Mission Shaped Church How do we start … Presented by The Sheffield Centre Church Army’s Research Unit

They said it … “God calls us to help people in every place and culture respond to the love and grace in his Son, Jesus Christ. To do that well in our time we need to grow many different fresh expressions of church life within and alongside our traditional parish churches: a mixed economy. I hope every Church Council and home group in the land will engage creatively with this material and take action as a result.” The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams “The Spirit is seeking to make the Church into the vibrant vehicle of God’s tomorrow, not the museum piece of yesterday” The Revd. Tom Stuckey, President of the Methodist Conference

How do we start ? 1.Build in mission-centred values - in cooperation with the Spirit 2.Listen, pray, form vision – what calling emerges 3.Prune a little – how do we travel light? 4.Form a team – to learn the context & grow together 5.Feed your imagination – go visit other examples 6.Explore partnerships – and obtain permissions 7.Form community – serving, speaking worshipping 8.Allow growth to maturity – aim to raise further “adult” churches 9.Maintain Connection – with the wider church 10.Share what you are doing – lets all learn

1: Mission-shaped: Whose out there ?  What groups in society is your church in contact with? – Bearing in mind age, culture, area, socio-economic group  So who is not connecting with the church locally?  Whose is moving into your area/ network? – Are there any discernible groups and particular locations

3 key questions... “What is the mission to this area ?” “What set of spiritual disciplines is required to sustain the community in that mission?” “What kind of community is needed to sustain the mission?” Questions asked by Church of Saviour Washington DC

2: Each church planted is a unique story Product Process Principle Place People Prayer

3: Prune a little Too much focus on the building Lay ministry is helping the clergy do their job All we need is fund raising There’s only one way – and we are it “Father” knows best Attendance is enough Everything centres round Worship Only Sunday congregation is the real thing We should change, but what we have will see me out What overly church-centred attitudes may need changing?

Steps 4-7: Key question  In each context is the church being called – to change what is already ? – or to create what isn’t yet ?  Renewal and Re-ordering are not the same as..  Creating Fresh Expressions & Church Planting

Why does creating something alongside help? Less conflict with existing Don’t have to try to shift the immovable Moves beyond the view – “any colour as long as its black” Avoids culture wars over music and style The new thing is itself It is freer to be shaped by mission It offers more choice and diversity Those present are volunteers not conscripts Teaches useful factors for the future –need for Catholicity across old and new –Need for unity across diversity

Changing the Christendom model Worship Mission Community Changing this looks like hard work

It seems to be easier to have babies than raise the dead. “but I told you to get up”

Worship Mission The Mission-shaped process Community Nurturing the charism

Self-Financing Self-Governing Self- Propagating Visible Viable Leaders Identity Pastoral Structures Churches Gifts Ministries Leaders becoming legal? or not ? 8: Maturity& the 3 “self” movement

8: Trust the DNA …. You can’t know the results first !

A Change model ? Future Change equation : c=(d-m)t !! T D1 T Now M1 Key: M = mainstream D = deviation T = tension S = sideline/sect S M2 D2 S2 e.g. Jewish to Gentile Roman Empire to Celtic Monastic Orders arise Reformation post 1790 world wide Mission And now in “Western” Church ?

Questions  How would you know whether you are called to start the process towards creating a fresh expression of church ?  What role do the venues have to play  What role do the small groups have to play

Help ? !  