The Mission Shaped Church Report was published in 2004 and approved by General Synod in that year. It made strong recommendations for the recognition of pioneers and their identification, training and support in both ordained and lay ministry. Implementation of these recommendations has been swift and very positive and we give further details here.

ORDAINED PIONEER MINISTRY

The Church of England has adopted the language of pioneer ministry for starting and sustaining fresh expression of church. The Ministry Division of the Church of England Working Group on pioneer ministry produced guidelines for the new designation of Ordained Pioneer Ministry (OPM). In 2006 the House of Bishops approved these new guidelines (Click here to download the guidelines) to encourage vocations to pioneer ministry as a recognised focus of ordained ministry. There are a growing number of candidates who have been accepted for this pathway and who are now in training and  beginning to serve their title posts as pioneers. A variety of new training pathways have been and continue to be developed to support these OPMs. By early 2010, less than five years on, some 110 have been accepted and are on their pioneering way.

LAY PIONEER MINISTRY 

However, the Mission Shaped Church report also made strong recommendations for lay pioneers as well as ordained. And the same Ministry Division Working Group had parallel guidelines published and approved by 2007. These are available to download here and we would strongly encourage any interested in pioneer ministry in any denomination to read them and we hope be encouraged by them to pursue their calling.

In many ways this development is even more exciting and significant. Experience in pioneering into our very varied and challenging mission context today is showing that the overwhelming need is for thousands of lay led teams to pioneer the planting of all sorts fresh expressions of church.

It is ACPI's hope that increasingly, when we do deploy (and sometimes pay) ordained pioneers, it will be to initiate a breakthrough into a particular sub-culture with a view to then overseeing the release of a movement of fresh expressions appropriate to that context... all of which will be led by lay pioneers.

Building on all this, we know of at least one area where an "order of lay pioneers" is being explored and this will help to take this sort of movement forward. 

This is the core vision that is needed and this is the overall strategic framework within which we believe the twin guidelines on ordained and lay pioneer ministry should be viewed and plans developed.

“Form is a year of training and transformation.  It is about being disciples & making disciples. It has its home at St Thomas’ Church Philadelphia & The King’s Centre, Sheffield (Anglican / Baptist / Free Church).

The year is about being ‘formed’ – that means you’re shaped, fashioned & moulded into someone who more fully represents Christ to the world. The year is about God setting the foundation in your life you need so that you can continue to grow as a disciple & become everything it is that God made you to be.

Jesus didn’t take his disciples into a classroom to teach them how to best follow him. He invited them into his story & as they experienced life in his context of mission to the world, they became more like him. We believe we should do the same. Form is rooted & worked out through communities committed to mission – God’s activity of extending His kingdom of good in the world.

If you do Form you’ll become part of the St Tom’s community for the year.  You’ll have an apprenticeship within an area of ministry or mission in the church and learn as you become part of a passionate team.  You will also receive and be able to work through quality teaching and training from the St Tom’s staff and other leaders.
Form runs from September to June each year." 

Visit the website: www.form-uk.org or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Internships start September 2010.

Ongoing training and mentoring.

No fees to pay.

Receive a weekly allowance.

Housing provided.

An opportunity to grow in leadership and in your relationship with Jesus!

Apply now for an information pack. Call Christ Church Chorleywood on 01923 282149 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

£12.00

A DVD featuring stories of fresh expressions in the sacramental tradition alongside a keynote address by the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2008's national day of pilgrimage to Coventry Cathedral.
 
Sanctus features seven stories from Visions (York), Moot (London), Critical Mass (Peterborough), Glorious (London), Contemplative Fire (Nationwide), feig (Gloucester) and Blessed (Gosport). It also features a sermon preached by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Coventry Cathedral on 8th December 2008 discussing fresh expressions of church in the sacramental tradition.

Commendations:
 
"See for yourself exciting ways in which worship can be real and total; something not just thought about, but seen, and head, and touched and smelt - an experience that envelops all our senses." 
Very Revd Richard Giles, Liturgical Consultant
 
"This DVD is a great spur to energy and confidence as we make new inroads into networks and communities with the message of fullness of life in Christ through the sacraments and a generous catholic approach to contextual mission and evangelism." 
Rt Revd Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ramsbury
 
"The stories contained in this DVD should encourage and inspire all of us in parish and community ministry to discern the Spirit's movement in our own place, and to look for the new ways in which we can tell the story of Jesus to this generation." 
Revd Jonathan Clark, Chair of Affirming Catholicism
 
"If you thought fresh expressions of church where only for evangelicals, then watch Archbishop Rowan's sermon and think again." 
Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading
 

Subtitles: English
Audio: English
Running time: 50 mins approx.
All regions