The Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Methodist Church have today announced that the Fresh Expressions initiative is to continue for a further period of five years.
The Bishop of Maidstone, Rt Reverend Graham Cray, is to be the next Archbishops' Missioner and leader of the Fresh Expressions team.
The Methodist Connexional Missioner for Fresh Expressions is to be the Revd Stephen Lindridge, currently Evangelism Enabler in the Newcastle District.
Bishop Graham, who is the Bishop for Mission in the Diocese of Canterbury, will succeed Dr Steven Croft, who is to be the next Bishop of Sheffield.
The new appointment gives Bishop Graham a unique opportunity to further develop many of the ideas and suggestions put forward by the Working Party he chaired before producing the much celebrated report Mission-shaped Church (1). The concept of 'fresh expressions' and the notion of a 'mixed economy' church were both explored in that document.
Bishop Graham said this morning: "I have been delighted with the national and ecumenical response to Mission-shaped Church and hugely impressed with the work done by the Fresh Expressions team. It is an honour and a thrill to be asked lead the second phase of the work. I am very grateful for the Archbishops' invitation, and look forward to taking up my new responsibilities."
Stephen Lindridge has helped to pioneer a fresh expression of church in Gateshead and has been instrumental in setting up training and resources to support fresh expressions of church in the North East. He said today: "I am delighted to be joining the fresh expression team, as the fruit of phase one is evident for us all to see and I am very much looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that phase two (of fresh expressions) will bring."
He added: "God's grace on the emerging leaders in fresh expressions has been wonderful to observe. I count it an immense privilege to be appointed to a position where I can actively encourage this work throughout the UK."
Fresh Expressions is a partnership between the Church of England and Methodist Church and is an initiative of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Hundreds of fresh expressions have already been set up and new approaches to clergy and lay training have been advocated and adopted.
The initiative has been strongly and generously supported by the Lambeth Partners since it was launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has regularly thanked them for their support during phase one.
The new appointments will begin in 2009.
Anglican and Methodist Church leaders were quick to welcome today’s news:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said: "I am delighted the initiative is to continue in partnership with the Methodist Church. Bishop Graham will bring exactly the right blend of experience and vision to the work already begun and I look forward to working with him in his new post."
Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, added: "The Methodist Church is delighted to continue the fruitful partnership with the Church of England in the second phase of Fresh Expressions and I am personally delighted that the combination of Bishop Graham Cray's theological expertise and Rev Stephen Lindridge's experience as a practitioner will be a wonderful demonstration of the effectiveness of collaborating ecumenically".
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said: "The Bishop of Maidstone chaired the Mission-shaped Church working party, which first recognised the fresh expressions movement. His involvement with Soul Survivor and Greenbelt, his experience at St Michael le Belfrey in York and his time as Principal of Ridley Hall have all prepared Graham for his new role leading Fresh Expressions. Bishop Graham and his team will be in my prayers as we look to God for the future."
Mark Russell, Chief Executive of Church Army said: "What a fantastic and creative appointment! A fresh expression of Episcopacy! I am delighted and excited by Bishop's Graham's new appointment. Graham bristles with gifts, and he will build on Steve Croft's excellent work, continuing to lead the thinking in helping us all create a mission-shaped church. He is a common sense visionary, who loves God and loves people. Church Army values our partnership with Fresh Expressions immensely, we assure Graham of our prayers, and we are really excited about working with him in his new role"
Dr. Steven Croft also welcomed the appointments this morning: "Graham will bring a lifelong commitment to mission and fresh expressions of church and the practical experience of building a mixed economy church within the Diocese of Canterbury. He is exactly the right person to lead Fresh Expressions into the next phase of its life. Stephen Lindridge is an experienced pioneer and a tested advocate for fresh expressions of church and will bring rich gifts to the team.
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS:
Additional information about Bishop Graham Cray:
Bishop Cray is married to Jackie and they have two daughters, Catherine and Sarah.
Before becoming a bishop he was principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, a Church of England theological college, after fourteen years as vicar of St Michael-le-Belfrey, York, where he worked with and then succeeded the late Canon David Watson.
His special concerns are the engagement of the Gospel with contemporary culture, youth ministry and the theology of renewal.
He has been chairman of the Greenbelt Festival and is currently chairman of the Soul Survivor Trust. He chaired the working party which wrote the Mission-shaped Church (1) report on church planting and fresh expressions of church.
Additional information about the Revd Stephen Lindridge:
Stephen Lindridge is married to Elaine, who is also a Methodist minister.
They were the joint initiators and leaders of the Mind the Gap fresh expression of church for young adults in the Jarrow and Gateshead Methodist Circuit.
They have two children, Ruth and Samuel.
Since leaving circuit ministry in Gateshead, Stephen has served as the District Evangelism Enabler for the Newcastle District. In this role he has acted as consultant/coach to a number of fresh expressions of church and initiated the first 'FEAST' (Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Team).
He has also served on the executive for NE1 (a North East-wide mission event in 2007) and is currently a director of ECG (a conference and network equipping young leaders - primarily in the Methodist Church).
He brings a lot of practical experience of fresh expressions, a passion for the Kingdom of God being made visible in local communities and a keen strategic mind to his new role.
He also has an MA in Mission and Evangelism from the University of Sheffield/Cliff College in which his dissertation related closely to fresh expressions.
Ends
(1) Mission-shaped Church, Church House Publishing, 2004, ISBN 978-071514013-0 | 
news
