Some REALLY new stuff

We were supposed to have lunch with Rev. Bonnie Appleton, who is responsible for Parish Development and Evangelism for the Diocese of Guildford, but it didn't work out. But Bonnie was good enough to send us a really helpful email about things that are going on in Guildford, plus some of her thoughts on where the Church ought to be going. Here's what she wrote (pay particular attention to the second last paragraph in bold type):

We have several really interesting fresh expressions happening in Guildford. You can see most of them on the diocesan website www.cofeguildford.org.uk (put Fresh Expressions into the search part and the list should come up.) You may want to look at some particular websites. More out of the ordinary ones are 'rezurgence' - www.rezurgence.com - more than just a website but web based and BMX bikers log in to find the next BMX competition where they meet up to pray, support and worship together. This work is now developing further with a van than is equipped with tools and leaders go round helping kids mend their bikes and do evangelism whilst they are doing this.

Songs of Rage www.songsofrage.co.uk - outreach to the music community that is turning into a Fresh Expression.

Very new is a kind of community arts and worship centre in Ash Vale where the Vicar of the local Anglican church is very arty. There's been a combination of things happening - he arrived about 18 months ago; the local Methodist Church closed and they didn't know what to do with the building and they asked Neil. He's now in the process of engaging with the community and they are putting on films for different groups - e.g. black and white old films for the elderly washed down with a cup of tea and cake, more modern stuff in the evening for the youngsters etc. They are about to start some worship there but the main concern is to engage with the wider community who love the idea. Eventually they hope to have artists in residence who will engage with the community and with worship - all very alternative! No website as yet - it's too new and the vicar is about to go on a 10 day motorbike tour with some local bikers to Uganda. They're going to film the trip and bring it back to show the community and hopefully make links.

There are a couple of café churches but they're quite different. One is basically a relaxed evening service sitting around tables with nuts and crisps on the table and the other offers food, alternative opportunities to engage with Jesus, some worship for those who want it, challenges and opportunities to pray.

There are lots of Messy Churches springing up - but they all seem very different. I had hoped to get to the Messy Church baptism at Lightwater on Sunday but just couldn't do it in the end - same problem as you - trying to get myself into too many places at once!

I still feel that too many churchgoers are in a 'church bubble'. Many think the Church is the centre of the universe and haven't realised that most people in our country think of the Church as dying or dead and certainly on the margins of what's going on! Irrelevant - is what most would say. But trying to get long-committed Christians to recognise this and to do something about it is very very difficult. Our churches have few children and young people and we're very sparse when it comes to those in their 20s and 30s or even 40s! Those churches doing really well tend to have a lot of transfer growth (Christians from other churches) but not many conversions. I think most conversions come from the smaller churches some of whom are much more aware that they need to do evangelism - but it's too little too late. If we do evangelism at all well it is with those who used to come to church as children and dropped away. The fact that we have so few children in our churches now means that the church community now is the poorer because people tend to become more inward and backward looking without children ('the good old days' syndrome.)I wrote a dissertation last year on the importance of children to our churches now and in the future. In 1900 55% of the children in Great Britain attended a church, by 2000 only 4% of children attended a church. If we only do evangelism with those who used to come to church then in 20 or 30 years the Church in England will be on its last legs or even deceased! Dramatic I know, and I hope it won't get to that stage, but it might!What we need to learn to do in this country is engage with those who know nothing about God. This is where some of the Fresh Expressions are working out of the box.

We need to do more of this.I hope that this gives you a flavour of what's going on. Do also read my essay on the difference between a real Fresh Expression and an outreach project in an inherited church. You'll find it on the website. You'll find out what I really think from that.I hope the rest of your trip goes well.

Every blessingBonnie