Fresh Expressions, which was initiated by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Methodist Council in the wake of the Mission-shaped Church report, is gaining increasing recognition both at home and abroad.
This month the United Reformed Church with its 1600 congregations, 100,000 members and attenders and 700 ministers, joins the initiative which encourages new forms of church for a fast changing world.
The Revd Roberta Rominger, URC general secretary said: 'We want to attract those who don’t come to church, by offering something new and different alongside more traditional forms of worship. The Fresh Expressions initiative is a real opportunity for Christians of all persuasions to join together in mission and to share the Christian good news at a key moment in the life of our nation'.
United Reformed Church members are already actively engaged in mission shaped ministry, a nationwide course equipping leaders of fresh expressions, which has well over 1000 students.
The Fresh Expressions initiative is spreading internationally too. Fresh Expressions Canada was launched earlier this year and Archbishops’ Missioner and Fresh Expressions team leader Graham Cray has recently returned from a visit there.
The Protestant Church in the Netherlands and the Church of Scotland have recently adopted the language of fresh expressions and pioneer ministry and there is an increasing stream of visits, enquiries and requests to speak overseas.
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