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31 October 2012

Rowan Williams to speak at fresh expressions conference

Archbishop Rowan Williams is speaking at a national event to celebrate and review the fresh expressions movement.

The ‘Following the missionary Spirit’ day conference, on November 22 at HTB, will include discussion, resources, prayer and worship.

Fresh Expressions aims to encourage and facilitate the formation of new Christian communities which serve - and are formed around - those who are outside of the existing church.

Norman Ivison, the director of communication at Fresh Expressions said: “Identifying that critical tipping point when encouraging organisational change is key.

“I pray that ‘Following the missionary Spirit’ will help us see how far we have travelled and what more there is to do as we encourage new forms of church to start and grow and, importantly, serve the communities and networks in which they are placed.”

As well as the contribution from Archbishop Rowan at the day conference, there will also be talks from Martyn Atkins (the general secretary of the Methodist Church), Val Morrison (the moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church) and Graham Cray (Archbishops’ Missioner and leader of the Fresh Expressions team) on their vision of new forms of church.

Worship will be lead by Tom Smith of Holy Trinity Brompton, City of London new-monastic community Moot, Methodist youth church re:generation and others.

The Archbishop’s keynote speech will be his final address to the movement that he helped to found.

On the day he announced his resignation as Archbishop, he said: “I think the two things I look back on with greatest satisfaction are that we've managed in the Church of England to launch this very new mission outreach programme Fresh Expressions, and get the Church of England to recognise the possibility of new styles of congregational life and new styles of training for ministers to go with it.

“I think that's really begun to build itself in to the life of the Church.”

The event will run from 11am to 4pm on Thursday November 22 at Holy Trinity Brompton.  Places are £15 (including lunch and refreshments). You can book online at www.freshexpressions.org.uk/missionaryspirit