Fresh Expressions of Church

So what is church ?So what is church ?

“ If a fresh expression can properly be said to be ‘a church’then it must contain the fullnessof the universal Church and thus

contain everything that is required to sustain a spiritual & sacramental

life in communion with other churches.”

‘‘How can we seek to re-imagine what it means toHow can we seek to re-imagine what it means tobe the Church and create new communities if we lack be the Church and create new communities if we lack

the language and ability to talk and reflect about the language and ability to talk and reflect about what it means to be the Church in dialogue withwhat it means to be the Church in dialogue with

Scripture and our tradition.’Scripture and our tradition.’

Steven Croft, Mapping Ecclesiology for a mixedSteven Croft, Mapping Ecclesiology for a mixedeconomy in Mission Shaped Questions.economy in Mission Shaped Questions.

Are fresh expressions proper church?Are fresh expressions proper church?

•what is at the heart of church?what is at the heart of church?•what must always happen in church?what must always happen in church?•what can change?what can change?•how can we preserve our identity?how can we preserve our identity?

SHARE websiteSHARE website

1. A large city centre church has started a student congregation.

2.A church 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 meeting 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 City centre

‘ ‘ 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

‘‘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

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

Eight criteria for ‘proper’ Church.p181

1. Community of people called by God2. Regularly worships and is sent out in mission 3. Gospel is proclaimed4. Scripture preached and taught5. Baptism6. Holy Communion7. Authorised ministry for Lords Supper8. Connected to wider church through various ways

“ The church is comprised of four setsof relationships centred on Jesus,

to the Godhead, between members of thelocal church, to the world and

between each part and the whole body.’p106.

Church as four sets of relationships.Church as four sets of relationships.

Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.

ofofupup

inin

outout

‘ ‘

Organised OrganicOrganised Organic

One DiverseOne DiverseHoly CharismaticHoly CharismaticCatholic LocalCatholic LocalApostolic PropheticApostolic Prophetic

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

•Unity in freedomUnity in freedom•Catholic in partisanshipCatholic in partisanship•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

Basic questions of churchBasic questions of church

1.1. Who? Who? 2.2. What?What?3.3. Why?Why?

Maybe we should askMaybe we should ask

Where from?Where from?

Where to ?Where to ?

Four voices of theologyFour voices of theology

1.1. What people on the ground say. EspousedWhat people on the ground say. Espoused

2.2.What is practised and experienced. OperantWhat is practised and experienced. Operant

3.3.Scripture and the tradition. NormativeScripture and the tradition. Normative

4.4.Theological voices from the academy. FormalTheological voices from the academy. Formal

Concrete ChurchConcrete Church

‘ ‘ The identity of the concrete church is not simplyThe identity of the concrete church is not simplygiven, it is constructed and ever reconstructed given, it is constructed and ever reconstructed by the grace enabled activities of its members by the grace enabled activities of its members as they embody the church practices, beliefs as they embody the church practices, beliefs and values.’ and values.’

Nicholas HealyNicholas Healy

Where from ?Where from ?

•The Body of ChristThe Body of Christ

•PentecostPentecost

•The TrinityThe Trinity

Where to ?Where to ?

Following Jesus - discipleFollowing Jesus - disciple

Pilgrims- alienPilgrims- alien

Eschaton- mystery of the futureEschaton- mystery of 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

Lesslie Newbigin 1909- 1998Lesslie Newbigin 1909- 1998

“ “ 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

“ “ 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.”

““ 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.”

What happens when the news and presence of What happens when the news and presence of Jesus, raised from the dead, impacts upon the Jesus, raised from the dead, impacts upon the

human scene, drawing people together in a relationshiphuman scene, drawing people together in a relationshipthat changes everyone involved, a relationship which that changes everyone involved, a relationship which means that each person involved with Jesus is now means that each person involved with Jesus is now

involved with all others who have answered his involved with all others who have answered his invitation, in ways that are painful and demanding butinvitation, in ways that are painful and demanding but

also life giving & transforming beyond imagination.also life giving & transforming beyond imagination.

““how to manage the crossover from whathow to manage the crossover from whatwe do to what God does…..with the sacramentalwe do to what God does…..with the sacramental

life flowing through as a sign and channellife flowing through as a sign and channelof God’s action. of God’s action.

We might need to sit light to a lot of the externals,We might need to sit light to a lot of the externals,to break the mould and concentrate on what to break the mould and concentrate on what

sort of environment allows God the space to be sort of environment allows God the space to be God , actively and transformingly.”God , actively and transformingly.”

Each Christian generation makes itself responsible,Each Christian generation makes itself responsible,as did Jesus’ first friends, for bringing people intoas did Jesus’ first friends, for bringing people into

relations with him and so with each other.relations with him and so with each other.When that happens, the Church happensWhen that happens, the Church happens. .

Church as a place where certain things take placeChurch as a place where certain things take place

toto

a body of people sent on a missiona body of people sent on a mission

•Community gathered by a common calling & vocationCommunity gathered by a common calling & vocationto be a sent peopleto be a sent people

•God centred mission rather than church centredGod centred mission rather than church centred

•church as missional with calling and sending action of church as missional with calling and sending action of God forming its identity God forming its identity

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

Long term issues

•resources•leadership

•mission•community

•autonomy and accountability

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

‘‘There is no single authorized source thatThere is no single authorized source thatcontains a comprehensive statement of the Churchcontains a comprehensive statement of the Church

of England’s official teaching concerningof England’s official teaching concerningthe nature of the Church itself.’the nature of the Church itself.’

p91p91