Pioneer Ministry
The term ‘pioneer ministry', and the language associated with it, are being used increasingly to describe ministry that looks to start and sustain a fresh expression of church.
The Fresh Expressions movement that grew out of the House of Bishop’s report ‘Mission Shaped Church’ (2004) has defined a fresh expression as follows:
“a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church”.
Pioneer ministry acknowledges that Britain is now a mission field with many areas of our society and culture disconnected from mainstream church. It also acknowledges that a particular form of ministry needs to be encouraged and developed, alongside parish ministry, to enable the church to engage effectively with a rapidly diversifying society.
The Fresh Expressions definition goes on to say that fresh expressions of church ‘will come into being through the principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples’ . Pioneer ministry will therefore look very different in different contexts whilst similar principles and values are being followed. Pioneer ministry is not defined so much by concrete models but by underpinning values. For many pioneers this involves going back to first principles, taking inspiration from the incarnation and a God who in Jesus goes to people, becomes one of them, builds relationships with them, through which the Gospel of life is shared.
Paul Bradbury
Mission
