ABSTRACT
The ARCS work with the Messy Church Fresh Expressions based in a Church of England parish in Croydon came late in the project when the processes of theological action research were becoming more s=established. This chapter sets out the richness of the conversations and learning that resulted. In particular, this Account highlights the ecclesiological significance of the questions posed by Fresh Expressions for an evangelical tradition committed to a particular reading of personal conversion and the place of scripture. After a narrative of the research, five disclosures from the data are identified. Having set out the learning around the difficult and often long journey into ‘becoming a disciple’ (1), the particular ecclesiological challenges and gifts of the apparently ‘Jesus-less community’ (2) and the recognition of ‘ecclesiological overflow’ (3) are described. This site of research not only makes significant contributions to questions around the nature of church today but also testifies to the importance of context for church, as it works out its practices in a place of suburban isolation (4) and a dominant culture of pluralism and personal choice (5).
