C3: How to work together as established church and missional new housing engager

Biblical/Practical Intro

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.’ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. Acts 6:2-6 NIVUK

At a glance

If there is a large new estate, it may be impractical to expect an existing minister to simply add this mission to their existing ministry. Calling a worker to the estate can be transformative.
There is a huge strength in missional new housing engagers and established churches working together – both benefit.
Creating equal roles for the established church leader and new housing engager shows that ministry and mission in different contexts are equally valid and significant.

Key Points

Often a strong case may be made for calling someone to work specifically within the area of new housing. Most Priests, Ministers and other Church Leaders are already very busy with their existing ministry and expanding their mission to incorporate a large new housing area may simply be impossible.

Further, if the vision is to make a real impact on the new community, there are some challenges in simply adding it on to the ministry in an existing parish or area. Large new housing areas can be distinct, boundaried communities that develop their own ethos and culture. Even if new housing is geographically close to existing residential areas, they may be culturally and demographically far removed from each other. Some areas of new housing bring affordable or social housing with younger people and families alongside expensive established villages properties with older residents. Conversely, sometimes new housing is high-end and expensive alongside a poorer indigenous population in social or smaller properties. Making meaningful links and connections between the old and the new can be difficult. It’s important to be aware that church geographic boundaries are often of little interest or relevance to those outside church structures; just because the new housing falls into an area where a particular church or churches are ministering, an automatic relationship with the new residents cannot be assumed, especially as it may be that members of the existing residential community have protested against the new build. As well as immersing themselves in ‘blessing and building’ the new community, an important part of a new housing missioner may be to seek to build relationships between two disparate communities – this is kingdom building.

When calling someone to work on the estate it is really important to have a clear idea of expectations and outcomes for their mission and ministry right from the outset. [See How to have a clear vision for outcomes and expectations]

A Church Leader’s view

Steve is the minister of a church with new housing in the area and led his church through the process of discernment, regarding calling someone for the new estate. Members of the church had previously worked on another estate, alongside ecumenical partners, and through this process, he became convinced about the importance of having someone dedicated to the new housing area and living on the estate.

Steve led the church through a spiritual and practical process. The church explored the call to mission and saw that mission really takes off when there is a dedicated person living on the estate. They also explored their desired outcomes. Seeing this as a missionary appointment freed them from the expectation of quick results such as church growth, a new faith community or financial return. They made the significant decision not to seek to dictate what should happen. There was no prescribed plan; they wanted to allow the person working on the estate to discern it.

Despite the necessary sacrifice and commitment required by the Minister, leadership, and members, they caught the vision to raise the funds through grants, church funds, and congregational giving, to both buy a house and pay a Co-Minister to serve as a Community Minister on the estate. This financial commitment, and the faith behind it, was significant. Yet the church decided it would commit to paying the Community Minister for at least five years. Steve shared about a pivotal church meeting where, at the beginning, there was a sense that the vision was asking too much of them all. However, during the meeting together they sensed God saying it was the right thing, and everything turned around. They then had to decide whether they would employ a community worker or somebody who had undergone spiritual formation, either as an ordinand or another process of spiritual formation. They decided that the ability to reflect theologically was an important part of the call as they would be ministering to the new residents in the area, and therefore felt spiritual formation was important.

The church also hopes and expects to learn about mission from the ministry of their Community Minister, and believe this will impact their mission in other contexts.

A Community Minister’s View

When Helen arrived as Co-Minister, she noted how helpful it was that the church had undergone such a good spiritual process. Right from the beginning, she shared a vision with her Co-Minister, leadership team and wider church. Helen did not have to begin persuading the church about the importance of her role, they were already fully behind her, and putting their money where their mouths were! The new community also knows that, whilst Helen is in the vanguard, there is a whole church committed to loving, blessing and serving this new community.

Being a Co-Minister, equal with the existing minister, was also significant. This shows that there is a parity between church ministry and mission beyond, the established and the new, pastoring and pioneering.

Learning Points

Helen has noted the strength of working alongside an established church with a supportive congregation.

If both sides approach this in an open-handed and gracious way, as in this context, this can give strength and stability to the new housing engager, and develop the discipleship and mission of the existing congregation.

Engaging With New Housing