Fresh expression

Fresh Expressions is an international, cross-denominational movement within Christianity that seeks to develop new forms of church in collaboration with existing congregations. Its aim is to engage individuals who have never participated in church or who have left traditional church settings. Rather than focusing on conventional Sunday morning services, Fresh Expressions emphasizes forming faith communities in locations where people naturally gather within contemporary culture.^[1] According to the FX Denominational Partners (2006), "a Fresh Expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church".^[2]

History

The Fresh Expressions movement began in the United Kingdom in 2004 following the release of the Mission Shaped Church report by the Church of England.^[3] This report, commissioned by the General Synod and initiated by Archbishop Rowan Williams, documented how churches and Christian communities had been developing alternative approaches to church life in response to societal shifts in the UK since the 1990s. Despite overall declines in church attendance, the report noted the emergence of "fresh expressions" of church that were engaging people in new ways. It also offered recommendations to support the continued development of these alternative forms of church.

The initiative was established as a partnership between the Church of England and the Methodist Church, with leadership from Bishop Steven Croft and Reverend Peter Pillinger. Over time, the partnership expanded to include other Christian traditions and organizations, including the Church of Scotland, the United Reformed Church, the United Methodist Church, and Baptists Together.^[2] Fresh Expressions now collaborates with denominations, regional church bodies, congregations, and ministry leaders to provide vision and training for the development of new faith communities. The movement has led to the creation of thousands of such communities and has expanded internationally to countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

Today, Fresh Expressions works with denominations, regional church bodies, individual congregations, and ministry leaders to provide vision and actionable training. The movement has spawned thousands of new faith communities and has taken root in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America.^[4]

According to George Lings in Day of Small Things, Fresh Expressions represents a significant contribution to ecclesial innovation within the Church of England.

Fresh expression values

Fresh expressions can take a variety of forms, but several defining characteristics help distinguish them as part of the movement. These include being missional, contextual, ecclesial, and formational.^[5]

Missional

Fresh expressions are designed to engage individuals who do not currently attend church. They are not intended to be extensions of existing church programs, but rather new forms of church that emerge in collaboration with people outside traditional church structures.

Contextual

Each fresh expression is developed within and shaped by the specific cultural and social context of the community it serves. It seeks to communicate Christianity in ways that are meaningful and relevant to the particular group it engages. These communities may form in diverse settings and in various environments such as public spaces, housing developments, or university campuses. Some are tailored to specific populations, including bikers, artists, or people experiencing homelessness.

Ecclesial

Fresh expressions aim to function as church for those they reach, rather than as ministries of an existing church. While they may be connected to established churches or denominations, their intention is to form autonomous worshiping communities that are recognized as valid expressions of church.

Formational

Fresh expressions are committed to the spiritual formation and discipleship of their members. Although the methods and expressions of discipleship may differ depending on the context, the goal remains to nurture individuals in their growth as Christians.

Criticism

Canon Dr. John Dunnill of St George's Cathedral, Perth says that a Fresh Expressions project can sometimes be more about form than substance.^[6] Alison Milbank has argued that aiming to be independent congregations in this way undermines existing authority structures within the parish system.^[7] Andrew Davison and Milbank further criticised Fresh Expressions from a broadly Anglo-Catholic perspective for separating themselves from geographical parishes, holding to a weak ecclesiology, abandoning liturgical services, and promoting 'choice-led individualism'^[8] over Anglican traditions.^[9]

There is some debate as to how to measure success for a fresh expression. The three (or four) selfs offer a useful lens by which to measure governance, finance, and reproducibility, but say little about the underlying health of the mission or discipleship of the church. Michael Moynagh recommends the four 'f's of fruit (is the community deepening in their faith?), flow (are members who move on being helped into another form of Christian community?), family (is the church connected to denominational or group networks?), and freedom (does the church have appropriate levels of independence in decision making?).^[10] Andrew Dunlop prefers a more theological approach to success, taking account of the action of God in the life of the church community and in the lives of individuals.^[11]