New Team Leaders for Fresh Expressions:
Bishop Graham Cray takes up the Anglican role
Revd Stephen Lindridge steps up for the Methodist Church
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Methodist Church have today announced that the Fresh Expressions initiative is to continue for a further period of five years.
The Bishop of Maidstone, Rt. Reverend Graham Cray, is to be the next Archbishops' Missioner and leader of the Fresh Expressions team.
The Methodist Connexional Missioner for Fresh Expressions is to be the
Revd. Stephen Lindridge, currently Evangelism Enabler in the Newcastle District.
Bishop Graham, who is the Bishop for Mission in the Diocese of Canterbury, will succeed Dr. Steven Croft, who is to be the next Bishop of Sheffield.
The new appointment gives Bishop Graham a unique opportunity to further develop many of the ideas and suggestions put forward by the Working Party he chaired before producing the much celebrated report Mission-Shaped Church (1). The concept of "fresh expressions" and the notion of a "mixed economy" church were both explored in that document.
Bishop Graham said this morning: “I have been delighted with the national and ecumenical response to Mission-Shaped Church and hugely impressed with the work done by the Fresh Expressions Team. It is an honour and a thrill to be asked lead the second phase of the work. I am very grateful for the Archbishops'
invitation, and look forward to taking up my new responsibilities.'
Stephen Lindridge has helped to pioneer a fresh expression of church in Gateshead and has been instrumental in setting up training and resources to support fresh expressions of church in the North East.
He said today: “I am delighted to be joining the fresh expression team, as the fruit of phase one is evident for us all to see and I am very much looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that phase two (of fresh expressions) will bring.”
He added: “God’s grace on the emerging leaders in fresh expressions has been wonderful to observe. I count it an immense privilege to be appointed to a position where I can actively encourage this work throughout the UK.”
Fresh Expressions is a partnership between the Church of England and Methodist churches and is an initiative of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Hundreds of fresh expressions have already been set up and new approaches to clergy and lay training have been advocated and adopted.
The initiative has been strongly and generously supported by the Lambeth Partners since it was launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has regularly thanked them for their support during phase one .
The new appointments will begin in 2009.
Technorati Tags: Ben Edson, Fresh Expressions
