Month: September 2009

Coaching For Missional Leadership: Growing and supporting pioneers in church planting and fresh expressions

A manual for coaching and mentoring in fresh expressions.

Ever since the Mission-shaped Church report was published in 2004 there has been a movement of mission emerging right across the church. In order for this movement to continue to grow it is vital that missional leaders are identified, trained, released and supported.

In Coaching For Missional Leadership, Bob Hopkins and Freddy Hedley examine the importance of supporting leaders through coaching and mentoring, so that mission initiatives, church plants and fresh expressions of church have access to accompaniment that both provides best practice in mutual reflection and offers connection to the experience and wisdom of other leaders, as well as to the wider church.

In addition to exploring the principles behind coaching, this book is designed to be a manual for coaches to use as an ongoing resource that can help and inform their coaching and mentoring experience.

The material here has also been written to complement and follow on from the Fresh Expressions coach/mentor training course.

Ancient Faith Future Mission: fresh expressions in the sacramental tradition

A book exploring fresh expressions with a contemplative or sacramental focus.

Mission-shaped Church, the groundbreaking report published in 2004 has sold over 20,000 copies and has changed the way mission is done. Fresh Expressions, which sprang into being in its wake, is now an established and growing presence in the church. 350 people are in training for pioneer ministry.

Fresh Expressions conjures up children's clubs, cafe church and innovative youth work, yet this is not the whole story. Churches from the traditional wings of the church are being equally creative and imaginative, exploring alternative ways of worshipping and being Christian communities. Their focus may be more contemplative than action-packed, but the place of encounter with God needs space and silence. Practitioners from such churches tell their stories and reflect theologically on the initiatives they are exploring.

John Twisleton's review

Some of the very best names in the field have contributed to this book which will make a unique and important contribution to the understanding and practice of mission today: Rowan Williams, Brian McLaren, Steven Croft, Stephen Cottrell, Richard Giles, Phyllis Tickle, Karen Ward, Ian Mobsby and priest missioners from traditional Anglican parishes and emerging churches in the US.

Bishops’ Mission Orders a beginner’s guide

This simple booklet outlines what a Bishop's Mission Order is. Every PCC and deanery synod in the land needs to come to grips with the opportunities created by the new Bishops' Mission Orders. The booklet sets out when a BMO may be needed, what it can and cannot do, and how the process will work.

In clear, accessible language, the booklet covers the background to the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2007, the consultation needed, the steps you need to follow, the role of the Visitor, drawing up an order and provision for review. This short guide is an essential starting point in making the most of a key piece of new legislation to support fresh expressions of church.

More information about BMOs can be found on the BMO page of the Guide.

You can also download an introductory presentation, based on this booklet, for use in dioceses, districts, parishes, circuits, congregations and other gatherings.

changing church for a changing world

This book describes some of the exciting fresh ways of being church which are emerging in a Methodist context in Britain. We live in a fast changing world in which the Church seems to be less and less relevant, but God is always in the business of doing new things. Alongside the stories there is material suitable for study groups and personal enquiry. There are also three major articles to take you further into the subject and contributions from a variety of fresh expressions practitioners.

changing church for a changing world is co-written by Pete Pillinger and Andrew Roberts, both Methodist ministers working as part of the Fresh Expressions core team. There are additional contributions from Martyn Atkins, Tom Stuckey, Martin Wellings and others.

Although the book was expanded and revised from a report written for Methodist Conference 2007, it contains much about fresh expressions in a wider context and setting than just Methodism.

expressions: the dvd – 1: stories of church for a changing culture

A DVD of stories of fresh expressions of church from around the country.

Skater church… Cell church… Messy church… All over the country Christians are beginning new initiatives to connect with those who are currently outside church.

Presented by well-known Songs of Praise presenter Diane-Louise Jordan and produced by the Fresh Expressions team, this 75 minute DVD tells 14 engaging and informative stories of these fresh expressions and describes some of the lessons learned so far.

An excellent training tool for those interested in setting up or understanding more about Fresh Expressions. Be inspired!

  1. Stories of church (half-hour feature)

  2. Legaxy XS

  3. Taste and See

  4. Sunday 4:6

  5. Sanctuary

  6. Nightshift

  7. New Horizons

  8. Somewhere Else

  9. B1

  10. Messy Church

  11. The Living Room

  12. Sanctus1

  13. The Bridge

  14. Cable Street

  15. Mind the Gap

You can also purchase each of the 15 chapters as a downloadable video clip (£2 for each short story, £3 for the main half hour feature) using the links above.

expressions: the dvd – 2: changing church in every place

A DVD of stories and discussion starters from fresh expressions around the country.

Fresh expressions are flourishing in all types of places… where you live, worship and work. All over the country Christians are beginning new initiatives to connect with those who are currently outside church.

Presented by Diane Louise Jordan, this DVD focuses on four specific areas where fresh expressions of church are breaking new ground. Each film looks at fresh expressions with a distinct focus: work and leisure, rural, sacramental and youth.

Also on the DVD, there are six discussion starters. These feature experienced contributors, who will help you and your team unpack your thinking about contemporary mission and fresh expressions of church.

I'm colossally encouraged by the amount of activity that there seems to be around the church at the moment. This DVD tells part of this new story: I hope you will watch it, give thanks to God and get involved!

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 2003-2012

  1. Work, rest and play (Riverforce, Tubestation, Re:Fresh)

    Additional material: transcript of chapter 1

  2. A new harvest? (Tolland, The Gathering, The Warham Trust, Tas Valley)

    Additional material: transcript of chapter 2

  3. The Lord is here (Moot, Goth Eucharist, Contemplative Fire)

  4. Generate (Adrenalin, Essex primary school, Prezence, Blackburn Schools, Side Door)

    Additional material: transcript of chapter 4

  5. Discussion starter: being mission-shaped

    Additional material: transcript of chapters 5-9

    Additional material: discussion notes for chapters 1-9

  6. Discussion starter: listening for mission

  7. Discussion starter: starting a fresh expression

  8. Discussion starter: sustaining fresh expressions

  9. Discussion starter: discipleship

  10. The allotment – a short story

You can also purchase each of the ten chapters as a downloadable video clip (£2 for each discussion starter, £3 for the four main features) using the links to the right.

Additional material

Discussion notes to accompany the different sections are available to download above. You can also download transcripts of each chapter.

The discussions are ideal for using in a small group or by individuals after watching each sequence on the DVD. You could spend an evening on each of the four longer sequences (1-4) which last about 20 minutes each. You could probably cover a couple of the shorter sequences (5-9) in an evening – they last about 5-6 minutes each.

There are no notes for the modern parable, The Allotment (10). Simply watch this and share what God seems to be saying to you through it.

I've practically worn out the first expressions DVD, I’ve used it so much! These new, powerful and inspiring stories reflect that, whatever your context, with God ordinary folk really can do extraordinary things. Go for it – you CAN do it!

Sally Thornton, Methodist Local Preacher and Fresh Expressions Associate Missioner

on the edge: exploring ordained pioneer ministry in the church of england (DVD and booklet)

A DVD and booklet featuring 14 ordained pioneer ministers who tell their stories passionately and honestly. Read their emails and blogs and see them in action, as they talk about their experience of starting church from scratch.

  1. pioneering

  2. selection

  3. training

  4. deployment

This product is a DVD and booklet, with optional additional download of the booklet. You can also purchase additional downloads of the 16-page booklet for £1 each.

You can also purchase each of the four chapters as a downloadable video clip (£3 each) using the links to the right.

on the edge booklet

A host of church leaders have expressed support for this new form of ministry and mission, including Rowan Williams, Mike Pilavachi, Amy Orr-Ewing and Steven Croft. The DVD has chapters on pioneering, selection, training and deployment and is designed to be watched individually or in small groups.

Commendations

on the edge shows a way forward for ordained ministry that means the Church of England may, by the grace of God, be on the edge of an exciting future.

Ruth Dearnley, CEO of Stop the Traffik and Spring Harvest Leadership team

This is an excellent and inspiring introduction to ordained pioneer ministry – clearly showing how the Church of England is adapting to the needs of modern society.

Michael Wakelin, Head of BBC Religion and Ethics

A brilliant concept, ordained pioneer ministry will undoubtedly make a huge impact in the years ahead. Here is a resource that is beautifully filmed, creatively written and one that offers a unique insight for anyone considering exploring this opportunity further.

Chris Stoddard, Director – RUN (Reaching the Unchurched Network)

In a rapidly changing society where 60% have no contact with the Church, ordained pioneer ministers are an exciting and vital new venture, as this DVD brilliantly shows.

Stuart Burns, Abbot of Burford

A wonderful resource for all those who have a heart for the lost and a longing to see the gospel take root in unchurched cultures.

Ian Parkinson, Vicar of Marple and Host of New Wine North

This is an invaluable introduction for those thinking about this new form of ministry in the Anglican Church – working for the church has suddenly become cool!

Tina Allen, University Careers Adviser

This DVD is a great way to get a glimpse what pioneer ministry is all about, giving some fantastic snapshots of the journeys, joys, challenges and thrills of this kaleidoscope of new ways to be a priest.

Sue Wallace, Emerging Church leader and author

As this DVD shows, ordained pioneer ministers are bringing new hope and confidence and are leading the Church of England to engage in risky and creative outreach.

Geoff Pearson, Bishop of Lancaster

Every pioneer minister comes from a local church. So every PCC and Deanery meeting should watch this DVD, so that they can identify and encourage the pioneers God has given them.

Paul Bayes, National Mission and Evangelism Adviser

If you dream of what church could be and of your part in leading it, watch this.

Steve Chalke MBE, Founder – Oasis Global, UN Special Advisor on Community Action against Human Trafficking

Earlsfield Friary

In Earlsfield, south west London, a pioneering new venture has started that seeks to build a mission-focused, new monastic, fresh expression of church. Johnny Sertin is the lay pioneer who leads it.

Johnny SertinEarlsfield is a melting pot of diverse cultures. It’s known as  ‘nappy valley’, with many young families ‘camping’ here until they migrate out of the city when they want a ‘better’, and often more expensive, education for their children. However there are two other more historical social groups that make up the bulk of the community which are perhaps initially less obvious. Firstly local indigenous families, many who have lived here their whole lives and have an extended family network in the neighbourhood. Traditionally they come from a more working class culture. Many now are affluent through exercising the right to buy council owned properties during the boom of the housing market in the 90’s. Many too have done well pioneering small start up businesses with bespoke labour skills as their service. However there are still some who are less fortunate from this indigenous group who have struggled with the changing landscape of their area. Finally there is the influx of people from other nations who have been coming here for the last fifty years as the colonies of Britain’s Empire folded and immigration laws were relaxed. Many of these families arrive all together and live on the housing estates peppered around the hub of Earlsfield. There are real social issues on some of these estates. Just in the last two weeks there have been two drug related shootings on the estate near to our home.

Three years ago my wife and I came to this area of London to explore mission spirituality through a communal rhythm of life with others. We began our own journey living in an extended household for two years, trying to practise a pattern of life together. From then a small community has come together which now orientates around five households. We are exploring how we could live out the Christian faith in practice. We have a central rhythm of life, seeking to focus on our individual spirituality, work and home lives. We focus  on ‘mission life, discipleship and open community’. The Friary itself has four key values: ‘mutual rhythm, mutual Christ, mutual support and mutual mission’. We are not into becoming a specific ‘intentional community’ living all together. Instead we seek to become a ‘community of intention’ by the way we choose to live as a network of people.

We gather weekly on Mondays for prayer and on Thursdays over a shared meal and to break bread together. We are very much linked into the Church in the local area too, with some of us worshipping at different services on Sunday mornings.

As we have looked at embracing a mission spirituality, we have landed on two things that are the essence of Jesus’ own ministry. Though seemingly simple they have been profound in our own story. Jesus was committed to eating together with others, and healing people. With that in mind there are three things we are involved with missionally at the moment:

First we are starting an event each year called LOVEearlsfield. This is in partnership with the Churches Together network. The aim is to host a party for the neighbourhood over Harvest and allow people to meet and converse in a safe and hospitable environment. We are also using the funds raised to support youth initiatives the area.

Second we are supporting a local Anglican minister who runs a youth club on the housing estate where recently the shootings took place. We are volunteering at the club on Wednesday nights, trying to raise funds for the kids, developing programmes for change to help them out of the poverty trap and support the logistical needs of the minister.

Lastly we are trying to help each creatively in how we practise a mission spirituality not only in our local area but also in the spheres of life we work in. We are talking about how to do this and what this looks like. How do we support each other if I am a stay at home Mum or Dad, work in the media industry, education, and so on?

Make. Believe. logoThis year we hosted a learning community for a group of people, helping to shape their thinking on faith and vocation. This is called make believe and was run with our partner CMS.

As to the future, many ideas keep coming and we are processing them regularly. However like all pioneering environments, the valleys have been as much part of the journey as the mountaintops and we have shared equally in both. Real transformation is dependant upon how we personalize change in our own walk of faith and allow for the person of Christ to both break and shape us into becoming our true self. It is in this process that all missional endeavors can embrace the importance of being salt and light. Salt to preserve the goodness of creation and resist a gravitational pull to rot. Light to open our eyes to see beyond the limitations of what we think we know.

Cafechurch Network

Ian Mobsby talks to Cid Latty, Network Leader for Cafechurch Network.

What is cafechurch?

That is a very good question. I think we sometimes forget how far away many people are from ever coming to church. Cafechurch is all about creating a context for people who do not go to 'church', but are interested in God. It is about providing a comfortable setting for people to consider issues from a faith perspective. It is also a way to develop a community that people are happy to be a part of. All this is based on good incarnational theology.

How did it begin for you?

Three years ago I was Senior Minister of a Baptist Church in Welwyn Garden City that asked the question 'how can we engage with our community more effectively?' We could see that there were many people who might never enter a traditional church building. So we looked at our community and could see how a thriving café culture was rapidly developing. Coffee shops were opening up everywhere and this was happening right across the UK too. In fact a staggering 50% of the UK adult population visits a coffee shop. We found that many members of the church already used a coffee shop as a 'third place' between home and work. So we asked our local Costa Coffee if we could meet there and were amazed when they said yes.

How did you run your café church?

What we designed was a themed event with quizzes, a short talk, discussion and live music – all with the added benefit of being served by friendly staff. Our purpose was to help people engage with issues like debt, parenting or the environment from a faith perspective. We called it 'coffee with a conscience'. People would not only be invited to enjoy a lively evening of chat, hope and humour but we would offer them resources and prayer support that would help them engage with the issue after the event.

So how did the national organization begin?

What we ran on that first night proved to be so popular that I began discussions with Costa Coffee senior management and a few cafechurches were piloted in other stores. Due to the success of these, Cafechurch Network was formed. This charity was later given the 'OK' to put a cafechurch in every suitable Costa Coffee store in the UK. Additionally Costa asked that all churches wanting to use their stores should come through the Cafechurch Network. Today other coffee shop chains have opened their doors to the Network too.

How does this benefit Costa and the church?

Stores benefit as cafechurch helps them to be part of the local community. There are great benefits for the church too, as people who would not go to a more traditional church setting interact with people who do. This may be one of the first steps for some towards 'going to church'. For others they may feel that cafechurch in a high street location is the kind of church they want to belong to. This challenges us then to re-imagine how we can help people develop their relationship with God in a café context.

If there was something you would say to the church what would it be?

This is a great opportunity for an adventure of faith. I currently have more store managers asking for a cafechurch than I have churches ready. So I would invite churches to attend a cafechurch training day and then join the Network after that. When they do, we will link them to their local store and provide resources to help them run a cafechurch.

cafechurch network banner