VentureFX pioneer star of Wi Ad

We're honoured that VentureFX pioneer Simon Sutcliffe, working in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, stars in the latest Nintendo Wi Advert  You can follow Simon's blog by clicking on the VFX Hanley link at the side of this page.

Wider network of VentureFX

We've been feeling for a while that, as well as the 20 core VentureFX projects, the scheme might be able to develop the capacity for supporting other pioneer projects that would value being part of the VentureFX network and resources as they develop.  It might help pioneers to feel that they are embraced and affirmed by the wider VentureFX scheme as well as being able to draw on elements of training, coaching, networking, resources and so on. We'd love to have some feedback as to how useful this might be, so if you have thoughts or ideas please leave a comment or email Ian

Tubestation story hits The Times!

Tubestation, the fresh expression of church relating to surf culture in North Cornwall was featured in a half-page article in The Times on Saturday (15 May 2010). 

It's a great article and highlights what amazing things God is doing in and through Tubestation.  VentureFX is partnering with Kris and Henry from the Tube, as they break new ground in a nearby location called St Merryn.  It's going to go under the name of Esta and will be seeking to form a relevant way of being followers of Jesus in that community.  The official launch will be in early July, so more details later.  We believe that the energy and vision of the Tubestation leadership is going to enable new and exciting things to come to birth in St Merryn and we are excited about this opportunity to work with them.

VentureFX at ECG

VentureFX presence at ECG made a valuable contribution to the event.  Simon was busy all week and did a great job, together with Anthony Clowes, of hosting the nightly debate on various issues.  Ian was helping to staff the Methodist and VentureFX stand and had a number of worthwhile conversations.  We hope that next year the group of VentureFX pioneers will be able to play quite a significant role at the event.  One of the most memorable moments was the response to Martyn Atkins' sermon in the Theatre, when many people came forward to acknowledge that they shared a 'divine disquiet' about church and the need for church to be changed and renewed for mission.  Elaine Lindridge lead us in repeating the prayer of the Cuban church, 'Lord, prepare us for death or renew us!'  Challenging words to pray, but it could be a transformational prayer if we mean it.

VentureFX project in Hanley, Stoke on Trent

The second VentureFX project to be launched is in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. Simon Sutcliffe is our pioneer currently based in premises in the centre of Hanley at the heart of the city's vibrant nightlife. Simon is a Methodist Minister who has experience of fresh expressions and of reaching the young adult age group and he is beginnng to establish relationshps wth people in the area as he listens to what God is saying and what will be the most effective way of developing a Christian community in that context.  Read his blog by following the link at the right-hand side, and please pray for Simon and those who will work with him.

New Monasticism

'The restoration of the Church must surely come from a new kind of monasticism, which will have only one thing in common with the old, a life lived without compromise according to the Sermon on the Mount in the following of Jesus.  I believe the time has come to gather people together for this.'

Could have come from any of the recent books, papers and conferences on the subject of Fresh Expressions and new monasticism.  Actually it is from a letter written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer to his brother on 14 January 1935!  It is quoted by Ray Simpson in his recent excellent book, 'High Street Monasteries' (Kevin Mayhew, 2009). 

The book is well worth a read for those involved in pioneering fresh ways of being church as it includes a really useful survey of the older and more recent expressions of monasticism, describes some contemporary examples, and offers a vision for the future.  I love his idea of 'Villages of God' and the diagram on p.102 is brilliant. It's quite a slim book and a bit pricey at £9.99, but worth getting hold of.

Breakout gathering for Pioneers

There's a great gathering for Pioneers happening in July called Breakout which should be well worth going to if you are a pioneer or lead a fresh expression of church. John Drane and Kate Middleton are speakers, as well as Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. But probably the greatest value for practitioners will be the support and networking opportunties. VentureFX is a full partner with Fresh Expressions and Church Army in putting this gathering on and we are hoping for around 100 or so people to come. Pass the word along, but do emphasise that it is for practitioners because that is the real value of the event.  It's at Kings Park, Northanpton from 5-7 July 2010 and more details are on the Breakout website.

Did you know ...

Ninety percent of the British people rarely or never enter a church for any truly religious purpose ... What of that tragic sixty per cent who have no point of contact with us, and desire none; who are living entirely secular lives, who are profoundly ignorant of Christianity and quite sceptical as to its relevance to their needs? 

A quote from a recent book on contemporary mission in the UK?  No, a quotation from 'The Report of the Eastbourne Enquiry on "The Local Preacher and Evangelism"' published in, wait for it ....1949!

Pioneer ministry is for the long haul

A couple of extracts from the Rowan Williams interview with Tim Nash mentioned in the previous post:

TN: We’ve got friends who are involved in various fresh expressions of church and it doesn’t always seem to sit that well in a particular diocese. Do you think that traditional church will always be seen as the real church as you already mentioned and fresh expressions will be seen as being on the eccentric fringe, and what can be done to free fresh expressions up from that image?

RW: I think it’s unavoidable that at the moment for a lot of people there’s the sense that this is the real stuff and the rest is just flannel. There are two things which I think the church has done officially to counter that in recent years. One is making it possible for bishops to create some space and so by giving what we call a Bishop’s Mission Order - to say, look there’s going to be some space there for some new things to happen, we’re not going to load this down with all the expectations of, you know, paying your assessments to the wider church and going through the hoops of administration. This is experimental territory. And a Bishop can say that’s going to happen.

We’ve also got now pioneer ministries in the Church of England, people who have been identified as having a calling to entrepreneurial, groundbreaking ministries and we recognise that we ordain them into those ministries, not just into the parish system. It’ll take a while but those are some of things in place to help make it a bit more mainstream.

TN: I was going to ask you about that, because I come from a Methodist tradition and they’ve started to recognise that these new forms of church take a long time to embed and to become financially sustainable and they’ve launched a number of 10 year funded projects. Is that something that the Church of England will be doing?

RW: That’s absolutely right and that’s part of the background that we bring to it as well. I think the partnership with the Methodist Church has been important for both churches, in fact. We’ve all learned from this process. But, yes, the assumption that you’ve got a new project and somehow it ought to be paying its way within three years, …well, …reality check! It’s not going to happen. And it may never happen and sometimes a project will blossom and then wither for all sorts of reasons which aren’t discreditable -it’s done its work, it’s sown some seeds. So, the long haul – deep breaths, I think – that’s very important.

Interview with Rowan Williams

I happened across a very interesting interview with Archbishop Rowan Williams.  He's talking to Tim Nash of the Nottingham-based missional community, Nomad.  Some interesting comments about the significance of fresh expressions and the 'little team' of people who are guiding it.  I was particularly heartened by his acknowledgement of the Methodist Scheme and our intention to support our projects for a period up to 10 years.  It's great to have his backing for the concept that pioneer ministry needs to be supported for the long-haul not the quick fix.  Tim's a Methodist and sounds like he's doing a great job in the Nottingham area.  There's some more podcasts on the Nomad website with some VERY interesting people!