Can you have church with no church?

BBC reports on a new style of church:


A church that has no traditional parish links has been launched in Harrogate.

Kairos church replaces the redundant St Mary's in Low Harrogate and worship now takes place in homes, pubs, cafes and even outdoors.

It is one of the first Anglican churches in England to operate as a 'network' church.
The new style of church community was launched with the support of the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Right Reverend John Packer.
...

The smaller church communities intend to serve the local community by offering friendship, support and sharing their Christian faith.

One example is 'Outnumbered', the title is taken from the BBC ONE comedy programme.

It consists mainly of families with children, holding a variety of events from a monthly 'Messy church' on a Saturday afternoon, which draws in newcomers, to Sunday brunches at the local Wetherspoons.

Posted by Ann Fontaine on October 19, 2010 9:30 PM | |
Comments (6)

This concept gathered traction among the Baptist and Pentecostal\Charismatic Churches over 20 years ago in the area I live in. I believe they call them "Cell" Churches. I am very encouraged to see a Bishop in the Anglican tradition willing to embrace a concept of the Church outside of the "norm".

Jim McFerrin

Posted by Sw4mpr4t [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 19, 2010 10:35 PM

Younger Jews have been worshiping in informal groups, called havurot, from the Hebrew word for friend or comrade, for a few decades.

A building-less, non-dressy, friendly small group for worship is an attractive idea, I think. In a couple of places in the NT, Paul greets the church in someone's house (Romans 16:5, Philemon 2, etc.)

-- Craig

Posted by Craig Abernethy [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 20, 2010 9:28 AM

We are hoping to start such groups in the Diocese of Arizona in this coming year.

azgospel - please sign your name next time. ~ed.

Posted by azgospel [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 20, 2010 7:31 PM

This may be the answer we in the church are looking for! But how does it work, who leads, what about the priests/ministers, what about communion, etc.?

Mary- please add your last name next time you post. ~ed.

Posted by Mary [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 20, 2010 9:00 PM

Mary,
This is a question I've had as well and I hope someone with a 'collar' chimes in with input. Until then: imagine several mini-congregations (perhaps the youth group, young adults group, singles group, newly weds group, single parents group, etc...) all meeting for prayer and fellowship throughout the week; each with a group leader (lay or Deacon) coming together on Sundays for a combined Eucharist in various locations and all served by the same Priest... This could also be a model for several rural congregations who can no longer afford a dedicated priest or individual buildings.

Jim McFerrin

Posted by Sw4mpr4t [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 21, 2010 11:26 AM

Wyoming calls people from within the small churches to be priests and deacons - through discernment and education they respond to the call.

Posted by Ann Fontaine [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 21, 2010 1:00 PM

Add your comments

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Reminder: At Episcopal Café, we hope to establish an ethic of transparency by requiring all contributors and commentators to make submissions under their real names. For more details see our Feedback Policy.

Advertising Space