Fresh expressions
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'fresh expressions of church' are part of a new movement that attempts to make the Christian message relevant to people who are not already part of a church. They are seeking to redefine what it is to be church and create new ways of connecting with their communities around them. Fresh expressions tend to move away from traditional church formats, language and meeting places, but there is no one defining characteristic which is common to all, nor can there be. The 2007 statistical returns from the Church of England reveal that several tens of thousands of people are involved in fresh expressions of church in England.
fresh expressions of church have been created for, among others, skateboard and BMX culture in Essex, cafe culture in Kidsgrove, artists and creatives in London, university students in Southampton, Surfers in Cornwall, asian people in Birmingham & children in Portsmouth.
In September 2005 the Church of England and the Methodist Church recognised this movement by setting up an organisation, 'Fresh Expressions' (capitalised), to monitor and encourage fresh expressions in those denominations. Fresh Expressions has a core team of 15 people and is led by Archbishop's missioner, Revd. Dr. Steven Croft
'Fresh Expressions' (capitalised) is differentiated from 'fresh expressions' (lowercase). The capitalised version refers to the initiative. In lowercase 'fresh expressions' refers to a large number of new initiatives.
Fresh Expressions defines 'fresh expression' as:
"a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.
• It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples.
• It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context."
In September 2006 the Fresh Expressions Team decided there was a need to develop and promote fresh expressions of church of the more contemplative and anglo-catholic traditions of the Church of England. Accordingly a new wiki web page and e-network was set up.
Emerging or Fresh Expressions of Church There has been much discussion about whether Fresh Expressions are forms of Emerging Church or Emerging Churches are forms of Fresh Expressions. A growing consensus suggests that the more pioneering forms of Fresh Expressions, such as Sanctus 1 or Moot are Emerging Churches. However, those Fresh Expressions of Church that are mission-shaped but operate out of existing traditional churches tend to have traditional understandings of ecclesiology so are not forms of Emerging Church.
Critics of fresh expressions say that fresh expressions are just entertainment, that they lack what they consider essential aspects of church, such as sacraments, or proper church structures and that they pander to modern western culture.
