesus and commit themselves to sustaining and deepening that encounter in their encounter with each other, there is plenty of theological room for diversity of rhythm and style …’ ++Rowan Williams

‘ If ‘church’ is what happens when people encounter the Risen Jesus and commit themselves to sustaining and deepening that encounter in their encounter with each other, there is plenty of theological room for diversity of rhythm and style …’ ++Rowan Williams

CHURCH EXPRESSES CHRIST ‘ If Christ is the embodiment of God, and the Church is his body on earth. Then no single expression of church can ever exhaust Christ.’ ++Rowan Williams

‘ If Christ is the embodiment of God, and the Church is his body on earth. Then no single expression of church can ever exhaust Christ.’ ++Rowan Williams

THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE ‘ If the decline of the Church is ultimately caused neither by the irrelevance of Jesus, nor by the indifference of the community, but by the Church’s failure to respond fast enough to an evolving culture, to a changing spiritual climate, and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit

‘ If the decline of the Church is ultimately caused neither by the irrelevance of Jesus,

nor by the indifference of the community,

but by the Church’s failure to respond fast enough to an evolving culture, to a changing spiritual climate, and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit

THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE - Bob Jackson Then that decline can be addresses by the repentance of the Church. For true repentance involves turning around and living in a new way in the future. A diocese or parish which, out of repentance, grows a new relevance to the contemporary world, may also grow in numbers and strength , because the Spirit of Jesus has been released to do his work.’

Then that decline can be addresses by the repentance of the Church. For true repentance involves turning around and living in a new way in the future.

A diocese or parish which, out of repentance, grows a new relevance to the contemporary world, may also grow in numbers and strength , because the Spirit of Jesus has been released to do his work.’

FRESH EXPRESSIONS TORONTO