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Leading Lights

Leading new churches - an introduction to the booklet:

The kind of leadership found in fresh expressions of church is varied. Many wish too avoid the very language of leader altogether as too directive and potentially exploitative whereas others rely on the leader possessing specialised skills. Some churches are more effective led by someone ordained whereas others flourish under lay leadership. Across this bewildering diversity, we learn that matching the mission resource (of which the leader is one key resource) to the mission task is the most important dynamic. 

This issue looks at the particular dynamics involved in new churches led by lay leaders. Three stories of flourishing lay-led churches are told as the questions - Can a lay led venture be a church? Can part-time leadership work? What about sacramental provision? – are examined in depth.