http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/

My storyMy story

By knowing and loving God By knowing and loving God and each other,and each other,

we seek to enable non churched peoplewe seek to enable non churched peopleto develop a real and relevant relationshipto develop a real and relevant relationship

with Jesus.with Jesus.

200430,000 copies sold

Unanimous approval at General Synod

Discussed and implemented in

DiocesesInfluence in UK

EcumenicalWorldwide influence

A fresh expression is a form of church

for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are

not yet members of any church.

The Mixed EconomyThe Mixed Economy

both-and

continue to grow and develop the church as it is

establish fresh expressions of church

This is not new but fresh

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

HeadlinesHeadlinesOn average 10% of church attendanceOn average 10% of church attendance 15% of church communities.15% of church communities.In 7 out of 10 dioceses it reversed the declineIn 7 out of 10 dioceses it reversed the decline in average weekly church attendancein average weekly church attendance

20 different models of FX & across socio-economic20 different models of FX & across socio-economic groups.groups.

75% people outside church, 40% unchurched, 75% people outside church, 40% unchurched, 35% dechurched35% dechurched

5820 team sent out, 20,863 now attending.5820 team sent out, 20,863 now attending.250% growth rate. 250% growth rate. ‘ Nothing else in the CofE has ‘ Nothing else in the CofE has this level of missional impact and adding further this level of missional impact and adding further ecclesial communities.’ecclesial communities.’

40% started in 2010-201240% started in 2010-2012

20 types of fxc- most common are Messy Churches,20 types of fxc- most common are Messy Churches,Café Churches and child focused church.Café Churches and child focused church.

The average size is 44 and starting team size is The average size is 44 and starting team size is 3-12.3-12.

91% are new ecclesial groups 91% are new ecclesial groups Large teams and transplants are 1.2%- team 50+Large teams and transplants are 1.2%- team 50+ 7.4%-team 20-497.4%-team 20-49

83% parish, 11% deanery and 6% Diocese.83% parish, 11% deanery and 6% Diocese.

45% progression and 61% pioneer.45% progression and 61% pioneer.

33% have communion services33% have communion services10% Messy Churches10% Messy Churches60% weekly gatherings60% weekly gatherings

33% have baptisms33% have baptisms

62% of fxc have grown or maintained62% of fxc have grown or maintained10% have died.10% have died.

48% ordained – 66% male48% ordained – 66% male52% lay- 66% female52% lay- 66% female

https://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/research

Six basic principlesSix basic principles

““From Safety netsFrom Safety netstoto

Fishing nets”Fishing nets”

‘Are there structures and patterns which let thatbasic event of encounter happen again and again?

Because if not , the church has become something very different from where it started;

it’s become a community which says once there was an encounter with Jesus and we like to

remember that.We have to ask much more radically , how dowe structure a community in which it goes onbeing possible ,even likely ,that people will

meet Jesus and in meeting Jesus will want morepeople to meet Jesus.’

Rowan Williams

I am suggesting that the only I am suggesting that the only answer isanswer is

a congregation of a congregation of women and menwomen and men

who believe the gospelwho believe the gospel and live by it.and live by it.

Leslie Newbiggin.Leslie Newbiggin.

There is no return addressThere is no return address

1

‘ ‘ The defining aspect of this change of epoch The defining aspect of this change of epoch is that things are no longer in their place……is that things are no longer in their place……

we cannot simply wait for what we are we cannot simply wait for what we are experiencing to pass under the illusion experiencing to pass under the illusion

that things will return that things will return to being how they were before.’to being how they were before.’

Pope Francis.Pope Francis.

Ends of the EarthSamariaJudea

Half the picture

Jerusalem

The ends of the earth

Samaria

The eccentric effects…

Judea

The centre and the Acts story shift Samaria is not a return ticketstory moves from a focus on Peter to Paulthe Church goes west church is done differently among Gentiles

In working with young people . . . do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place might seem to you.

You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before.

Christianity Rediscovered: An Epistle from the Masai (1978)

This is not only ‘Good missionary advice’,

‘a beautiful description of the unpredictable process of

evangelization, a process leading to that new place where

none of us has ever been before.’

Christianity Rediscovered (1982)

Vincent Donovan

“We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking

we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

Playing Away

“ we understood mission oneway and organised life to accomplish it. We have awakened to find out the mission moved on us. To keep focusing on mission, wehave to turn the furniturearound and face a differentdirection. We may even have to move into another room.”

Loren Mead. The Once and Future Church

Public worship services probably Public worship services probably are not the best starting pointare not the best starting point

2

LoveLove Relate Relate CreateCreate

PrayerPrayer

PrayerPrayer

Who is church for?

3

‘ ‘ the church is missionary the church is missionary by it’s very nature…….by it’s very nature…….

the church does not havethe church does not have a mission a mission

but the mission has but the mission has a church.’a church.’

Prophetic Dialogue. Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and ScroederBevans and Scroeder

Church as a place where Church as a place where certain things take placecertain things take place

toto

a body of people sent on a missiona body of people sent on a mission

‘ ‘ Either we are defined by mission , or we reduce the Either we are defined by mission , or we reduce the scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church.’ scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church.’ p6

The ship is safest when itsThe ship is safest when itsin the port. in the port.

But that’s not what ships But that’s not what ships were made forwere made for.

•Who is the mission for?

•Who is the mission by?

•Who is the mission with?

2007 Tear Fund survey of 7000 adults in contact or not with church

“ “ this majority (66%) presents a major this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are challenge to churches. Most of them are

unreceptive and closed unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing isto attending church; churchgoing is

simply not on their agenda.”simply not on their agenda.”

Churchgoing in the UK.Churchgoing in the UK.A research report from Tearfund. April 2007A research report from Tearfund. April 2007

The church is Gods gift to the world.The church is Gods gift to the world.

DiscipleshipDiscipleshiprather thanrather thanattendance attendance

4

•How we see God

•How we see ourselves and others

•How we see our community

•How we see creation and society

John Wesley

Forming a holy people, capable of being a living witness of the Christian life.

•fullness of Gods love•completeness of devotion & dedication•works of piety and mercy

“ If not part of a mutuallyIf not part of a mutuallydiscipling community the discipling community the culture will disciple you.”culture will disciple you.”

Graham Cray

What kind of people are we called to be?

What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?

•Evangelism as the overflowEvangelism as the overflowof discipleship.of discipleship.

•Discipleship operates in the Discipleship operates in the context of mission, making context of mission, making

disciples who make disciples.disciples who make disciples.

‘ ‘ We would intend to make disciples We would intend to make disciples and let converts happen rather than and let converts happen rather than

intending to make converts intending to make converts and let disciples happen.’and let disciples happen.’

The Divine Conspiracy, p334.The Divine Conspiracy, p334.

• Personal• Co-operative

• Life long learning• Communal

• Whole of life

Church is multi levelChurch is multi level

5

““every expression of the church is, in it’s every expression of the church is, in it’s own way, another worked example of whatown way, another worked example of whatthe encounter with Christ looks the encounter with Christ looks like in the life of a particular community.”like in the life of a particular community.”

“ “ the theological doctrine of the church the theological doctrine of the church cannot be simply expressed in abstract termscannot be simply expressed in abstract terms

about the churches timeless nature. It willabout the churches timeless nature. It willhave to provide points of departure for have to provide points of departure for

reforming the church, for giving it a more reforming the church, for giving it a more authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh

start are not antitheses in start are not antitheses in the history of the Spirit.”the history of the Spirit.”

Jurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the SpiritJurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit

Church as four sets of relationships.Church as four sets of relationships.

Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.

ofofupup

inin

outout

• VisibleVisible

• CommunalCommunal

• PurposefulPurposeful

‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

‘ ‘ If you want to preserve traditionIf you want to preserve traditiondon’t wear your grandfathers hat,don’t wear your grandfathers hat,

have grandchildren.’ have grandchildren.’

Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso

This might change USThis might change US

6

Dying to liveDying to live

“ “ I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatI tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatfalls to the ground and dies, it remains onlyfalls to the ground and dies, it remains only

a single seed. But if it dies, it producesa single seed. But if it dies, it producesmany seeds.”many seeds.”

John 12; 23-6John 12; 23-6

YOU CAN’T PREDICT THE OUTCOME

Control to chaosControl to chaos

Answers to questionsAnswers to questions

Certainty to riskCertainty to risk

What might this mean for the structuresWhat might this mean for the structuresand shape of your church?and shape of your church?

Learn from the Learn from the spider and the fridgespider and the fridge

Learn from the spiderLearn from the spider

Find a suitable starting pointFind a suitable starting point

Bridge the gapBridge the gap

Create an anchor pointCreate an anchor point

Effectuation thinking

Saras Sarasvathyhttp://www.effectuation.org/

Effectuation

Three key questions for creativityThree key questions for creativity

Who am I ?Who am I ?

What do I know?What do I know?

Who do I know ?Who do I know ?

http://www.centreforpioneerlearning.org.uk/

www.freshexpressions.org.ukwww.centreforpioneerlearnng.org.uk

Mission Shaped Ministry Course. MSMMission Shaped Intro Course. MSi

ResourcesResources

Disturb us Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,

when our dreams have come truebecause we have dreamed too little,

when we arrived safelybecause we sailed too close to the shore.

Sir Francis Drake

http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/