Mission With People, Not To People

We welcome the Rev'd John Power to our Diocese. He will act as a consultant on Fresh Expressions and mission with the wider community. Read on to discover more about these fresh expressions!

The Rev’d John Power is a trained teacher and was ordained in the Diocese of Bendigo where he worked in parish ministry for 10 years. He moved to the Diocese of Melbourne and held a variety of chaplaincy, religious education and philosophy teaching roles both in the community and in schools.

Most recently he has been based in England, teaching and involved with the emerging church and fresh expressions in Oxford.

Bishop Brian Farran has invited John to our Diocese to act as a consultant on fresh Expressions until the end of the year.

The initial outcome of this role is to produce a report based on his time here looking at fresh expressions around the Diocese and offering some pilot projects.

His role may also include looking at some existing projects around the Diocese and working with groups and certain parishes.

Based on his time in Newcastle thus far, John is encouraged by the interest in the concept of fresh expressions.

He recognises that this concept has been talked about a great deal and sees the hope in people that these concepts can be put into action.

John said, “People are wondering how to put their ideas into action and questioning how these new things will fit into the life of the church in which they are already involved.”

Based on the interest John sees among the priests and laity in the Diocese he is hopeful for the future of fresh expressions in the life of the Diocese.

“Using the fresh connections model the church can connect with the community.

“It’s important to connect with the community and work with people on their areas of concern or interests and then look at the spiritual side,” he said.

After a synod that had a strong focus on the mission of our Diocese and the Strategic Plan behind this mission, The Encounter asked John how he sees the fresh expression model fit in with this strategy.

“The nature of a mission-shaped church is that the community and their interests, and mission, shape the way you create church.

“Therefore, the fresh expression projects that are established and these new directions will ultimately shape the strategic direction of the Diocese and relate back to the Strategic Plan.”

John believes that fresh expressions need to specifically focus on mission with people rather than mission to people.

“Connection happens when we are working alongside people. We need to work with others in the wider community and then add a spiritual dimension. Show an interest in others and work alongside them to see where it will lead.

“We can all talk about the missional church but it needs to be lived out,” he said.

Elizabeth Keevers