Happy 10th birthday to Encounters on the Edge
The popular Encounters on the Edge booklets - George Lings' series of quarterly investigations looking at emerging and fresh expressions of church – reaches an important milestone with the latest issue, number 40. Published by Church Army, Encounters on the Edge celebrates ten years of publication.
It is appropriate, then, that as Encounters on the Edge acknowledges its long life, the latest issue – called People Try to Put Us Down – investigates fresh expressions of church among older people. This is to counter a common criticism of fresh expressions: that it is in danger of becoming shorthand for young and trendy.
In the introduction, George Lings, director of Church Army's Research Unit, confesses: 'I write this booklet approaching the threshold of becoming 60. What a mix of feelings it is. It has to be partly a confession of ageism to admit that while there have been 39 previous Encounters on the Edge stories, only now does one get written about a whole third of the UK population, the over 50s.'
The issue focuses on the story of St Giles, Northampton, remarkable in their recruitment of a full-time staff member for older people. Two vital questions are asked: 'How do you know whether a ministry is also church?' and 'What does fresh really mean?' It is also pointed out that there is a significant diversity between those aged 50 and 105 – is this fully appreciated? George helpfully concludes that fresh expressions are about 'seriously asking who we are trying to be church for, and what their culture is'.
To celebrate ten years of Encounters on the Edge, an annual subscription will include the offer of free copies of all issues up to and including number 32. Up to 10 copies of each issue can be requested of each, but postage will need to be charged.
Encounters on the Edge 40, 'People Try to Put Us Down: Fresh expressions with older people', is now available and is priced £4.00. To order, contact the Sheffield Centre on 0114 272 7451, or email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk
