The first ever Bishop's Mission Order formally authorizing a new form of church is being made for Exeter Network Church, a thriving 300 strong group of Christians who meet in a school in the city.
The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish, will sign the order on Sunday 8 November. It will authorise the new church as being part of the Church of England, but not within the parish system.
This Bishop's Mission Order is the first to be signed for a 'fresh expression' or new form of church in the country. Mission orders were only approved by General Synod last year and each one will be different, written according to the particular requirements and goals of the fresh expression of church. As the name implies, Exeter Network Church (ENC) is based on networks of relationships, usually social, which stretch across the city. Through these networks leaders of the ENC, Jon and Jo Soper, aim to love and serve the people they connect with, reaching out to people who would not normally connect with parish churches.
Though the church will pay a contribution towards the work of the diocese, and its self-supporting priest, Jon Soper, will answer to the Bishop, the Exeter Network Church will operate above and across normal parish boundaries. Fresh expressions of church are a growing part of church life in the 21st century.
The Bishop of Exeter chaired the group which brought the legislation for Bishop's Mission Orders into being. He said: 'It is very exciting to have the first mission order here in Exeter. Fresh expressions of church are very much part of the diocesan vision here in Devon. The order is intended to be flexible and light, and will run for five years while ENC establishes itself.'
The ENC currently meets in The Maynard School in Exeter. Its most recent activity started last month with the opening of a debt advice centre in partnership with the award-winning small business Christians Against Poverty.
The mission order will run for five years, when it will be reviewed, and the Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Revd Bob Evens will oversee it.
Leaders of the ENC, Jon and Jo Soper, said: 'We are delighted to be defined by mission. Mission is seeing what God is doing in his world and joining in. It's an adventure. And we are more than ever convinced that Jesus Christ is still the best news that anyone is going to receive and the best person they're ever going to meet.'
Bishop Graham Cray, Archbishops' Missioner and leader of the Fresh Expressions team said: 'The signing of this Order is a milestone in the life of fresh expressions of church, and we send our very best wishes and prayers to the members of Exeter Network Church for their continuing work. The Bishops Mission Order allows churches such as Exeter Network to work alongside the parish system in reaching those who find it difficult to relate to more conventional church. It is an exciting time, and one that offers much opportunity. This is a truly historic landmark for Exeter diocese and the Church of England as a whole but it is not the end of the story, and we look forward to hearing how this fresh expression of church develops in future.'
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