Kat Across The Pond

FXC

Fresh Xpressions of Church (to avoid saying 'FEC').

We are back from our 'FXC' placement at Contemplative Fire. How to summarise that? CF is a network church, with no permanent home. They meet in people's houses for 'Around the Hearth' groups (homegroups), in other churches etc for their 'Gatherings' (Sunday services, twice a month). Bi-monthly, they go out for a 'contemplative walk' in a lovely area of Oxfordshire. CF spans a wide geographical area. Hence it's difficult to make sure people stay connected. Most CF'ers go to other churches as well as CF, however there is a distinct 'fringe group' that is disenchanted/hurt by 'normal' church and uses CF as a place where they can connect spiritually, if not necessarily overtly Christian.

Which brings me to the biggest area of interest. Because CF wants to connect with (unchurched) people's inner need for sprituality, there is little overt reference to Christianity in the events other than the evening service on Sundays. In order to connect, the leadership is at pains to keep the language accessible ('however you understand the divine' etc) and not scare people off. Which is great, however I'm not sure how much of Christianity is left in all that. It's all about the 'divine within you' or 'The Christ within you'. Bit woolly for this die-hard evangelical :-)

posted by Kat @ 1:53 pm