Mission-shaped or Mission-flavoured? asks latest Encounters on the Edge

10 May 2006

In the latest issue of Encounters on the Edge called "Discernment in Mission" published on 22nd May Church Army researcher, George Lings thinks that "there is a serious danger that churches are only opting to become a bit more mission-flavoured ... churches tweak the worship they offer and the evangelism they do."  

Lings is concerned that this "mission-flavoured" approach will only connect with "church fringe" members; it will not achieve the longer, more challenging task of connecting with the "de-churched" or the "non-churched".  

Based on case study research including pioneering Church Army projects, Lings uses this booklet to help those starting or currently leading fresh expressions of church strategically analyse what they are doing. It also helps them discern who else God might be calling them to.  "Many practitioners tell me 'the penny has dropped' about how we can approach mission and evangelism when using these resources", Lings adds.

The booklet explains the need to connect up starting points with our diverse mission field and to be clear about what works best for different groups within our society.  Lings unpacks the pattern of good practice that begins with the group of people sent to start a fresh expression living out a quality of community life and listening to local community.  Following this, they discover the particular shape of the mission and evolve worship that will sustain community in its mission.

The author takes Jesus' promise in Acts 1:8 that the Spirit will always send the church further out in mission. It explores how the rest of Acts unfolds the surprises and shocks by which that lesson was learnt.  The church was driven beyond its own culture.  Following a similar journey today will, in the same way, change those who make it.  Failure to learn these lessons has serious dangers.  The move to true mission-shaped fresh expressions of church will be challenging as true pioneers will have to endure "the suspicion of the rest of the church as they continue to be gracious disturbers of the church's false peace."

To order Encounters on the Edge no.30 Discernment in Mission: Navigation Aids for Mission-shaped Processes contact Laurence Keith 0114 272 7451 or log onto www.encountersontheedge.org.uk or email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk