Moot Community - The First “Mission Shaped Church” Officially Recognised

On Friday, 26th June, Moot Community - a brand new form of church - will have its first head minister formally ordained by the Bishop of London at St Paul's Cathedral. It symbolises the official recognition of Moot Community from the Church of England. The event is likely to make a significant impact in the “Mission Shaped” Christian movement in the UK.

Looking at the declining church attendance faced by churches in Britain, the Moot Community will introduce alternative and creative forms of worship services and prayers. While many Christians have the misunderstanding that the traditional church usually overlooks the connection with the modern life, Moot Community seeks to be actively engaged the arts and issues of social concern.

By making good use of internet, moot:net represents Moot’s online presence, which enables the Moot Community to build a boundless congregation beyond a diocese. However, unlike cyber churches, Moot Community meets for regular church worships and activities. Most of the activities take place in St. Matthew’s Church, Great Peter Street, Central London.

The project has already received support from a number of Bishops including Graham Cray, the Recent Chair of the working group that produced “Mission Shaped Church”, Peter Price, the Bishop of Bath & Wells, Ann Morisy, author and chair of the “Commission on Urban Life and Faith”, Nick Mercer, Director for Ministry for the Diocese of London, and George Lings from the Church Army’s Sheffield Centre.

Moot is being seen as an example of and response to the Church of England’s strategy to develop a “mission shaped church”. Bishop of London, the Right Revd Richard Chartres and the Revd Philip Chester, Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Westminster, are the initiators of this “mission shaped church” project.

The Bishop of London’s vision is consistent with London Challenge, a church development plan for the Diocese of London in the next five years (2002- 2007). One of the commitments stated is “telling and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in 21st Century London for this generation” through experimenting with new ways of being a Church, such as youth churches, community based churches, cell churches and network churches. Revd Chartres, who recently appeared in the world’s first virtual church – the Church of Fools, is an advocator of “mission shaped church”, currently actively leading the Diocese of London to be the pioneer of mission shaped church in the UK.

On 23 June, the 10th National Anglican Church Planting Conference will start. Instead of explaining the theory of “Mission-shaped Church”, the conference will focus entirely on the practical implications and the challenge of developing a mixed economy approach that positively encourages the creation of fresh expressions of Church. Moot Community could be an interesting discussion topic during the conference.

Ian Mobsby will pastor the Moot Community after the official ordination this Friday. In one of his articles entitled “Emerging Church for an emerging culture”, he wrote, “We live in what has been called ‘now but not yet’ times of the kingdom of God.”

Mobsby thinks as a church, that Christ’s presence can be brought by communion, the Holy Spirit and proclaiming of the Gospel - both by preaching the words and putting these into everyday life practice.

Ian Mobsby said, “The idea behind Moot is to empower a vision of church which is community based with a truly collaborative ministry.”

Whilst at the release of the Church of England’s “Mission Shaped Church” report, there has been a gradual reformation undergoing among the churches in England. The rise of new Christian movements like 'Soul in the City', 'Newfrontiers', 'New Vine' across Britain has inspired many.

“Mission Shaped Church” is a report drawn by a working party, chaired by the Bishop of Maidstone, the Right Rev Graham Cray, addressing how the church relates to networks, local communities and diversities of culture. It was presented to General Synod earlier this year. It has been strongly supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury and bishops of dioceses.