IT IS admirable that the editors have gathered 19 contributors (only six of whom are women, however) to reflect on the theological implications of the recent surge in church-planting throughout the land. All of the contributors are sympathetic to the cause in principle, but some clearly have some misgivings.
The sub-text is that church-planting is deficient in theological support, and this volume sets out to remedy the lack in a series of essays, from diverse points of view, all of which are clearly and accessibly written and presented. The book seeks to be a “critical friend” to the movement of planting and pioneering new churches and contains ample salutary advice. As such, it will do much good, provided it gets into the hands, heads, and hearts of those for whom it is intended.
To be clear, the book’s aim is to help in forming new churches, not strengthening and revitalising existing churches — that is, parishes — though much of the wisdom would apply equally. Funding controversies are touched on only in passing. The global context is recognised in a chapter promoting traditional African virtues. Church-planting by Anglo-Catholics is addressed in two chapters.
Most essays caution against well-meaning, zealous, but uninstructed and misguided activism. They urge: slow down, reflect, remember that God’s work takes time, avoid being fixated on results — as Cathy Ross puts it, “watching, waiting, listening, discerning the Spirit of God already present and at work”. You are not bringing God into a situation that is without God. Beth Honey tells of church-planters who thought that their task was “to create space for God”; against which she soundly quotes St Thomas Aquinas that God fills every place. We can be open to disclosures of the presence of God by humbly asking for help and letting people raise questions.
So space is given here to the relationship between divine and human action to counteract the working assumption that it all depends on us. Some writers are patiently and politely pushing the boundaries of the conservative-Evangelical-Charismatic mindset, while they have moved beyond it themselves. Joshua Cockayne helpfully outlines a theology that pivots on sacramental participation in the life and grace of the Holy Trinity. That strikes a rare note, as the sacraments and Christian initiation hardly receive a mention otherwise.
The editors provide a thoughtful and balanced introduction, insisting that the Church is theological through and through and must be approached as such. They insist that the mantra of “mission” (what the Church is “sent” to do) needs some deconstruction. It includes faithful discipleship, ethical obedience, and worship, not simply outreach. There is no intrinsic merit in being new — or in being old, for that matter.
The editors and several contributors hit the nail on the head when they emphasise the virtue of abiding, of dwelling over time within a community and its inhabited space. They advise: avoid polarisation and dichotomies; be open to diverse perspectives, contributions, and challenges in your context. They emphasise that the sole purpose of a new church is to reach those who are unchurched or dechurched (by implication, not to tempt worshippers away from existing congregations).
There are several weaknesses and fallacies, which the editors have allowed to stand. The scholarly disciplines of missiology and ecclesiology are simplistically played off against each other by some, instead of being seen as inseparable facets of the one divine-human mystery of the Church.
By the same token, community and institution are presented in antithesis by certain contributors (Mark Collinson, Ali Williams, and Simon Hall and Roy Searle). They decry “hierarchical, top-down institutional expressions of church” and denounce establishment. They seem to hanker for freelance mission work, no strings attached. It is claimed, implausibly, that Canon Law and the Church Representation Rules are holding evangelism back.
The editors could have taken the opportunity to promote theological study among practitioners. They acknowledge at the end that the volume lacks a grounding in biblical theology. This would have been helpful to challenge those elements among the constituency who explicitly aim to replicate the mission methods portrayed in the Acts of the Apostles — not realising that to do so they would first need to head to the nearest Jewish synagogue.
There is negligible awareness of ongoing gender and sexuality issues, though it is difficult to imagine that most of the authors are not exercised by these. With one exception, male pronouns are used for God. The subtitle is pretentious in claiming to offer a theology. This book, welcome as it is, does not provide a theology, but a series of diverse theological, practical, and personal reflections on planting new churches — aids to reflection. A sequel to fill the gaps and take the helpful pointers forward would be welcome.
The Revd Dr Paul Avis is Honorary Professor in the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh, and Editor-in-Chief of Ecclesiology.
New Churches: A theology
Joshua Cockayne and Will Foulger, editors
SCM Press £30
(978-0-334-06615-6)
Church Times Bookshop £24
