The combination of Fresh Expressions and the explosion of interest in monastic spirituality is resulting in the emergence of new monastic communities inspired by historic patterns of religious life, but reframed for the contemporary world. This worldwide movement is seen as a radical expression of ecclesial community and was named in Mission-shaped Church as one of the leading new forms of church that would help people reconnect with Christianity.
A new monastic community may be a dispersed group of families and individuals meeting to share meals and worship, it might be a group connected virtually; it might be a youth group exploring monastic spirituality.
In this book, leaders of traditional religious communities and emerging 'new monastic' communities tell their stories and reflect on how an ancient expression of being church is inspiring and shaping a very new one.
This book includes chapters from practitioners in the UK and US which include:
- Tom Sine (Mustard Seed);
- Shane Claiborne (Simple Way);
- Andy Freeman (24-7);
- Ray Simpson (Aidan and Hilda);
- Ian Adams (CMS small missional communities);
- Ian Mobsby (Moot);
- Tessa Holland (Contemplative Fire);
- Diane Kershaw (Order of Mission);
- Philip Roderick (Contemplative Fire);
- Pete Askew (Northumbria Community);
- Mark Berry (Safe Space);
- Graham Cray (Archbishops Missioner);
- Abbot Stuart (Mucknell Abbey).