Fresh Expressions of Church

http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/

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.

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 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

The Mixed EconomyThe Mixed Economy

both-and

continue to grow and develop the church as it is

establish fresh expressions of church

“Fresh expressions, as part of themixed economy Church, have a legitimate place in the mission

strategy of the Church of Englandand the Methodist Church.”

p179.

This is not new but fresh

The missionThe missioncontextcontext

2007 1,200,0002007 1,200,00020302030 500,000500,00020572057 125,000125,000

Average Weekly Attendance in the Church of EnglandAverage Weekly Attendance in the Church of England

Numbers attending church over 65 falls by 25%Numbers attending church over 65 falls by 25%

Numbers attending church under 30 falls by 80%Numbers attending church under 30 falls by 80%

Peter Brierley , CEN, 14/10/12Peter Brierley , CEN, 14/10/12

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

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

60-year-olds 40-year-olds 20-year-olds

Percentage of people with childhood experience of the church

Age in 2005%

The absence of the younger generation

The average age of a churchgoer in 2010 was 51

The average age in 1980was 37

Tear Fund

Playing Away

““Nearly 4000 people have been involved in the Nearly 4000 people have been involved in the start up of the 361 examples. Attendance now start up of the 361 examples. Attendance now at them is over 14,000, plus a fringe. For every at them is over 14,000, plus a fringe. For every one person sent, over two and a half others are one person sent, over two and a half others are now there. Any church with a growth rate over now there. Any church with a growth rate over time, of 250%, deserves notice.time, of 250%, deserves notice.

Canon Dr George LingsCanon Dr George Lings Based on research in 6 DiocesesBased on research in 6 Dioceses

“ “ Fresh expressions of church more than Fresh expressions of church more than reverse the decline in the Dioceses in the reverse the decline in the Dioceses in the reported years 2006-10.”reported years 2006-10.”

••on average, of those who come, 35% are on average, of those who come, 35% are the de-churched the de-churched

••it is striking that 42% are from the non-it is striking that 42% are from the non-churched churched

• over 50% are lay ledover 50% are lay led

Methodist ChurchMethodist Church1550 new fresh expressions of church1550 new fresh expressions of church

45,000 people attending.45,000 people attending.77% non church people 77% non church people

8,000 lay leaders.8,000 lay leaders.

How have we defined a ‘searcher’?

► Someone who has had cause to reconsider their core values, or think about the big issues like ‘the meaning of life’, in the last year

2000 interviews with a nationally representative sample of UK adults, conducted 24-27th April 09

Are People Searching and why?

► 73% of people are searching►All ages, male and female.

► 70% of people are searching because of either the credit crunch, concern about personal finances or job insecurity

Are people considering prayer, the church or the

Bible?► YES … a third of those who say they are Christian

at all► And, the research shows that it is the most helpful

thing to do (after turning to family and friends)

► NO … if they do not belong to any religion► These do not even feature on the ‘spiritual search

map’► It is not that they are being considered but people

haven’t got round to it yet, or that they have been tried and reject

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

‘ ‘ The Theology of the West, was itself a limited,The Theology of the West, was itself a limited,contextual product of a particular set of experiences.’contextual product of a particular set of experiences.’

Every time and every culture has to reflectEvery time and every culture has to reflecton faith on its own terms.on faith on its own terms.

The Christian faith needs to engage a contextThe Christian faith needs to engage a contextauthentically as a missiological imperative.’authentically as a missiological imperative.’

Prophetic Dialogue.Prophetic Dialogue.Stephen Bevans & Roger SchroederStephen Bevans & Roger Schroeder

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

‘‘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

“ 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

‘‘a disciple is simply someone whoa disciple is simply someone who decided to be with another person, decided to be with another person,

under appropriate conditions,under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing in order to become capable of doing

what that person does what that person does or to become what that person is.’or to become what that person is.’

The Divine Conspiracy, p309.The Divine Conspiracy, p309.

•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

““Each of us promises in the Anglican formulariesEach of us promises in the Anglican formulariesto proclaim the faith fresh in every generation byto proclaim the faith fresh in every generation bythe grace of the Living God at work within us. Tothe grace of the Living God at work within us. Todo this well in our own day involves a willingnessdo this well in our own day involves a willingnessto go to very heart of our changing culture, and to go to very heart of our changing culture, and

often, to work with the Spirit to form new often, to work with the Spirit to form new communities of word and sacrament in freshcommunities of word and sacrament in fresh

and imaginative ways.”and imaginative ways.”

““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.”

Unity and diversityUnity and diversity

UnityUnity

‘ ‘ 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

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

Acts 10 Peter & CorneliusActs 10 Peter & Cornelius

1.1.What do we learn about God?What do we learn about God?

2.2.What do we learn about Peter?What do we learn about Peter?

3.3.What do we learn about mission?What do we learn about mission?