Testing Fresh Expressions: Identity and Transformation (Routledge Contemporary Ecclesiology) - Hardcover

Walker, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1472411846 ISBN 13: 9781472411846

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

Testing Fresh Expressions investigates whether fresh expressions of church really do what is claimed for them by the fresh expressions movement and, in particular, whether their unique approach helps to reverse trends of decline experienced by traditional churches. Part 1 examines those claims and untangles their sociological and theological assumptions. From a careful study of factors underlying attendance decline and growth, Part 2 argues that long-term decline can be resisted only if churches are better able to attract children, the non-churched or both. Part 3 tests the comparative ability of a group of growing parish churches and a group of fresh expressions to resist trends of decline and discovers some intriguing social dynamics common to both groups. Part 4 argues that fresh expressions do not fulfil the unique role often claimed for them but that they do have the capacity to help reinvigorate the whole church.

About this title

About the Author

John Walker has experience of both traditional parish ministry and innovative church planting. Alongside parish ministry he has been a researcher for the Diocese of Canterbury in a joint project with the University of Kent, Canterbury.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1472411846
• ISBN 13: 9781472411846
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 270