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| About This Site |
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The information on this site is provided in good faith as guidance and stimulus to those involved in the Church’s strategy for new housing areas. No responsibility can be accepted for information which is inaccurate, and professional advice specific to particular places should be sought.
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| Creating Church : Introduction | 20th Feb '07 |
| Various views are held about what the 'church' in new housing areas should look like. |
Members of a particular church tradition who happen to live on the same estate may well begin to worship in their tradition in a suitable venue. In another context, some Christians from various traditions begin to pray for the estate and host some communal event like a barbecue to see what 'fresh expression' of church might emerge. In another instance, members of different churches within travelling distance of the new housing begin some 'emerging church/ alternative worship' in a community centre to see who might be interested.
In addition, some architects and planners might propose a 'vertical architectural feature' to add interest to the skyline, and some developers might offer a building for community use as part of their development, and a particular congregation might then have to work out how to use it.
However, these suggestions also deserve engagement with further critical questions. Do people want to create community where they live? How do churches start? What sort of church might emerge naturally? What kind of ministry provision is appropriate? What capacity do we have to do this work and would it be sustainable?
Some of the pastoral and missiological questions were posed a hundred years ago by Roland Allen in 'Missionary Methods: St Paul's or Ours?' They still need exploring today and we would be pleased to receive contributions to the debate. Do we need a building? Can we rent? Can we partner with other community providers? What do partnership agreements mean in practice? In particular for Roland Allen, what kind of leader, style of ministry, financial arrangement, should be exercised to build real community?
If you have stories or a theological reflection on "Creating Church" in relation to new housing areas, do contact us. In particular you might pick up on the often-asked question "What Would Jesus Do?" and relate that to our context today. |
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