The Guide

The Guide contains how-to-do-it advice on starting, developing and sustaining fresh expressions of church based on shared experiences.
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sustainability

So what about some Transition Churches? (by David Muir)

But don't our churches themselves need a Transition agenda? Just as oil is running out, isn't Christendom running out too? Our churches have long been dependent on the power of Christendom, making all kinds of things possible that local Christian communities could not have done on their own. Christendom made church a very comfortable place to be. As Christendom runs out, many of the ways we are used to 'being church' are becoming unsustainable. We can improve our welcoming processes, we can take out the pews, we can use PowerPoint in the sermons, but these are lightbulb measures. We need to help our churches become resilient and sustainable Christian communities, not dependent on the structures and support of Christendom for their future.

A musing on sustainability (by David Muir)

I have been musing about sustainability in fresh expressions. Perhaps there are two levels of sustainability.

How can we sustain our fresh expression?

A brand new section has appeared in the guide: How can we sustain our fresh expression? Arguably it is one of the most important sections of the guide, which makes it ironic that it is also currently the shortest.

Share on YouTube, and sustainability lessons in latest Encounters on the Edge booklet

Share is now rubbing shoulders with the thousands of music videos, comedy clips and other televisual items on the popular video-sharing website, YouTube. A specially made video, demonstrating the strengths of Share can be seen here. Please spread the word about the video. If you prefer books to online videos, you might want to check out the latest edition of Encounters on the Edge, number 36: Leading Fresh Expressions: lessons from hindsight.

What is a church? (written by Steven Croft)

Here is a game to play with your home group, your PCC or over dinner with some Christian friends. You could even adapt it for a sermon. The aim is to help you think more deeply about what it means to be church.

God grows church through reproduction

Fresh expressions reflect a multiplication approach to church growth rather than addition