Church Army’s Leadership in Creating Mission-Shaped Focus Reaffirmed

In the latest edition of Church Army’s magazine, Shareit!, an interview with the National Mission and Evangelism Adviser for the Archbishops’ Council, Revd Paul Bayes has reaffirmed the contribution of the Church Army in leading UK churches to reform with Mission-shaped focus.

Bayes has been tasked to ensure that all the key agencies in mission and church planting are brought together alongside individual churches in an effective working partnership to help deliver the vision outlined in the recent Mission-shaped church report. Revd Bayes reported on the biggest challenges for mission and evangelism in today's society.

Revd Bayes said, "No one individual or agency can deliver mission-shaped church alone...I am trying to put in place networks that enable people who need to talk to each other to share experiences and move forward together."

"People are moving at different speeds down the road of emerging church, and we need to listen hard to our more cautious brothers and sisters, and encourage them to recognise the reality that church is no longer ‘one size fits all’," he continued.

Bayes has been working closely together with the Church Army. He praised the Church Army for its track record of pioneering work regardless opposition, neglect or enthusiastic support from the diocese.

He said, "For decades a number of pioneers (including several Church Army Evangelists) have been advocating and exploring church planting issues... It is hard to tell a story about fresh expressions of church and church planting without referring to the excellent work Church Army does in these areas at some stage."

He told that Church Army has been making a difference in mission and evangelism within and outside the Church. He described the Church Army as an "organisation characterised by listening to God and the local culture and then being faithful and trusting God to provide and deliver so that things happen." And that is why Church Army Evangelists are all able to offer "creative and innovative approach to meet people in need where they are."

Concerning training and resources, the work of the Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism and the Sheffield Centre are highly appreciated. The Mission-Shaped Church Report was brought forward by detailed research led by Revd George Lings at the Sheffield Centre - the Church Army’s special mission research unit. In addition to this the Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism publishes the theology of evangelism report Inside Out, which is also very helpful for the dioceses.

The Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism of the Church of Army has been offering high-quality evangelist training. Revd Bayes said "it is a shining example of good practice in creatively equipping the church for mission and evangelism and generates evangelists who can equip your diocese and parish to make church effective and reflect the love of God to those who have little or no involvement with church life."

Revd Bayes said in conclusion, "I am delighted to be able to lend my support, blessing and encouragement to Church Army as it seeks to work positively with others to reach out and make the gospel a real experience for so many who do not relate to traditional ways of being church."

Church Army is a society of evangelists with the Anglican Communion, which works to enable people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ. It has been at the heart of evangelism within the Church of England since 1882.