Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Dissenting Descendants - Church from Scratch 


Church from Scratch (CFS), a highly distinctive Baptist church, was the topic of a presentation during the Assembly day conference 'Dissenting descendants' 

 
Ivan King (pictured), one of the leaders of Church from Scratch in Essex, began by offering participants an imaginary visit to one of the cell communities that form the church. He introduced a gathering of people who are committed to Jesus, to one another and to Southend but it was clear from his description that this group and the church it is part of are very unusual. 

The Home Mission-funded CFS, now in its 10th year, has chosen not to have a building or to hold Sunday services, instead choosing to organise itself around mission, community and its four key values.Dissenting descendants - Churc


Those who are committed to this new expression of church tend to be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the culture of traditional church.  A high percentage are benefits claimants and over the years many newcomers have had issues with alcohol, drugs, debt or are ex-offenders. 

Starting from a handful of people in 2002, CFS has grown to 9 cell communities living in an area from Shoeburyness in the east to Basildon in the West.  Anyone can belong - there are no barriers to entry - the committed core of the church entering an annually renewable 'partnership' and agreeing to live by the church's values.

Ivan emphasised the relational nature of the church:  people living life together, not simply attending meetings.  Groups cook and eat together, help one another with the challenges of life, go on holiday, do mission and have fun. Such an open and loving approach has seen CFS grow largely by people joining from outside the church, with very few transfers-in. 

Following the presentation, Ivan responded to listeners' questions about such issues as the church's sustainability and whether CFS thought of itself as a template for 21st century church.
 

    Post     Tweet
Project Violet: Council affirms commitments to action
Baptist Union Council receives and affirms the commitments to action on women’s experience of ministry made from across Baptists Together in response to the findings of Project Violet
Collaboration; contextual approaches - first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Collaboration in sharing the gospel and a recognition that contrasting, contextual approaches are all needed to help people encounter Jesus were key themes at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Prayer bulletin for very small Baptist churches
A number of small, often rural, Baptist churches are being strengthened in their ministry by an initiative which sees them praying for each other on a regular basis
The Centre for Baptist Ministry at St Hild College officially launches
St Hild College has celebrated the launch of the Centre for Baptist Ministry during an event at St Thomas Crookes in Sheffield
A unified call to mission and renewal
Andy Glover reports on the recent day of prayer and fasting, which saw gatherings take place in all Associations, as well as online
We Will Repay - reparations study resource
A new study resource designed to help churches and Christians delve into the discussion of reparations on biblical terms has been released
     Latest News 
    Posted: 26/02/2024