Category: Fresh Expressions

Dean of Fresh Expressions

Revd Will Cookson, Minister Springfield Church, Dean of Fresh Expressions

The Diocese has just announced that I have been appointed as Dean of Fresh Expressions in Southwark. This is a new part-time post and is initially for a year (for both sides to see how it goes) and does not alter me continuing as Minister of Springfield Church. It is an exciting opportunity not only for

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Church Growth Conference – children & youth

At the recent Church Growth conference put on by the Church of England, one of the key areas that many growing churches had in common was a commitment to children and youth ministries.

Church Growth – from anecdote to evidence

recent church attendance for the church of engalnd

Last week I was at a fascinating conference – on statistics! I know, I know – you’re going to say statistics are boring or come out with that old canard “Lies, damned lies and statistics”. But actually statistics are incredibly important.

New Year… New opportunities…

Well happy New Year to everyone. It’s a strange time in the land of vicars leading up to Christmas. Not only do we have the busy service schedule (and grabbing time to buy presents, prepare for Christmas etc) but we also have to be thinking ahead to the new year and planning for the year

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Link

Without buildings

I’ve just had an article published about operating as a church without owning our buildings on the Church Growth R&D website. You can read the article here: http://www.churchgrowthrd.org.uk/blog/churchgrowth/without_a_building

Missional Community Groups

One of the most exciting areas that I saw whilst I was on sabbatical was the role that Missional Community Groups play in some of the churches I visited.

Exploring growth in Birmingham

Birmingham was my second visit during my sabbatical looking at some of the places that had received funding from the Archbishops Council to grow the church in areas of deprivation.

Building community in Tolladine….

This was the first of my visits around the country to see how churches that had been recipients of the Archbishops council funding were planning to use their money and what they were looking to achieve in estates around the country. As recipients ourselves I am hoping to see what we might learn from the experience

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What’s in a name?

In the first part of our Leaders Away Day last Saturday we looked at what different ministries and congregations were. What I have begun to realise is that if we don’t have a clear common understanding of what we expect from a ministry or congregation then it is very easy to be pulling in differing

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Hope in Southwark – Fresh Expressions Conference

Fresh Expressions in Southwark is coming of age! Yesterday we held the first Fresh Expressions vision day in the diocese of Southwark solidly backed by the diocese.