Fresh Expressions

New ways of being church

Fresh Expressions of church is the term used to describe a variety of exciting new ways of being church. The starting point is the community, networks, and existing groups of people rather than the Church, its buildings, and its programmes.

Fresh Expressions of church are authentically 'church' but more often than not they take on a form or structure that is unfamiliar in traditional church terms. Very often these expressions of church happen 'out there' in the wider community rather than 'in here' within the existing building. This makes them much more accessible to those who might not normally cross the threshold of a traditional church building.

Fresh Expressions of church can be led by clergy or lay people and are often fairly small, dynamic groups that exist more for the people they seek to reach out to than for the existing church family. In the Diocese of Liverpool there is a growing movement of fresh expressions of church and a vibrant team of pioneer ministers is helping lead this movement forward.

Meet the Pioneer Ministry Team

Phil Potter
Phil is Director of Pioneer Ministry. His role is to promote, coordinate and support Fresh Expressions across the diocese. As well as being team leader for pioneers, he is an associate pioneer minister to three churches, and actively leading 3 Fresh Expressions:

    - Riverforce - a missional cell network in the police force
    - Riverbank - a cafe church project in Moss Bank
    - Famlegh First - a family school-based project

Linda Jones
Linda is Church Growth team leader and also provides the link between the Pioneer Ministry team and the wider Church Growth Team.

Jill Duff
Jill is planting a network church in Liverpool city centre to connect with people who don't ‘get’ church. Her particular passion is tapping into work based networks.

Duncan Petty
Duncan is currently pioneering OAKS - a variety of small group networks that focus around a community house on an estate with high deprivation and where people need help with stability, security, identity and with basic skills.

Malcolm Chamberlain
Malcolm is Pioneer Minister for the Toxteth & Wavertree Deanery. He envisions churches for mission and mentors core communities who are engaging in Fresh Expressions across the deanery. He also provides ‘hands on’ help with two of the groups in the Dream network.

Neil Short
Neil is working to launch a new church in the St James building on Upper Parliament Street in Liverpool city centre.

Frank Hinds
Frank is aiming to plant a youth network church across the diocese of Liverpool. This will be built around local cell groups, regional clusters and diocesan-wide celebrations.

Richard White
Richard pastors Dream, a network church made up of groups exploring creative approaches to Christian spirituality.

Richard Gibbs

Richard is working on 'The Church at the Centre', a project that is aimed specifically at reaching families, and is based in the village of Banks near Southport.

Frances Shoesmith

Frances is developing and supporting 'Chill Out' for adullts on the fringe of church in Bootle, and is also working with Oaks church plant in Slelmersdale.