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This page contains:

• What are FEASTs?
• The initial stages of a FEAST
• Moving on
• Resourcing the strategy
• Some stories so far

What are FEASTs? Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Teams catalyse the start and development of fresh expressions of church across a geographical area. They play a vital role in bringing about a genuine 'mixed economy' church. See What does a 'mixed economy' church involve?

FEASTs focus on a geographical area that makes local sense, such as a city or county. Within that area:

• they initiate and sustain fresh expressions;
• they support pioneers;
• they provide training;
• they engage with existing church structures;
• they encourage prayer.

From the DAWN (Disciple A Whole Nation) approach to church planting, FEASTs have learnt that being strategic in small geographical areas can often be more effective than a national approach.

The guidelines that follow are based on the experience of FEASTs that have emerged so far.

The initial stages of a FEAST will normally involve the following:  

• An initial catalyst. This may be an individual, a local church, a request from an ecumenical group or from a group within a denomination, or a mission shaped ministry course. Examples of conveners include district or diocesan evangelism/mission enablers, fresh expressions enablers, bishops and other staff.
• Gathering the team. Perhaps following a conversation with two or three people, an ecumenical team will form, including permission givers (usually a senior church leader), champions (enthusiasts who generate support for fresh expressions) and individuals who are already bringing a fresh expression to birth. What are the ideal people on a FEAST?
• Articulating the vision. A clear vision for fresh expressions will help communicate a FEAST's purpose to others. You might express this vision in kingdom terms - eg: 'Through fresh expressions of church, over the next 25 years we aim to multiply disciples who will serve the kingdom of God in (specify the area).' Having a long timescale speaks of realism, patience and permanence.
• Deciding on the geography. A FEAST might cover a city, county or local area defined by a common history. Current examples include Devon, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, Manchester and the North East. Ideally the area will have some correspondence to church or local government structures, but more important is that it makes sense to the 'locals'.
• Agreeing the principles. This is akin to agreeing values at the outset of a fresh expression. Values might include openness and flexibility, focusing on open doors, putting a priority on discipleship-making and serving the kingdom, or reproducing from the small. Here are values adopted by FEASTs so far.
• Encouraging prayer . You might seek prayer support from a variety of sources, such as a specially recruited prayer team, or plugging into existing prayer networks or religious communities. Many districts, dioceses, synods and other denominational bodies have prayer diaries or web pages. Here are some themes for prayer in the initial stages.

Moving on involves discerning priorities for developing the FEAST's strategy, setting objectives against a timescale and ensuring the leadership is able to work towards these objectives. We list some of the components of a strategy, recognising that they don't necessarily occur in a neat order.

• Continued sharing of the vision through key conversations, presentations at existing gatherings, vision days, regional days, road shows, special events and use of the Christian media. How can you reach different constituencies? Eg: briefings for senior staff; stories in district/diocesan/synod newspapers; regular items on Synod agendas; inclusion on websites/in prayer diaries; a focus of work for a fresh expressions enabler.
• Research and mapping. Doing this together will encourage collaborative working in the team and will help members arrive at a vision jointly. Mapping the location of churches (with some indication of their strengths) in relation to the population can be a useful visual aid for planning. Here are some other areas of research that may be helpful.
• Training provision and support through courses (such as Fresh Expressions' mission shaped ministry ( msm), ReSource, Crucible and the Together in Mission MA in missional leadership, coaching (or missional accompaniment) and learning networks. A handy tip: make sure training courses lead to new initiatives rather than being run for their own sake.
• The intentional multiplication of key roles (eg, coaches and fresh expressions enablers), pioneer leaders, training, resources, new communities and possibly particular models (after contextual research). Why not focus resources on people and projects with the strongest likelihood of multiplying?
• Developing and growing prayer support. It might be good to review periodically your prayer support. Is a new approach required? Might a new constituency be engaged in prayer? Might you communicate prayer needs in a different way?
• Engaging with existing structures through permission givers, training providers, policy makers, pioneers and others. The aim is to move church structures from 'permission to blessing to paradigm shift'. Vision casting, telling stories, e-newsletters, chatting to and supporting key individuals, and reporting to strategic denominational committees can all help you proceed with grace through the doors God opens.
• Youth and young people. How will you ensure this important constituency is not neglected? Might you develop a focused track of activity or have an item about this regularly on your agenda? A good starting point would be a conversation between the team and those responsible for youthwork in the denominations, together with Christian youth agencies in the area.

Resourcing the strategy is likely to include the following:

• Identifying new leaders. Nationally, thousands of new leaders will be needed to bring about a transformation in the nation's spiritual life. Most will be lay because clergy resources are increasingly scarce. Here are some of the key factors in identifying future leaders.
• Supporting practitioners to maximise this key resource. In particular, pioneers can be supported in the vital task of calling and training others, which will lead to multiplication. Here are important elements of pioneer support.
• Finance and administration. So far, FEASTs have had financial support from denominations involved on an event-by-event basis. Admin. support has come from within the group. Some mission shaped ministry fees have been found by denominations, while in one area admin support is provided by the Churches Together facilitator. Might support for some FEASTs be available from a District Advance Fund and diocesan mission funds?
• The national team. Stephen Lindridge, the full-time Methodist Fresh Expressions missioner, supports FEASTs around the UK and is available for consultation, help and advice. Stephen chaired the FEAST in the North East till recently and was responsible for creating the acronym.

Some stories so far include:

• Merseyside
• North East
• Kent
• Lincolnshire

How might we support fresh expressions?

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