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What are learning networks and why do they matter?

Learning networks are groups of practitioners who meet regularly to learn together.

The fresh expressions movement is relatively new. It is emerging, evolving and organic, and every day new lessons are being learnt. Fresh expressions practitioners can be seen as pioneers, blazing the way into unknown territory. Who knows what fresh expressions will look like in five, ten, twenty years' time?

It would be a great loss if during this time of exploring and experimentation, knowledge isn't captured along the way, for posterity and for use by future pioneers.

As Michael Moynagh has written:

'A nightmare future is that scores of fresh expressions emerge over the next decade, but they remain isolated, wither away and leave inherited church profoundly disillusioned, with no obvious strategy to reverse its marginalisation.

'This could happen if pioneers fail to link up with each other, or form ad hoc support groups rather than intentional learning networks. Connections would be warm and encouraging, but the amount of learning – from disappointments as well as 'successes' – would be limited. Practitioners would keep inventing the wheel, they would repeat the same mistakes and knowledge about how best to approach fresh expressions would grow painfully slowly.' (The Future of the Parish System, [ed. Steven Croft], Church House Publishing, 2006, p. 122)

The aim is to have hundreds of fresh expressions learning networks meeting regularly. Members of a network may have something in common; maybe they live in the same geographic area, or they are involved with a similar type of fresh expression.

What do learning networks look like?

Learning networks can happen online – maybe through an email discussion group or an online forum – and in some cases this is the only way they can happen. Maybe the members live in different parts of the country, or in different countries. But the preference is for regular face-to-face meetings, with online contact in between the meetings.

Each group needs:

• an enthusiastic co-ordinator / facilitator to keep the momentum going, both during meetings and in between.
• a method of capturing the knowledge that is learnt – maybe a flipchart which can later be typed up for future reference, or someone taking notes during the group work.
• occasional outside input to stretch and stimulate those in the group - maybe a visitor to the group, an issue for discussion sent to the group by email, or members of the group researching a particular topic or reading an agreed book, article or Bible passage beforehand.

The main thing to remember is: what is the reason for learning networks? The simple answer is: to share! This can happen in two ways: sharing with each other in your group, then sharing what you have learnt with the wider church by having your findings posted on Share.

Contact us

If you are part of an already existing learning network, or planning to be part of one, it would be helpful if you could register your network with Share. In this Networks part of the site, you will eventually be able to access a database of all registered learning networks. You can see if there are other learning networks near you, or networks that meet around your specialist area of fresh expressions.

All findings and knowledge gleaned from learning networks will gratefully be received by Andrew Wooding (webmaster for Share) at andrew.wooding@freshexpressions.org.uk or via the Contact page.