Fresh Expressions1 Pioneer Ministry +Graham Cray

new context - new gift mix The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry … Eph. 4:11-12 Fresh Expressions2

New leaders 40% of those involved in leading fresh expressions of church in the Church of England and Methodist Church are lay people who have not offered for leadership before. Fresh Expressions3

critical factors new imagination about the church new climate of permission new resources ordinary Christians catching the vision: “ you don’t have to be a vicar, you don’t have to be a minister Caroline Holt, The Wesley Playhouse Edinburgh

St George’s Deal Fresh Expressions5

8 ‘til late Stepping Stones Greenerway CoNnect Trans4 m Greenerwa y Bridging the Gap “NO LIMITS” Lighthouse 8 til late Emerg e Centrepoint Balcony Nels on

Alan Roxburgh & Scott Doren ‘Our rock-bottom conviction is that the Spirit of God is among the people of God. …. The Spirit is actually at work in our ordinary common lives. This means that God’s future – putting into action God’s dreams for the whole world – is among God’s people.

Alan Roxburgh & Scott Doren Very practically, a missional church is formed by the Spirit at work in the ordinary people of a local context. A practical implication is that this imagination changes the focus of leadership. Rather than having plans, programs, strategies and goal, they ask how they can call forth what the Spirit is doing among the people.’

LEADERSHIP ‘Leadership is about cultivating an environment that innovates and releases the missional imagination present in a community of God’s people.’

THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT ‘An environment in which the Spirit given presence of God’s future may emerge among the people of God.’ Al Roxburgh

What are we looking for? Fresh Expressions12

Capacities to develop

Fresh Expressions Selection criteria for Ordained Pioneer Ministry in the Church of England 14

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a realistic and informed vocation to plant fresh expressions of church within contemporary culture Evidence for this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 15

Fresh Expressions Show how they have responded to God’s call to be pioneering Understand contemporary cultures and the practice of planting fresh expressions of church within them 16

Fresh Expressions Develop a vision for fresh expressions of church in a local context 17

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a clear vision of the place of their envisaged ministry within the wider church's response to God's mission to the world Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 18

Fresh Expressions Understand the relationship between the Church and the kingdom of God Understand and be committed to the Church of England as a ‘mixed economy’ church 19

Fresh Expressions Be committed to the reshaping of the Church for mission 20

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have an authentic and integrated understanding of the particular ministry envisaged Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 21

Fresh Expressions Understand contextually appropriate ministry Shape contextually- appropriate church 22

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a mature and well developed devotional life Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 23

Fresh Expressions Demonstrate an established discipline of personal prayer and study which can sustain an isolated ministry Demonstrate a commitment to and an enthusiasm for Christian fellowship and corporate worship 24

Fresh Expressions Develop the art of discernment Have the patience to wait for God’s timing 25

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have demonstrable maturity and robustness to face the demands of pioneering mission and ministry Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: Lay aside personal preference for the sake of the community being served 26

Fresh Expressions Cope effectively with ambiguity and disorientation. Cope effectively with change and stress Avoid personal overload. Have a consistency of character in varied circumstances 27

Fresh Expressions Live sacrificially and endure hardship Persevere for the long-term rather than take short cuts for quick results 28

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have demonstrable self-motivation Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: Be a self-starter with a willingness to build from nothing 29

Fresh Expressions Take risks Negotiate disappointment Learn from mistakes 30

Fresh Expressions Candidates have the potential to develop healthy professional and pastoral relationships Evidence for this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: Form, develop and maintain healthy professional and pastoral relationships 31

Fresh Expressions Exercise hospitality Listen to others Form community 32

Fresh Expressions Maintain boundaries and confidentiality Manage conflict assertively, constructively and tactfully 33

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a demonstrable track record of innovation and initiative Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: Identify key opportunities for mission 34

Fresh Expressions Minister in creative and non- standard ways and develop an innovative approach to problem solving and thinking 35

Fresh Expressions Start a new project around perceived opportunities Reflect on situations, learn from them and make appropriate changes for the future 36

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have well developed abilities to initiate change and to enable others to face it in a flexible, balanced and creative way Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 37

Fresh Expressions Adapt oneself to the uniqueness of a particular context Motivate others Negotiate and resolve conflict 38

Fresh Expressions Shift priorities and emphasis during various stages of development of a fresh expression 39

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a demonstrable ability to work collaboratively and in a team Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: Develop vision with others Discern the spiritual gifts in others. 40

Fresh Expressions Release and equip others for ministry Identify and invest in future leaders Match the gifts of people with ministry needs and opportunities 41

Fresh Expressions Help people to share responsibility for the growth and success of the fresh expression 42

Fresh Expressions Candidates should be able to communicate their faith effectively Evidence for this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 43

Fresh Expressions Communicate the good news to those outside the Church naturally and effectively in ways that are balanced, appropriate, accessible and sensitive to the situation 44

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a well- developed understanding of the interaction between gospel and culture Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 45

Fresh Expressions Understand of the tension between relevance and syncretism Relate the Gospel to different contexts. 46

Fresh Expressions Develop discipleship within a fresh expression 47

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have the capacity to evangelize beyond the culture of the Church Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: 48

Fresh Expressions Communicate with and relate easily to people outside the church. Understand the worldviews and mindsets of people outside the church 49

Fresh Expressions Candidates should have a lively and engaging mind Evidence of this may be drawn from a candidate’s capacity to: Engage and stimulate others Make creative connections 50

Fresh Expressions Recognise opportunities in challenging situations Be a reflective practitioner 51

Fresh Expressions52 Leadership Skills for Fresh Expressions +Graham Cray

Demonstrable qualities Maturity and robustness Self motivation Innovation and initiative Work collaboratively

The priority of discernment Fresh Expressions54

The Director ‘The chief actor in the historic mission of the Christian church is the Holy Spirit. He is the director of the whole enterprise. The mission consists of the things that he is doing in the world. In a special way it consists of the light that he is focussing upon Jesus Christ.’ John V Taylor

The God of Surprises 'The narrative of Acts suggests that a community truly led by the Spirit will be led in new and surprising directions.' Luke Timothy Johnson Fresh Expressions56

God is ahead 'God is already ahead of all evangelism, carrying on his mission to the world. …. More often than not respectful discernment will demand drastic changes of heart and mind, as for Peter with his own traditions.' David Ford + Daniel Hardy

Birthed out of discernment A fresh expression of church comes into being through following the missionary Spirit who is always ahead of the church. It is birthed out of discernment of the work of that missionary Spirit, wherever that may lead us. Fresh Expressions58

Birthed out of discernment The emphasis on discernment recognises that the planting pioneer or team will not know the shape, model or cultural form of the fresh expression of church when they start out on the process of planting. Fresh Expressions59

Fresh Expressions60 Pioneer Ministry +Graham Cray