Читать книгу Church for Every Context - Michael Moynagh - Страница 79

A third pointer to the new attractor is evidence of growing cooperation between churches at regional and local levels. Fresh Expressions is encouraging the formation of FEASTs, Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Teams. These are groups of key individuals who encourage fresh expressions of church across a wide area. Several are coming into existence, with the Lincolnshire FEAST especially showing how effective they can be.

Although there is a long way to go, the appetite for church collaboration at a more local level seems to be growing. Hope 08 encouraged churches in 1,500 areas of the UK to undertake joint projects in 2008. Initially viewed as a one-off, the initiative was sufficiently fruitful for its life to be extended as Hope Together. The aim is to encourage local churches to work together for mission, in which starting new contextual churches will have a place. Milton Keynes illustrates how churches can cooperate effectively on mission. Among several initiatives, the churches have formed an ecumenical group to oversee the development of Christian communities on new housing estates and elsewhere.