Fresh Expressions takes new direction in 2016

As it looks to the future, Fresh Expressions will focus increasingly on building a strong coalition of partners who will 'connect, equip and release' the work in their own settings and beyond. This is an evolution from a centralised core staff promoting fresh expressions of church, and reflects the huge progress made in this respect in recent years.

The vision is for a partnership of denominations, streams and agencies to continue to embed the values of Fresh Expressions in their own organisations and collaborate together in developing the work of supporting, encouraging and developing new forms of church.

Since Fresh Expressions began, in 2005, it has been served by a national core staff team. Through the work of Fresh Expressions, many denominations and mission agencies have increasingly adopted the principles and practices of fresh expressions of church and shared in the overall task. Consequently, the size of the core-funded team is now being scaled down while seconded posts will continue to increase. Following a consultation process, the following posts have been made redundant: Director of Communication and Resources (with effect from 30th November 2015), Senior Writer and Media Officer (with effect from 31st December 2015) and Resources Manager (with effect from 31st December 2015).

A new post of Director of Communications will be created providing a strategic lead to connect, equip and release the communication of Fresh Expressions.

Another new post of IT Services Officer will also be created to maintain the Fresh Expressions web presence and provide administrative computer systems services.

Archbishops' Missioner and team leader of Fresh Expressions, Phil Potter, said,

The Fresh Expressions story is transitioning from initiative to movement and we continue to explore how we can best serve the Church in that. I am very grateful to those who have been part of the core team, past and present, for the invaluable contribution they have made, enabling us to reach this point of transition. God has multiplied the available resources beyond a single team, and our 'associate' and partner friends are increasingly taking up the baton in every sense as the movement continues to grow.

The work goes on. We increasingly look to catalyse, encourage and network the many, many people – both ordained and lay – who are working to champion fresh expressions of church in wide-ranging contexts across the UK and around the world. God has been generous and faithful and we continue to rely on God's guidance as we take on this new shape for Fresh Expressions in 2016.

Fresh Expressions will continue – with and through its many partners – to champion and resource new forms of church for those who are not already members of any church. It also seeks to consolidate all that has been achieved in terms of major projects and policy changes at national level, through:

  • promoting best practice;

  • providing effective support;

  • creating genuine partnership.

The work now revolves around five areas of focus:

  • inspiring vision;

  • networking strategically;

  • connecting geographically;

  • supporting practitioners;

  • resourcing learning.

27 thoughts on “Fresh Expressions takes new direction in 2016”

  1. Thanks for all you have done so far. Deeply grateful to all the team. Delighted to have shared the journey so far with you. Excited about exploring what the future holds.

  2. Having worked with these posts significantly over the years I want to acknowledge their vision, commitment and dedication to those of us who are engaged in new and fresh ways of working. Sharing stories for example is a great and important concept of FX – I hope and pray that continues in the future vision. Bless you who move onto new things and may God honour your faithfulness.

  3. I am a priest from the Diocese of Idaho who will be traveling to the Diocese of London from the States as a part of Bexley-Seabury’s “Learning from London: Mission & Evangelism in the 21st Century” and I’m so excited to hear about and be able to learn from what you all are doing to share the Good News. Bless you on your continued journey!

  4. Huge step again for the whole Team! As someone who has joined you for much of the ‘journey’ from that start in 2005 – initially as the Church of Scotland’s first Emerging Church Development Officer, and now as part of the Melbourne Planning Group in Australia – let me first thank you for all your support and encouragement. Thanks in particular to the Lambeth Partners and all who allowed sufficient finances to be made available in the initial critical phase to the point where this movement of God’s Spirit has a real life about it! Then, of course, our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected by such reviews, especially those who now have to look for other work. Thanks to them for their significant contributions, and wishing them God’s rich blessing for the future.
    Keeping Phil and all the Team in our prayers.
    With grateful thanks for the past history-making ten years,
    David @ Scots’ Church, Melbourne

  5. Huge thanks to the team who have put so much work into telling our stories and supporting our work – our prayers go with them as they seek new employment but as an FX we will also continue to pray for the rest of the team and the FX movement as it continues to seek to be Fresh!

  6. Thank you for all your encouragement overthese last few years. Especially to Karen who inspired and loved us into a more confident place. Will pray for your new direction and for those who will be lookingfoward to God’s guidance for their new roles in his Kingdom business.

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