Day: 17 February 2014

Worship and the fresh expressions journey

Graham Cray explores the place of worship in a fresh expressions journey.

The recommended best practice for those planting a fresh expression, which we call a fresh expressions journey, recommends that the last phase, not the first, is to establish a regular, public act of worship. Otherwise the danger is that the planting team creates the service they hope the people they want to engage with will like, rather than patiently build relationships and explore discipleship as the process for learning what sort of gathering for worship is appropriate to the members and their context.

The temptation is also to take a complete model of a fresh expression of the shelf, and so bypass the whole process of prayerful discernment, which is the foundation for any contextual mission.

But this doesn't mean that the planting team cannot have a worship life of its own. On the contrary, it is vital that it does. To pray and worship together is vital for team formation. Initially the planting team will be part of two churches or congregations: the one sending them and the embryo one they are hoping to plant. As the process develops they need to be released to focus fully on the new, while continuing to have the support and prayer backing of the sending congregation.

The fresh expressions journey starts with a process of discernment and regular meeting to worship can be the time when all of the insights gathered in the listening exercise – whether conversations with doorkeepers or history keepers in the community, new census data or impressions received while prayer walking, can be brought together and made a matter of focused prayer. This may involve more than a regular gathering. It may be that the team develops a simple rhythm of life, or identifies some personal spiritual disciplines which the whole team commit to for a time. Much will depend on size. Typical teams range from three to twelve members, so this is more a cell worshipping than a congregation.

Worship is more than a meeting, just as a fresh expression is more than a worship event. It is a community of disciples and potential disciples. Worship focuses us on God and God's plans, rather than our own or the task in hand and new perspectives can emerge when we refocus to give God his proper place as the object of our worship and the leader of our mission team.

But there is a warning to note. The team's pattern of worship will not necessarily be a guide to the fresh expression's pattern of worship, once it has been established. Initially the team will worship in the way most suited to their task, but their task is to plant a fresh expression of church whose worship is most suited to those being drawn to faith through it. Be aware of the danger of establishing a pattern and just assuming that it is automatically transferable. This is partly a matter of being appropriate to culture and context, but also a straightforward matter of size. The average size of a Church of England fresh expression is 44. What works for a team of six can't simply be reproduced for forty, unless you are using a cell based model.

The creation of an appropriate form and culture of worship in a fresh expression is just as much a matter of discernment as the earlier stages of the process. The team will bring their experience and understanding of worship to the task, whether they are aware of it or not, but they should not impose it or their initial pattern on those who join them. Instead they need the skill to shape worship with and for others.

+Graham Cray

Challenges facing fresh expressions of church (Andrew Roberts)

Andrew Roberts explores the challenges facing fresh expressions of church.

What a great privilege it has been to serve alongside the rest of the Fresh Expressions team for just over eight years! As I move on to my new role with the Methodist Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network, here are some personal reflections on what has been achieved and what lies ahead.

When I was interviewed for a post with Fresh Expressions in 2005 I was asked many things, including my thoughts surrounding the hope that 10,000 fresh expressions would form. I thought it was a great thing to aim for and said something along the lines of, 'With God all things are possible'. And of course they are… Now, eight years on with hard data being produced, we are well on the way to seeing that figure realized! If the growth of the fresh expressions movement follows the pattern of other significant movements of mission, then it is not unreasonable to expect to see the rate of growth accelerating (and again the research produced by the Methodist Church and Church Army in both cases shows that happening).

There is so much to be hopeful for as the fresh expressions movement looks to the future. There also continue to be significant challenges:

The movement needs to become younger, deeper and more diverse

Whilst there are very encouraging developments in the number of children and young people involved in fresh expressions, in leadership terms the movement remains very 'middle-aged plus'. The identifying, releasing and supporting of young leaders (and by young I'm thinking 15 – 30) is an urgent task. I accept that you have to start where you are, but if we remain where we are the fresh expressions movement risks heading into retirement with the early adopters.

There is an urgent need to identify those upon whom God's anointing lies who can lead his people into the future

I am very struck by how the emerging generation of young Christians can navigate the big issues like sexuality, interfaith relations and post-denominationalism. The point needs to come –and come sooner rather than later – when the emerging generation leads the older generations, with those of us who are older being their minders and mentors.

Much good work has been done in the areas of theology and discipleship but more, and deeper, work is still needed

The theology that is emerging from fresh expressions needs to be given its rightful place within the theology of a mixed economy church. Whilst the Anglican-Methodist report Fresh expressions in the mission of the church helpfully affirmed the validity of fresh expressions as churches; it disappointed in that it failed to explore in depth the theological lessons being leant (or relearnt) within fresh expressions. In evaluating fresh expressions (and inherited churches) we need to embrace fresh as well as inherited theology.

Broadening ethnicity

One of the highlights of my time with Fresh Expressions (not surprisingly!) was a trip to Barbados to work with Christians there on a mission shaped ministry course. Initially I felt conspicuously 'obvious' due to the colour of my skin but, of course, I was made to feel incredibly welcome and at home. One of my prayers for the ongoing fresh expressions movement in the UK, and around the world, is that it will embrace – and be embraced by – all ethnicities. There are some great examples of this emerging, not least in South Africa, but again more needs to be done.

Looking ahead, the good news is that the partners and supporters of Fresh Expressions have recommitted to the future of the team and are securing the resources for the work that needs to be done. So, as I move on, I pray God's blessing on all involved and look forward to those 10,000 fresh expressions forming.