60% of the British population are beyond the reach of the churches
Another quote taken from the Fresh Expressions site (see post below);

60% of the British population are beyond the reach of the churches

According to the best available research, approximately 60% of the British population are probably beyond the reach of the churches. This proportion is much higher in urban areas and among the under forties. It is increasing year by year.

Many people in this group have a belief in God; many are interested in spiritual things and in Christian spirituality. But the gap between where they are now and church is too wide to be easily crossed.

For the last decade, the church has focussed on sharing faith with 40% of the population.

This is a large and important mission field. Within it, we have become better in communicating faith and nurturing new Christians.

But it is only part of the whole population and it is a reducing proportion. If this is our only strategy for sharing faith, we will be evangelising a diminishing fringe and, overall, decline is likely to continue.

The challenge for the churches in evangelism in the next decade is therefore to develop a both-and strategy:

Both to continue our mission of sharing faith to this 40% of the population who have some church background and connection

And to develop new ways of sharing faith with the 60% of the population who are beyond the reach of the churches. This part of the strategy means developing fresh expressions of church life in a range of different ways

The church of the future will be a mixed economy. There will be traditional churches sharing faith with those on the edge and fresh expressions of church reaching out to those who know little or nothing of Christian faith.

It is towards this apparent 60% (& growing) of the population that the organic, missional church movement is aimed. Free from some of the restricting limitations of the established church this grassroots movement may be best placed to connect with these people. Are the two sides in competition? What should the established churches relationship with these 'beyond the edge' expressions be? Whichever side of the fence you are, let's hear your thoughts.

posted by alexander @ 12:58 PM    1 comments

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