Risky youth initiative ‘part of Methodist DNA’

The Methodist Church’s £7 million initiative to reach unchurched 20- and 30-somethings is part of the ‘pioneering DNA’ of the denomination, its coordinator has claimed. VentureFX leader Revd Ian Bell suggested the project is ‘one of those bold and adventurous schemes that Methodism has from time to time embraced’ and one of which the denomination’s founder, John Wesley, would be proud. Mr Bell invited church circuits and districts to step forward for the scheme, which will initially establish five area projects. The aim is to create innovative worship communities for a generation with postmodern views and no past loyalty to organised religion. ‘It will be scary, but it will not be boring!’ commented Methodist Connexional Team spokesman Revd Dr Howard Mellor.

Source: Methodist Recorder (22/10)

http://www.methodistrecorder.co.uk/

Venturing on new ground – Church reaches out to young adults

The Revd Ian Bell has been appointed Pioneering Ministries Coordinator, overseeing a major new initiative designed to reach out to young adults who have no contact with the Church.

The church is investing £7 million over ten years in the scheme, entitled venture fx, which will seek to recruit 20 lay and ordained people who demonstrate vision, motivation and the ability to inspire others. Over the next five years these people will be appointed to pioneer new Christian communities among the 20s to 30s age range in 20 different locations. They will be offered support and training and will be able to build new, viable independent Christian congregations rooted in the Methodist tradition.

“Increasing numbers of people have little or no understanding of the Christian story and might find the idea of going to church strange or irrelevant,” said Ian, “This is the challenge that the church is facing and we have to develop new models of church that speak to people about where they are in life and the issues that matter to them. venture fx is about tackling this challenge head on, meeting people where they are and challenging perceptions of what ‘church’ should look like.”

Ian is currently Superintendent Minister of the South West Tyneside Methodist Circuit, where he is developing an emerging church venture at Starbucks in the Metro Centre, Gateshead. In the past he has helped to establish several new expressions of church in the Sheffield and Doncaster areas, including a youth congregation and a cafe-based church.

As Coordinator for the scheme, Ian will be working part time until the end of August 2009, becoming full time from 1 September. You can hear Ian talking about the scheme in the latest Fresh Expressions podcast, available online here: http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/section.asp?id=4138. More information about venture fx with a list of FAQs can be found on the Methodist website here: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=2539

Source: Methodist news Service 02/03/09

Pioneering Ministries

NEWS RELEASE
7 July 2008

Church seeks ‘pioneers’ to reach out to young adults

The Methodist Church has approved a major new initiative designed to reach out to those with no experience of church, especially young adults. The Pioneering Ministries scheme will see the establishment of new Christian communities and congregations in a variety of locations from city centre and suburban areas to more rural settings.

There will initially be twenty new projects, with the first beginning as early as possible in 2009. Each project will be designed to serve the spiritual and practical needs of those who have previously had little or no experience of Church.

Although the projects are envisioned as eventually becoming independent, the scheme will involve a major investment of Church resources and funds, with an initial setup cost of more than £4.3m.

Revd Graham Horsley, Secretary for Evangelism and Church Planting, says; ‘This is clearly a risky strategy, but sometimes the Church is called to take risks. In saying “yes” to pioneer ministries the Church is sacrificing control for the sake of creativity. Rather than setting the agenda for evangelism and mission centrally, Pioneer Ministers will be free to discern the shape of their mission in their particular context. What grows may not look like a traditional “church” but will enable young adults to worship God and be equipped as disciples.’

The Church will seek to recruit as Pioneer Ministers lay and ordained people who demonstrate vision, motivation and the ability to inspire others. They will be offered support and training and will be able to build new, viable independent Christian congregations rooted in the Methodist tradition.