The Filling Station as a Fresh Expression of church for consideration in the local congregational context: A practical-theological investigation

Ian A Nell,Susan Mellows

doi:10.4102/hts.v73i4.4544

Abstract

The findings of the Archbishop’s Council in their 2004 report, to the effect that traditional forms of church in Britain are under threat because of changing cultural patterns, emphasise the need to re-think church for our contemporary contexts. The ‘Fresh Expressions of church’ movement is one such initiative identified and approved of by the Archbishop’s Council. This article reports on research undertaken in a practical theological interpretation of The Filling Station, a Christian ministry that has grown significantly in its 10-year history and was formed as a missional endeavour in recognition of declining church attendance in traditional churches in Britain. This work explores whether The Filling Station is a Fresh Expression of church and whether it meets the values of authentic missional churches. In examining whether The Filling Station ought to be considered for import into appropriate local congregational contexts, it enquires whether it satisfactorily addresses prevailing social trends affecting churches, including consumerism and the need for identity.

Highlights

The Archbishop’s Council’s (2004:40) conclusion reached concerning the spiritual status of Britain in its instructive report titled ‘Mission-shaped church’ is deeply disturbing
Traditional forms of church are under threat because of shifting cultural patterns and churches have to seek new ways of being perceived as culturally relevant (The Archbishop’s Council 2004:12)
According to Hendriks (2003:8), Independent African churches are growing, but he records that ‘it is evident that all the established churches that came to South Africa from Europe and that have retained their European identity and theology, have basically lost their marketshare’

Summary

Introduction

The Archbishop’s Council’s (2004:40) conclusion reached concerning the spiritual status of Britain in its instructive report titled ‘Mission-shaped church’ is deeply disturbing It is stated therein: ‘The reality is that for most people across England the church, as it is, is peripheral, obscure, confusing or irrelevant’ (The Archbishop’s Council 2004:11). The church should seek to go out to people in innovative ways It called for new expressions of church, perhaps meeting in unusual places at unusual times, to help people toward transformed lives via fresh commitment to Christ. It sought not the demise of the local geographically based church, but its renewal through other types of Christian community alongside it and linked to it. It sought not the demise of the local geographically based church, but its renewal through other types of Christian community alongside it and linked to it. (p. 51)

Methodology

Findings

Conclusion