Methodist Conference has received a report on the Fresh Expressions initiative. The report can be downloaded from this page as a Word document (see under Tuesday 10 July 2007, 10:40 am). The final two paragraphs before the resolutions are telling:
The development of fresh ways of being church as part of a ‘mixed economy’< – valuing both the new and the established – raises questions which are as yet unanswered. How do we value and encourage both the new and the old while making room for the new? What is the relationship between a fresh expression and a Local Church, Circuit or District sponsoring it? How can we encourage a fresh expression to maturity? How can we station a minister who is called to develop a fresh expression? How do we test that call? How do we test, recognize and enhance the ministries of the people God is calling to work in fresh expressions of church, particularly those pioneers not already ordained who have a proven track record of starting churches?
Further work in these areas is required. We therefore ask the Conference to direct the Methodist Council to ensure that the encouragement of new ways of being church in general and the work of the Fresh Expressions team continues to be properly resourced and supported. The Council should further ensure that the key issues being raised are addressed and appropriate guidance is brought to future Conferences.
I wonder how radical they will be. Martyn Atkins made it clear in his Presidential address that Methodism has to reshape in today’s society to be faithful to her original DNA.
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