FRESH EXPRESSIONSFRESH EXPRESSIONS

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Bishop Graham CrayBishop Graham Cray

A Tale Of Two ReportsA Tale Of Two Reports

THREE YEARS PROGRESSTHREE YEARS PROGRESS

21,500 copies sold21,500 copies sold National Evangelism Officer (Paul Bayes)National Evangelism Officer (Paul Bayes) Senior Staff coordinator in 40 diocesesSenior Staff coordinator in 40 dioceses ‘‘Fresh Expressions’ organisation (+Methodist)Fresh Expressions’ organisation (+Methodist) 635 registered projects,635 registered projects, 35% of parishes in 2005 count. 35% of parishes in 2005 count. New legal Framework: ‘Bishop’s Mission Order’New legal Framework: ‘Bishop’s Mission Order’ Mission leadership criterion for Mission leadership criterion for allall ordinands ordinands Pioneer ordained ministersPioneer ordained ministers

THREE YEARS PROGRESSTHREE YEARS PROGRESS

Pioneer lay ministry guidelinesPioneer lay ministry guidelines Resources: books, pamphlets, DVDs,Resources: books, pamphlets, DVDs, ‘‘Share’ - Online guide Share’ - Online guide

www.freshexpressions.orgwww.freshexpressions.org Training courses: ‘Mission Shaped Intro.’Training courses: ‘Mission Shaped Intro.’

‘‘Mission Shaped Ministry’ Mission Shaped Ministry’ Additional financial provision, national & Additional financial provision, national &

diocesan.diocesan.

A SHIFT IN CULTUREA SHIFT IN CULTURE

‘‘Essentially the Fresh Essentially the Fresh Expressions program is not Expressions program is not simply about a kind simply about a kind of scattered set of of scattered set of experiments; experiments;

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

PART OF THE PART OF THE BLOODSTREAMBLOODSTREAM

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

Rowan WilliamsRowan Williams

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

BEING THE CHURCH OF BEING THE CHURCH OF ENGLANDENGLAND

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

THE NEW FRONTLINETHE NEW FRONTLINE

FROM - How to share the gospelFROM - How to share the gospel Alpha, Emmaus Etc.Alpha, Emmaus Etc. TO - How to be churchTO - How to be church So that people can hear and see So that people can hear and see

the gospel. the gospel. FROM - Church ‘where’ people areFROM - Church ‘where’ people are TO - Church ‘how’ people are.TO - Church ‘how’ people are.

A CHANGING CULTUREA CHANGING CULTURE

Greater mobilityGreater mobility A network societyA network society Weakening neighbourhoodsWeakening neighbourhoods Porous boundaries Porous boundaries

MISSIONARY CONTEXTMISSIONARY CONTEXT

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

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

Fringe churchgoers(at least 6x yr. ) 3%

Open de-churched 5%

Closedde-churched 28%

Opennon-churched 1%

Closednon-churched 32%

Unassigned 2%

Other religions 6%

Regular (at least monthly)churchgoers 15%

Occasionalchurchgoers(at least annually) 7%

Base: UK All adults (unw. 7069 w. 7000) at TAM Wave 2

Church attendance segmentation in 2006Church attendance segmentation in 2006 Leaving aside the minority who are of other faiths, the UK adult population segments fairly Leaving aside the minority who are of other faiths, the UK adult population segments fairly evenly between the Non-churched, De-churched & churchgoers.evenly between the Non-churched, De-churched & churchgoers.

Percentage of child population in Sunday Percentage of child population in Sunday School UK, 1900-2000School UK, 1900-2000

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

©UK Christian Handbook Religious Trends 2001/2001 No.2

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

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

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

NOT EQUIPPEDNOT EQUIPPED

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

COMMUNITY CHURCH?COMMUNITY CHURCH?

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

OUR PEOPLE?OUR PEOPLE?

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

OUR PEOPLE?OUR PEOPLE?

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

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

THE CHURCHES’ RESPONSETHE CHURCHES’ RESPONSE

New forms of church plant - into New forms of church plant - into networksnetworks

From cross boundary to non-From cross boundary to non-boundaryboundary

Churches transitioning to cellChurches transitioning to cell Fresh expressions of church Fresh expressions of church

CALLED TO PROCLAIM CALLED TO PROCLAIM AFRESHAFRESH

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

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

FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCHCHURCH

Alternative worship communitiesAlternative worship communities Base ecclesial communities Base ecclesial communities Café churchCafé church Cell churchCell church Churches arising out of community Churches arising out of community

initiativesinitiatives Multiple + midweek congregationsMultiple + midweek congregations Network focused churchNetwork focused church School based or linked congregationsSchool based or linked congregations

FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCHCHURCH

Seeker churchSeeker church Traditional church plantsTraditional church plants New monastic movementsNew monastic movements Traditional forms of church inspiring new Traditional forms of church inspiring new

interestinterest Youth congregationsYouth congregations Fresh expressions for childrenFresh expressions for children Fresh expressions for under 5s and their Fresh expressions for under 5s and their

familiesfamilies

CHANGE OF EMPHASISCHANGE OF EMPHASIS

Unplanned consequences of other Unplanned consequences of other pieces of Christian ministrypieces of Christian ministry

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

Church more deeply related to daily Church more deeply related to daily lifelife

Church when people can attendChurch when people can attend

Changing SundaysChanging Sundays Church at different timesChurch at different times

Fresh expressions of Fresh expressions of churchchurch

Changing Changing relationshipsrelationshipsChanging culturesChanging cultures

Less knowledge of Less knowledge of faithfaithDeeper spiritual Deeper spiritual hungerhunger

Church for different Church for different networksnetworksChurch in different Church in different culturesculturesChurch for beginnersChurch for beginners

Church for explorersChurch for explorers

Post Alpha congregationsCOME, Ignite

Nightclub ChaplaincyMaidstone

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 OutCanterbury

Alt Worship service after Choral Eucharist Cranbrook

Crosslinks CommunityRegeneration - Dover

Harvest New Anglican Church Thanet (Cell)

Bridging the gap

Emerge

8 til lateCentrepoint

Stepping Stones

No limits

PulseGreenerway

Lighthouse

Trans4m

conNect

St. George’s Clusters

8 til lateBalcony

8 ‘til late

Stepping Stones

GreenerwayCoNnect

Trans4m

Greenerway

“NO LIMITS”

Lighthouse

8 til late8 til late

Emerge

POLICE & GOTHSPOLICE & GOTHS

FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF FRESH EXPRESSIONS OF CHURCHCHURCH

A fresh expression is a form of church for our A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.any church.

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

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

KEY PRINCIPLE 1KEY PRINCIPLE 1

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

THE PRICE OF MISSIONTHE PRICE OF MISSION

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

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

DYING TO LIVEDYING TO LIVE

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

INCARNATIONALINCARNATIONAL

Entering their Entering their world.world.

Taking it as Taking it as seriously as they seriously as they do.do.

Helping them to Helping them to find Christ there.find Christ there.

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are needed to see this picture.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-231 CORINTHIANS 9:19-23 19 I have made myself a slave to all so 19 I have made myself a slave to all so

that I might win more of them. that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, 21 To those outside the law I became as 21 To those outside the law I became as

one outside the lawone outside the law 22 I have become all things to all people 22 I have become all things to all people 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel

PAUL’S MISSIONARY PAUL’S MISSIONARY METHODSMETHODS

'As far as possible he (Paul) has 'As far as possible he (Paul) has deliberately identified himself with deliberately identified himself with those whom he has sought to win for those whom he has sought to win for the gospel.' Morna Hookerthe gospel.' Morna Hooker

‘‘I do it all for the sake of the gospel.’ 1 I do it all for the sake of the gospel.’ 1 Cor. 9:23Cor. 9:23

PAUL’S MISSIONARY PAUL’S MISSIONARY METHODSMETHODS

‘ ‘What Paul describes is the self-What Paul describes is the self-identification of Christ with men and identification of Christ with men and women which, in turn, results in their women which, in turn, results in their sharing in what he is.’ Morna Hookersharing in what he is.’ Morna Hooker

‘‘Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.’ Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.’ 1 Cor. 11:11 Cor. 11:1

A slaveA slave Outside the LawOutside the Law

INCULTURATIONINCULTURATION

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

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

MISSIO DEIMISSIO DEI

Christology >Christology > Missiology >Missiology > EcclesiologyEcclesiology

KEY PRINCIPLE 2KEY PRINCIPLE 2

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

in.’ in.’

MISSIO DEIMISSIO DEI

'It is not the church that has a mission 'It is not the church that has a mission of salvation to fulfil in the world; it is the of salvation to fulfil in the world; it is the mission of the Son and the Spirit mission of the Son and the Spirit through the Father that includes the through the Father that includes the church.' Jurgen Moltmannchurch.' Jurgen Moltmann

CHURCH AS POINTER TO CHURCH AS POINTER TO GOD’S FUTUREGOD’S FUTURE

Our greatest need is for a baptism of Our greatest need is for a baptism of imagination about the form of the imagination about the form of the churchchurch

We have given too much attention to We have given too much attention to church as a passing on of the church as a passing on of the inheritance of the past and too little to inheritance of the past and too little to church as an anticipation of God’s church as an anticipation of God’s future.future.

A FORTASTE OF GOD’S A FORTASTE OF GOD’S FUTUREFUTURE

‘‘The Church does more than merely The Church does more than merely point to a reality beyond itself. By point to a reality beyond itself. By virtue of its participation in the life of virtue of its participation in the life of God, it is not only a sign and God, it is not only a sign and instrument, but also a genuine instrument, but also a genuine foretaste of God’s Kingdom, called to foretaste of God’s Kingdom, called to show forth visibly, in the midst of show forth visibly, in the midst of history, God’s final purposes for history, God’s final purposes for humankind.’ Eucharistic Presidencyhumankind.’ Eucharistic Presidency

WATCHINGWATCHING

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

Watch this space!Watch this space!

‘‘God continues to create new futures in God continues to create new futures in

the most inauspicious of places.’the most inauspicious of places.’ ‘‘The biblical narratives are full of stories The biblical narratives are full of stories

about places and people without hope about places and people without hope

who became centres of the Spirit’s who became centres of the Spirit’s

creative, world changing, activity.’ creative, world changing, activity.’ RoxburghRoxburgh + Romanuk+ Romanuk

THE MINISTRY OF THE THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRITSPIRIT

‘‘If God’s Spirit is If God’s Spirit is among the people among the people of God wherever of God wherever they are, then they are, then those are the those are the places where it is places where it is possible to possible to incarnate a incarnate a missional life.’missional life.’

LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP

‘‘Leadership is about cultivating an Leadership is about cultivating an environment that innovates and environment that innovates and releases the missional imagination releases the missional imagination present in a community of God’s present in a community of God’s people.’people.’

‘‘An environment in which the Spirit An environment in which the Spirit given presence of God’s future may given presence of God’s future may emerge among the people of God.’emerge among the people of God.’

TOGETHER TO GOD’S TOGETHER TO GOD’S FUTUREFUTURE

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

HEALTH WARNING!HEALTH WARNING!

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

FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT?FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT? AN INVITATION TO IMPROVISE!AN INVITATION TO IMPROVISE!

Prayer and Support

Connection

Listening and Following God’s call

Loving Service

Evangelism and

Disciple- Making

Forming Community

EvolvingWorship

49

THE ‘MIXED ECONOMY’THE ‘MIXED ECONOMY’

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

……and finding new, and finding new, flexible, appropriate flexible, appropriate ways to proclaim the ways to proclaim the Gospel afresh to thoseGospel afresh to those who do not relate to who do not relate to traditional ways traditional ways

the mixed economythe mixed economy

THE CHALLENGE TO THE THE CHALLENGE TO THE DIOCESESDIOCESES

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

SYMBIOSISSYMBIOSIS

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

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

WHAT IS CHURCH?WHAT IS CHURCH?

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

CHURCH EXPRESSES CHURCH EXPRESSES CHRISTCHRIST

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

THE MARKS OF THE MARKS OF ANGLICANISMANGLICANISM

The Declaration of AssentThe Declaration of Assent The Lambeth QuadrilateralThe Lambeth Quadrilateral

The ScripturesThe Scriptures The CreedsThe Creeds The Dominical SacramentsThe Dominical Sacraments Historic Episcopacy locally adaptedHistoric Episcopacy locally adapted

A national churchA national church A international familyA international family A liturgical tradition (Shared frameworks)A liturgical tradition (Shared frameworks) ‘ ‘Lets wait and see.’ Lets wait and see.’

THE GIFT OF REPENTANCETHE GIFT OF REPENTANCE ‘‘If the decline of the Church is If the decline of the Church is

ultimately caused neither by the ultimately caused neither by the irrelevance of Jesus, irrelevance of Jesus,

nor by the indifference of the nor by the indifference of the community, community,

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

THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE - THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE - Bob Jackson Bob Jackson

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

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

FRESH EXPRESSIONSFRESH EXPRESSIONS

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Bishop Graham CrayBishop Graham Cray