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Re-imagining church: training

Where

Our discoveries and ideas have been put into Church Army training at its Sheffield based Wilson Carlile College. That training is now delivered in context at dispersed sites via Mission-based_Training, so we wait to see how we can partner that process in future. But the content of that taught material still exists.

Theological colleges today ask for sessions related to fresh expressions of Church and we are among a number of national specialists who provide that. With pioneers also going through training, that needs increases.

We contributed the material for some session of Mission Shaped Ministry and regionally deliver some sessions.

I speak to conferences of dioceses around the UK and abroad, and work among other denominations when invited.

Expertise

My interest is rescuing Ecclesiology from its deserved dusty dry image, and those passions for internal issues like a focus on ordained ministry and the sacraments.

Church is immensely hopeful, in that I am convinced that the Church is God's major way of doing his mission and it is intended to embody the first fruits of the kingdom, as the Sprit inspires it. Church is where Jesus is alive among his people and making them like him. Of course God is free to work outside, beyond and even despite it, but I believe that is plan B.

I am fascinated and energized that we live in the most creative time for re-imagining the church since the Reformation. It is a source of wonder to live now and to be part of tracking and highlighting what we are learning afresh. That includes that in some cases we won't even use the 'church' word. We are free to do that because it was only a word nicked from 1^st century Greek culture anyway!