What we do

What does the Sheffield Centre do?

We research

• always looking for what we don't yet know
• visiting places where we hear God's mission in Christ is moving forward in fresh ways
• reading what others are learning and comparing notes
• listening to increase our understanding of how these ventures work
• exploring the dynamics behind the activity or adventure
• connecting across stories to search out commonalities and patterns
• shaping theories to make sense of what we see and hear
• testing these ideas against further examples that emerge
• adding to theological understanding of the Church and Mission today

We provide consultancy

• giving advice when asked on starting fresh expressions of Church
• responding with comment on how fresh expressions mature
• putting people in touch with each other who are doing similar work
• journeying with a few particular young churches to offer an outside view
• advising churches and dioceses on overall patterns that are emerging

We assist networking

• wanting to keep learning by comparing notes and understanding
• meeting others in our specialist fields to encourage each other and see connections

• providing small conferences at Sheffield Centre for specific kinds of fresh expression

We offer training

• inspiring others around the UK and internationally, speaking from what we are learning
• helping prepare Church Army's evangelists in training
• teaching people who want to learn to engage with spiritual seekers
• teaching at Theological colleges, out of our research and consultancy

We publish

• producing regular booklets on what other people have started, disseminating the constructively subversive views of loyal radicals
• writing books with others to make training in today's mission more widely available
• contributing to journals that explore how current theological understanding of Church and Mission is changing
• fertilising the imagination of the Church to continue in creative response to the missionary initiatives of the Spirit

We support each other

• meeting weekly to pray
• going way annually to reflect and seek spiritual renewal
• choosing to be accountable to each other for healthy balance in our lives
• deciding together which invitations to take up
• nurturing our calling/charism to observe question and comment