Rural church is now open to fresh expressions, claims Lings
Rural churches can create fresh expressions of church according to George Lings , Director of Church Army’s Research Unit. In this month’s
Encounters On The Edge twin publications (27 The Village and Fresh Expressions & 28 Rural Cell Church) , he explores what life is like for our rural churches. He notes its continued decline, most concerning being “the rural church in some places is greying to an alarming extent.”
Lings notes the reality of diminishing clergy resources, but the flourishing of local lay ministry, as an opportunity for a more creative approach to mission. This is needed if rural churches are to have a promising future. The examples he found challenge conventional thinking; rather than fresh expressions of church being only an urban or suburban phenomena, they can flourish even in isolated rural areas.
In Encounters on the Edge 27 The Village and Fresh Expressions , Lings’ investigations take him to an alternative worship style fresh expression of church (Sunday 4.6) in the depths of rural north Devon run by Church Army evangelist Mandy Wright . Mandy adds; "My dream is to have different types of worshipping communities all over the area. If ever the traditional churches die, there will then be a continuing Christian presence in the Holdsworthy Deanery. It's early days, but so far, God is with us." Nine months on from its launch Sunday 4.6 has a sizable group attending on a regular basis, including a significant number who were not previously churchgoers.
In Encounters on the Edge 28 Rural Cell Church, Lings tells the story of a flourishing cell church in the Norfolk countryside. This small group sized expression of church was ideal for continuing the process of discipleship for Alpha converts (some of who couldn’t feel at home in the congregational worship) and gently coaxing more mature Christians into lay leadership. Team Rector, Sally Gaze has developed an approach where cell groups were recognised as being church alongside congregations. It was in the cells that the vast majority of the new Christians in the multi parish benefice are growing in faith.
In a field where there are very few useful short summaries of the rural context, Lings' research stresses the importance of identifying how a culture works, before beginning a fresh expression. He describes the very different types of village, and of different kinds of villager along with their attitudes to life, community and church. He concludes “It is almost impossible to imagine that one expression of church (even a traditional model) will alone be able to connect with the different groups now found in a village.”
He concludes with the challenge that the church’s influence in the rural context will have to be through quality not power. Beautiful but burdensome church buildings face an uncertain future as some small local churches will be crushed by the weight of financial responsibility of their upkeep. George Lings leaves readers with the suggestion that rural cells could be a key player, growing now what will become a kind of underground rural church of the future. This approach also now delivers the small rural church from the impossible burden of trying to be all things to all people. Cell is a natural progression for those who become Christians from connections in networks. It then grows disciples by participation. Rather than being a rare wayside flower it could become a staple crop in the future mixed rural economy.
To order Encounters on the Edge no 27 The Village and Fresh Expressions or Encounters on the Edge no 28 Rural Cell Church contact Laurence Keith 0114 272 7451 or log onto Encounters On The Edge or email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk
