Last week, the Church Army's Board met in Sheffield to consider their future direction in the light of changing mission context in the UK and Ireland. The Mission-shaped church report was also shared in the meeting, which was recently considered by General Synod.

The Board affirmed the direction of the Church Army should be "working outside church buildings and church culture, sitting loosely to it, working with those who have little or no meaningful relationship with the church, discovering ways of creating fresh and relevant expressions of Christian community."

The Mission-shaped Church Report
Mission-shaped church is produced by the Church of England's Mission and Affairs Council, and was accepted by General Synod in February. It encourages people to discover new ways of reaching out to others and developing fresh expressions of church.

It outlines the changing mission context in the UK; highlights recent social trends and the challenges they bring for mission and ways of being church. It also proposes planting fresh and appropriate expressions of church; and includes reflections on the theology of such churches and a wide range of stories.

Currently, Church Army is thinking of developing pioneering evangelism to the non-churched and the planting of fresh expressions of church that will connect with them. It is working closely with a range of traditions to achieve its aim, including Baptists and Methodists and its projects and teams, and the Board regconises and values this breadth of diversity and experience.

It will continue to monitor what fresh expressions of church will arise from the work of its evangelists and partners by researching, teaching and engaging in mission on the cutting edge.

"I am very encouraged that the Board has affirmed that Church Army will move forward as a pioneering and risk taking organisation with a strong emphasis on sharing faith through words and action. Our work has been acknowledged by General Synod and I know we are focused about making a real difference on the cutting edge." Philip Johanson OBE, Church Army's Chief Secretary said in the latest issue of Church's Army magazine--ShareIt!

"Over the coming months, a great deal of detailed work will be carried out to develop a draft implementation plan and appropriate timescale for making detailed changes to the organisation and structures of Church Army to enable it to respond even more effectively to the UK and Ireland's changing mission context." Board Chairman, Roy Totten, commented.