Month: September 2009

The material in this seminar pack is also covered in what should we start (Share booklet 03).

There is a lot of material in this seminar pack and the timings can be expanded to fill a morning or evening meeting. It is an ideal resource for any church or group of Christians seriously seeking to engage more effectively with their community.

The material has been written to help participants:

• reflect upon how listening for mission can inform our particular context;
• consider what first steps can be taken to initiate a new missional community;
• discover what further input or resources would help this process further.

Working through the material participants will understand:

• the importance of listening to discern mission context;
• the concept of 360° listening and its application;
• some of the ways that gathering information can inspire, shape vision and begin mission engagement;
• an overview of the five stages of a full mission audit;
• the importance of prayer running through the process of strategy and research.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture.

Written by Andrew Roberts whilst Director of Training for Fresh Expressions, this seminar pack introduces the six week course mission shaped intro and is ideal for presenting the resource to church groups keen to learn more about fresh expressions and mission-shaped church.

The pack provides:

• an overview of mission shaped intro;
• a taster of msi session 4 – creative worship;
• guidance on how to download and use the course.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture.

Written by Ben Edson, leader of Manchester’s Sanctus 1, this seminar pack explores urban expressions for city dwellers, focussing on fresh expressions of church for the new urbanites, those young adults who are repopulating our city centres. (It does not exploring the inner city or the suburbs).

The pack helps participants to:

• explore attitudes to the city;
• experience worship in the style of a fresh expression for city dwellers;
• study a fresh expression that engages with city dwellers;
• discover local examples or local opportunities.

The material will especially appeal to those of a creative disposition and includes poems and a creative prayer exercise.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture.

Written by Mike Collyer, a Church Army Captain specialising in ministry and mission amongst older people, this seminar pack is ideal for those seeking to create fresh expressions for the fastest growing demographic group in Britain.

The material has been written to help participants:

• begin to be equipped with ideas for appropriate ministry among older people;
• consider forms of church that can be accessible to the de-churched and unchurched;
• have a better understanding of what it might mean to be older;
• explore how they might relate to different cohort groups.

The seminar helps people reflect on the differences within generations as well as between generations and affirms that in the 21st century a range of expressions of church are needed, as one size does not fit all.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture.

This pack has been written by Lucy Moore, the inspiration behind Messy Church and author of the book of the same name. In keeping with the ethos of Messy Church the material in this pack is passionate about children and full of imagination.

The material helps participants to:

• consider the specific needs and strengths of children;
• dream dreams for children;
• reflect on a variety of approaches to working with children in the church and on how some churches have put their dreams into reality;
• consider the basic questions to answer when planning a fresh expression with children.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture.

This seminar pack is also available as how can we finance a fresh expression (Share booklet 08).

Longing to start a fresh expression but worried about the finances? Here is a pack to help you!

Written by John Preston, National Stewardship and Resources Officer, Church of England the pack:

• explains how finance can be a critical factor in enabling the success or failure of fresh expressions;
• explores how attitudes to money and finance are an important element in project planning;
• emphasises that finance is both a theological and an economic issue.

Using the material will help participants to:

• explore their attitude to money and finance;
• acquire a simple project planning tool to help with vision exploration;
• take away ‘seven top tips’ for the early stages of project planning and vision exploration;
• identify the importance of sustainable income, including regular giving;
• learn about some key resources in this area;
• share experiences and learn from one another’s successes and mistakes.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture.

Methodist General Secretary Martyn Atkins is keen to emphasise the importance of making disciples. He argues that if fresh expressions don’t make disciples then they cannot claim to be new forms of church. (Martyn Atkins, Resourcing Renewal, Inspire, 2007, p164).

Written by Andrew Roberts whilst Director of Training for Fresh Expressions, this pack emphasises the importance of nurturing disciples in fresh expressions. It aims to equip participants with ideas of how disciples can be formed in new Christian communities by:

• unpacking what it means to be a disciple;
• reflecting upon the importance of discipleship;
• learning about how disciples are being formed in fresh expressions;
• being aware that to nurture disciples involves more than running a course;
• considering a range of helpful resources.

Ideal for use in small- to medium-sized church meetings, vision day seminar packs explore specific key issues and various genres of fresh expressions.

Other materials will be required to present the material including a copy of expressions: the dvd – 2: changing church in every place.

Society in Britain has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, especially in terms of our understanding of community and how we relate to one another. One of the responses of the Church has been to plant new churches and create fresh expressions of church; churches that relate to our changing context.

This detailed, practical and well-researched book:

• gives an overview of recent developments in church planting;
• describes varied and exciting 'fresh expressions' of church;
• offers practical help and advice;
• looks candidly at where lessons can be learned;
• proposes a framework and methodology for good, effective church planting;
• includes recommendations to make possible the visions of a vibrant future Church.

Each chapter has a set of questions and challenges to help local parish churches engage with the issues.

With a foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, Mission-shaped Church is a crucial tool for all who care about God's mission today.

This timely, multi-faceted book by a collection of leading thinkers and practitioners provides church leaders with the resources to re-imagine church and ministry in the twenty-first century.

Looking at traditional forms of church and at fresh expressions, this wide-ranging book offers invaluable historical, psychological, sociological and theological perspectives on the parish system.

It outlines the challenges facing the Church, presents suggestions for areas for development, and sets out principles for future growth.

Edited by Steven Croft, the contributors are Graham Cray, Steven Croft, Ian Cundy, Grace Davie, Robin Gamble, George Lings, Ann Morisy, Michael Moynagh, Martyn Percy, John Rees, Sara Savage and Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Mission-shaped Questions follows a nationwide tour of England by the Fresh Expressions team, raising common but complex questions about the nature of mission in 21st century Britain.

Addressing big theological and practical issues, the various chapters reflect lectures given by a wide range of academics, professionals, priests and educators, from just about every tradition.

Mission-shaped Questions tackles questions such as:

• What exactly is church?
• What is the role of sacramental ministry in fresh expressions?
• What sort of theological and scriptural justification is there for a mixed economy Church?
• Can we develop churches that can transform culture?
• What sort of questions does a Catholic approach to the Church pose for fresh expressions?
• Can we be mission-shaped and kingdom focused too?

Edited by former Archbishops' Missioner, Steven Croft, the book will be equally attractive to both individuals and groups and particularly to those who are willing to take risks for the sake of the Church's growth.

If we are to grow and mature as a mixed economy Church, there are hard questions to be asked and answered. We need first-class thinking to back up and support all that is happening at local level. I hope this collection will get the attention it richly deserves.

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Contributors and chapters

1. Steven Croft: Fresh Expressions in a mixed economy Church: a perspective
2. Martyn Atkins: What is the essence of the Church?
3. Lindsay Urwin: What is the role of sacramental ministry in fresh expressions of church?
4. Tim Dakin: What is the heart of a global perspective on the Church?
5. James D G Dunn: Is there evidence for fresh expressions of church in the New Testament?
6. Graham Tomlin: Can we develop churches that can transform culture?
7. Angela Tilby: What questions does Catholic ecclesiology pose for contemporary mission and fresh expressions?
8. John Drane: What does maturity in the emerging Church look like?
9. David Wilkinson: What are the lessons from evangelism and apologetics for new communities?
10. John M Hull: Mission-shaped and kingdom focused?
11. Loveday Alexander: What patterns of church and mission are found in the Acts of the Apostles?
12. Alison Morgan: What does the gift of the Spirit mean for the shape of the Church?
13. Lynda Barley: Can fresh expressions of church make a difference?
14. Martin Warner: How does a mixed economy Church connect with contemporary spirituality?
15. Steven Croft: Mapping ecclesiology for a mixed economy