Gareth Bezett

The Church of England report "Mission shaped Church" is well worth a read. For all the talk about finding fresh expressions of church, there are a number of assumptions and values that are either explicity or implicitly affirmed in the report:

• Church must be sacremental: baptism and the eucharist will be part of any valid expression of church.
• Authority/permission must be given by the denomination, probably by the bishop.
• Expressions will be a church plant from a sending parish.
• The leaders and members of the planted church will want to participate in the wider demonination such as sending representitives to synod.
• Full corporate worhsip events will be a goal of new expressions.

While I don't necessarily disagree with these sentiments, I don't think they sould be just assumed or forced on peoplewho choose to engage with fresh expressions.