Mission shaped in many ways

There is a whole suite of new resources available to help different sectors of the Church engage with the themes and recommendations of Mission-shaped Church, the 2005 report already credited with sales of more than 20,000 copies.

Four follow-up books have been published so far, each drawing on a range of case studies illustrating how churches are challenging stereotypes of their ministry and experimenting with new ways of ‘being’ and ‘doing’ church in the 21st century.

Margaret Withers surveys some of the obstacles currently preventing growth in children’s work across the Church in Mission-shaped Children: moving towards a child centred church, and offers effective strategies to help overcome them.

In Mission-shaped and Rural, the Revd Sally Gaze sheds light on how traditional models of the Church’s work in the countryside should be complemented by emerging forms of ministry to meet the needs of today’s rural communities.

Meanwhile, Mission-shaped Spirituality provides ‘fuel for the journey’ for churches wanting to discover a spirituality that will continue to invigorate their vision and work. Author Susan Hope shows what happens when churches re-ignite their commitment to mission by taking steps out of their traditional comfort zones and crossing boundaries into the unknown – what Susan terms ‘apostolic adventures’.

This month, Mission-shaped Parish will hit the shelves, taking a fresh look at a typical parish church’s worship, pastoral contacts, civic and public responsibilities, asking how all of this can be seen from the point of view of God’s mission.

Each contribution marks another important step in the Church of England’s approach to mission through creating a ‘mixed economy’ Church where ‘fresh expressions’ of being church are developed alongside more traditional models.

Find out more or order copies at: www.chpublishing.co.uk