A Pioneering Spirit

A missional re-engagement with society

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

“ this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing is simply not on their agenda.” simply not on their agenda.” Churchgoing in the UK. A research report from Tearfund. April 2007

Playing Away

‘ the church is missionary by it’s very nature……. the church does not have a mission a mission but the mission has a church.’ Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and Scroeder

‘Mission is often described as if it were a planned extension of an old building. But it fact it has usually been more like an unexpected explosion.’ John V Taylor

A re-imagination of what church is (and could become)

“ And so from the start, where Jesus is, there is the church, the church is the assembly of those who are finding their relationships, their lives transformed by the presence of Jesus.”

A re-orientation towards whole life discipleship.

The glory of God is the human person fully alive Irenaeus of Lyon

‘a discipleship movement shaped for mission’

What kind of people are we called to be? What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?

Dreamerswhodo

“We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

Three pieces of advice about imagination 1.Forget everything you know 2.Remember everything you know 3.Re-arrange everything you know

Who is the mission for? Who is the mission by? Who is the mission with?

Dissenters who are loyal

‘There can be no constructive change at all, even in church, unless at all, even in church, unless there is some form of dissent. there is some form of dissent. By dissent I mean simply the proposing of alternatives…. and a system that is not continuously examining alternatives is not likely to evolve creatively.’ Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

Four enduring features? Dissatisfied –Not grumbler but wanting change for the better Visionary –Looks beyond what is to what could be Hopeful –Change is possible and this inspires others Risk takers –Acts on convictions and out of comfort zones Stuart Murray: Ch 7 Planting Churches: who?

‘not leaving the tradition but driving to it’s heart’ Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

Diversifiers who unite

‘Take leave of the gospel for the sake of the gospel.’

Spectrum of pioneering Pioneer Starter Pioneer Sustainer Pioneer Sustainer Developer

Danger of one model for pioneering

Disturb us Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Sir Francis Drake

The Qualities of a Pioneer ?

People who are first

People who are on the edge

People who are moving out

People who are loving change

People who know when to stay or go

People who know when to bring order or chaos