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April 27, 2013
Looking forward now to being in Toronto in Canada with the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. I am doing a few things that may be of interest if you are into New Monasticism, Fresh Expressions of Church and Emerging Church.
2nd May – Meeting with the Congregational Development Team
3rd May – Meeting with the Jeremiah Community
4th May – Workshop Day on New Monasticism – open to people booking see link below for the front page link…
5th May – Speaking at St Martins-in-the-Fields, Toronto
6th May – Meeting with the Contemplative Fire Community Toronto
9th May – Meeting with Anglo Catholic Group exploring mission
11-12 May – Leading a retreat for the Jeremiah Community
http://www.toronto.anglican.ca/ — in Toronto, Ontario.
Filed under: Canada, Church, Culture, Fresh Expressions, Mission, New Monasticism, research, spirituality, Theology, Trinitarian |
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January 21, 2013
Those who know me and a great number of those involved in Alternative Worship and the Emerging Church in those heady days of the ate 1990s will know how important an influence Noel Moules was, the Anvil Trust and the Workshop Programme. Noel’s theological and practical thinking, very much informed me at an important stage of my own faith development.
So this new book, the first and long awaited work of wisdom, explores and unpacks the Christian faith in a way that is open to all, whether never churched, dechurched or spiritual rather than religious. I love the way it draws on the deep judeo-Christian tradition to explore the Christian spiritual tradition, and the mystery and implications of the person of Jesus in the context of the Holy Trinity. This is a creative, artistic and gutsy book unpacking a great deal of material in an accessible way that does inspire and bring hope.
So if you are seeking a book to give you inspiration in the challenges of our times, then I do recommend this book as a good read. To see more on the book itself click here.
If nothing else this book asks big questions and dares to explore radical answers. It is a humble invitation to join in with a very constructive and positive understanding of the spiritual journey as a wonderful opportunity in the mystery of life.
Filed under: General |
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November 25, 2012
The vote by the General Synod of the Church of England last week, was in effect a vote that emphasised the churches increasing irrelevance. The Fresh Expressions initiative begun when Rowan Williams became Archbishop of Canterbury aimed to bridge the gap between Church and Contemporary Culture. Many good things have occurred, but it is clear that some parts of the Church are so far removed from
the concerns and aspirations of general society, that the Church in such forms effectively renders the wider church impotent and irrelevant. Largely I believe this is because of enormous ignorance of hermeneutics, where people do not know how to approach interpretation of the bible. In the 21st Century I find it hard to understand why people cannot see that it is inspired by God but written through people. The bible is not heavenly dictation, and must be seen through the lens of the culture the original authors lived in. Until we educate Christians to engage with the disciplines of hermeneutics rather than overly simplistic approaches to reading the bible, such Christians will always undermine attempts of the Church to reach out in contemporary mission and explore new ways of being church. I cannot understand how the women who spoke out to defend the no vote, some who are CEOs and in higher management in the City of London managing large numbers of men and women, cannot see that there is a massive inconsistency here, with a sacred secular divide that is not biblical if you apply the principles of hermeneutics. We remember this is exactly the same as what happened with Slavery and other social oppressions. We run light to hermeneutics at our peril, and I increasing can’t see how the Church will renew itself in mission if it is to be constantly undermined through fundamentalism and a lack of understanding of the principles of hermeneutics.
Filed under: General |
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November 23, 2012
On Tuesday 27th November 2012 the Moot Community mark one of those important milestones. We have dreamed of running a missional arts cafe as part of our activities for at least the last 10 years with hopes for around 20 years. Well its all happening now. We have our official launch on Tuesday. So if you are in London, please do come down and see what it is about between 12 and 2pm.
For details of what is happening please link here
Filed under: General |
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September 29, 2012
The Holy Trinity is the central reality and concept that makes Christianity a distinct faith and not a jewish cult. As such God is a missionary God that challenges the Church and all Christians to participate in this mission and ministry of reconciliation, as God seeks to restore all things into renewed relationship with the divine. In our increasingly post-secular context where people are more interested in spirituality than religion, it is the reality of the Trinity that gives us hope and opens up the spiritual landscape of the faith to those who are un-or-dechurched.
To Register for the Manchester Event 3rd Oct, click here at Manchester Cathedral
To Register for the London Event 11th Oct, click here at the London Centre for Spirituality
Canterbury Press Flyer click here
Ian Mobsby is the Priest-in-Charge and Missioner of the Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary, the home of the Moot Community in the heart of the City of London is a New Monastic Community engaged with pioneering and creative approaches to mission and evangelism in an urban context. Ian became a Christian through a very early alternative worship community from a background in socialist Atheism. He has written and edited a number of books on mission and contemporary society, and lectured and spoken widely across the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Ian is a member of the College of Evangelists of the Church of England, an Associate Missioner of the Fresh Expressions Team, a national selector for pioneer ministry, and the co-opted New Monastic member of the Advisory Council on the relationships between Religious Communities and Diocesan Bishops in the Church of England.
This book can be ordered from Canterbury Press here
Filed under: Church, Culture, Fresh Expressions, Mission, politics, spirituality, Theology, Trinitarian |
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September 3, 2012
Returning to first principles. The Holy Trinity in contemporary spirituality and mission
Manchester Event Information 3rd October
London Event Information 11th October
The Holy Trinity is the central reality and concept that makes Christianity a distinct faith and not a jewish cult. As such God is a missionary God that challenges the Church and all Christians to participate in this mission and ministry of reconciliation, as God seeks to restore all things into renewed relationship with the divine. In our increasingly post-secular context where people are more interested in spirituality than religion, it is the reality of the Trinity that gives us hope and opens up the spiritual landscape of the faith to those who are un-or-dechurched.
Ian Mobsby is the Priest-in-Charge and Missioner of the Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary, the home of the Moot Community in the heart of the City of London is a New Monastic Community engaged with pioneering and creative approaches to mission and evangelism in an urban context. Ian became a Christian through a very early alternative worship community from a background in socialist Atheism. He has written and edited a number of books on mission and contemporary society, and lectured and spoken widely across the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Ian is a member of the College of Evangelists of the Church of England, an Associate Missioner of the Fresh Expressions Team, a national selector for pioneer ministry, and the co-opted New Monastic member of the Advisory Council on the relationships between Religious Communities and Diocesan Bishops in the Church of England.
This book can be ordered from Canterbury Press here
Filed under: General |
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July 14, 2012
I am really excited to see that at the years General Convention, there was a commitment made to financially support and nurture new patterns of church planting, and to support the development of new forms of ministry.
This is a massive break through – so well done to Tom Brackett, Stephanie Spellers, Karen Ward and James Hamilton for this terrific result.
It reminds me of the miracle of the Mission Shaped Church Report, Bishop Mission Orders and the work done by the Church Commissioners that made the CofE far more missional in its focus in a very short time.
Well Done. For information on this see Tom’s blog here, and the new Episcopal Evangelism Network here.
This is a major step forward in the US Episcopal Church. The legislation which I think was drawn together by Stephanie and others not only made it through and was passed – no small feet, but I understand that they have also voted to ensure their is sufficient monies to make it happen. That is an incredible thing and an obvious movement of the Holy Spirit.
I am amazed. This is very exciting !! Ian Mobsby
Filed under: General |
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August 14, 2011
I have just put up a blog on the Moot Community’s Website about the link between what happened in the UKs first shopping riots and the bleak side of our emerging post-secular culture. I think in the UK we face serious issues – and these have an impact on how we the Church respond in mission to this increasingly unhealthy and unjust situation. To see the blog – please click here
Filed under: Church, Culture, UK |
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July 30, 2011
Now that I am again in the South Pacific amongst some of the most post-colonial and post-secular people, I am reminded how anachronistic is the language we use for God. When speaking of God, we tend to use majestic language – of monarchy – of Kingship and of Lord. In a world that is increasingly discovering a more mystical and spiritual sense, this majestic language creates negative connotations around power, hierarchy and outdated forms of governance.
So what language should we use for God? How can we be authentically Christian yet contextual? This is the argument that Sallie MacFague uses in her writings and I don’t think we have been able to make much progress. She suggests the importance of metaphorical theology – the use of metaphorical language in our pursuit of using affirming and accessible words for God.
In the Moot Community we have used words such as Creator, Redeemer and Companion as functional metaphorical language instead of Father, Son and SPirit. But we still have a long way to go.
In countries like Australia, I am reminded that contemporary culture is much more interested in premodern modes of expressing spirituality. There is great interest for example in the pantheism of Australian Aboriginal culture oppressed by colonisation in the modern period. So in our now post-secular culture, premodern language finds new resonance.
So how do we express the deep mysticism of Christianity in a language that is accessible to post-secular seekers. Well for me it starts with a re appreciation of how the Hebrews developed a language for God coming from experience. This is the judeo-christian tradition at the heart of the faith that finds its fulfillment in the Holy Trinity. So we need to increasingly find post-patriarchical and non-power language for naming God.
Filed under: Australia, Culture, Mission, spirituality, Theology, Trinitarian |
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July 28, 2011
Just read a really interesting Article in the Australian Newspaper which interviews Tony Blair about politics and religion. It is an interesting reading about the rise of a global post-secular culture, and the dangers of religious radicalisation. Although I don’t agree with Tony Blair about a few things, I think he is right to point out these issues. To read the article see here.
Filed under: Australia, Church, Culture, Mission, politics, research |
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