Rethinking the way we do church -21/1/04
The news that the Church of England is to consider backing new ways of both “doing” and “being” church has been welcomed today by the theological think-tank Ekklesia and those already pioneering such initiatives.

New concepts being considered include base ecclesial communities, a form of organisation taken from Latin America, “café churches”, “cell churches” and “seeker services”.

The new “mission-shaped church” is expected to be funded by £5 million cuts in the hierarchy of suffragan and diocesan bishops. Another £4 million would come from other commissioners’ funds.

The proposals, to be debated by the General Synod in Westminster next month, come from Mission-shaped Church, a report by a working party chaired by the Bishop of Maidstone, the Right Rev Graham Cray, a suffragan in the Canterbury Diocese.

Ian Mobsby, a member of “Moot”, an alternative worship group based at St Matthew’s church in Westminster, and a spokesperson for Ekklesia said; “it is very encouraging to hear that the Church of England is getting behind such new initiatives.”

“The rebirth of centuries-old ways of being and doing church, and practicing Christian spirituality, which is being pioneered by many groups around the country is a cause for celebration. It also helps to demonstrate the importance of offering the widest possible range of ways through which people can explore and experience Christian community, church and worship.”

Ian Mobsby, who recently visited new forms of church in New Zealand and Australia, including an innovative “café church” project continued; “the church needs to think outside of the traditional boxes, and explore how Christian spirituality, community and worship can be practiced in ways that resonate with and make sense to our culture. A key way that the church could do this, is by supporting and encouraging “café churches” where people meet around coffee and food, and learn to be a church seven days a week in the middle of everyday life rather than once a week on a Sunday morning.”