Fresh Expressions in the Mission of the Chuch - by Church House Publishing & Angican-Methodist Working Party (Paperback)

About the Book

Christians are increasingly seeking new ways of doing church, often called 'fresh expressions', which has created new questions and challenges for the Church as a whole. This Anglican-Methodist report explores the challenges raised by fresh expressions, from what it means to be a 'church', to sacramental life and the deployment of resources.

Book Synopsis

One of the big encouragements of recent years has been the impetus of Christians to discover new ways of living out and communicating the Gospel in a restless and sceptical age. This has given rise to a number of challenges and questions, not least about what it means to be the Church - and how 'fresh expressions' relate to 'inherited' forms of the Church. This report seeks to crystallize some of the major questions about the ecclesiology of the mission-shaped Church and to provide pointers as to how we may grapple creatively with them, including: - how do fresh expressions relate to parish and local churches, and to the overall ministry and mission of the Churches? - how and when does a fresh expression become a church in its own right? - how might fresh expressions develop a spiritual and sacramental life that respects the past, yet affirms their pioneering context? - What are the implications for the deployment of scarce resources of authorised ministers and finance? These and other vital questions are explored in this comprehensive and important study. It is essential reading for all engaged in mission, church leadership, theological and ministerial formation and those with responsibility for allocation of resources. The working party which produced this report was co-chaired by the Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans and David Walton, a former President of the Methodist Conference, and included senior representatives of the Anglican and Methodist churches.

From the Back Cover

One of the big encouragements of recent years has been the impetus of Christians to discover new ways of living out and communicating the Gospel in a restless and sceptical age. This has given rise to a number of challenges and questions, not least about what it means to be the Church - and how 'fresh expressions' relate to 'inherited' forms of the Church. This report seeks to crystallize some of the major questions about the ecclesiology of the mission-shaped Church and to provide pointers as to how we may grapple creatively with them.

Fresh Expressions in the Mission of the Church concentrates on those areas of fresh expressions which Anglicans and Methodists have in common. The authors share their conviction that there is an important task of listening and a sharing of experience which needs to flow from this report; also a sense that 'inherited' and 'fresh' expressions of the Church will be more effective as they learn from each other what it is to be a sign of God's kingdom in the world. The authors offer this report in the hope that it will further the mission and ministry of their churches and also help us work together more closely.