Page 12

mission shaped church

them to remember their long held, but dormant faith. Very many people

have no residue of Christian faith at all; it's not just dormant, it's non 

existent; in so many instances we have to go back to basics; we are 

in a critical missionary situation.

59

This report believes that the beginnings, in the last 20 years, of church

plants and fresh expressions of church represent the emergence of a

diametrically different approach that is both theologically appropriate and

strategically significant. Instead of `come to us', this new approach is to 

`go to them'. We need to find expressions of church that communicate 

with post Christian people, and which enable them to become committed

communities of followers of Jesus Christ. Then they, in turn, can continue 

to engage in mission with and beyond their own culture.

from `where?' to `how?'

So how can the Church of England rethink its mission?

Anglicans aim to follow the pattern of the incarnation   to be with people

where they are, how they are. The word `where' in that sentence suggests

geography and territory   being in a particular place and location. In Britain

today, it might help to say that we must be with people how they are. 

`How' is a word that suggests connection beyond geography and locality  

connecting with people's culture, values, lifestyle and networks, as well as

with their location.

A geographical approach alone is not sufficient. Parish, by itself, is no

longer adequate as the Church of England's missionary strategy. `One size

fits all' will not do. A mutual partnership of parochial and network churches,

using traditional and fresh approaches, and sharing ministry in larger areas

is necessary.

The diversity of fresh expressions of church in this report ranges in style 

of worship from the reinvention of the traditional to the highly innovative.

The size of these expressions ranges from the tiny cell to the enormous

gathering. Furthermore, the starting point in mission sweeps from relational

evangelism to many forms of social engagement. Venues and meeting days

are getting more diverse. This is a response to the sense that Sunday is 

no longer a `church' day for our society, but rather a family day, or DIY day,

or sports club day or whatever people choose to do. Some people may be

keen to meet with other Christians regularly, but it is no longer feasible for

them to do that regularly on a Sunday.

12