emergence of new forms of christian expression

• Christianity in the UK is also very proactive in the secular world, seen in the emergence of new forms of Christian expression
• Fresh Expressions

  • movement set up by the CofE as result of the 'Mission-Shaped Church' report (in 2004), but has now been adopted by other Churches
  • has an evangelical aim in seeking to share Christian thinking, but it is not aimed at drawing people into traditional Church communities
  • works alongside traditional Churches; seen as 'outreach' with the aim of leading people to join the Church

  example: Messy Church
• House Church movement

  • sees secular society as hostile to Christianity
  • aims to re-establish the practices of the Early Church, when Rome was very hostile to Christianity + people drew strength from worshipping together in private homes
  • as the Church grew + became an established religion, the focus of activity shifted towards having separate church buildings
• development of House Churches

  • some have met in Churches for years e.g. Plymouth Brethren
  • began in 1960s Europe, started by those who wanted to free themselves from the structures of conventional churches + return to the practices of the Early Church
  • in a House Church, people could meet + worship free from the formal restraints of worship in Church buildings
  • began strongly within the evangelical tradition