Fourth in a series of reflections on Fresh Expressions in the Florida Conference and in The United Methodist Church, and especially in relation to the “Nones,” the “Dones” and the “Spiritual but Not Religious.” In conversation with Martyn Atkins, then General Secretary of the British Methodist Church, he noted that the term “mixed economy” was transitioning to “mixed ecology.” While the common presence of the word “mixed” allows for diversity of ecclesial forms, an ecologi

Third in a series of reflections on Fresh Expressions, United Methodism in the Florida Conference and beyond, and our relationship to the “Nones," “Dones” and the "Spiritual but Not Religious." In interpreting the place of “Fresh Expressions” in the life of the established Church of England, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams used the term “mixed economy of church.” He later regretted this term, although in conversation Graham Cray told us that Rowan was inspir

Second in a series of reflections on Fresh Expressions, the Florida Conference and United Methodism and our mission with the “Nones” and “Dones." An important distinction in recent reflection about the church has centered around the words “attractional” and “missional.” An attractional church sees itself as the center toward which people and resources flow. A missional church sees itself as a gathering from which people and resources flow toward the world. Attractional a

The first in a series of reflections on the Fresh Expressions movement and its relation to The United Methodist Church and recent research related to "unchurched," "dechurched" and "Spiritual but not Religious" persons. After two years of strategy, prayer, correspondence and time set aside in “vision days," a small group from the Florida Conference, along with three friends, journeyed to England in July, 2015. We were there as disciples, students seeking to learn about a move