Alongside Sunday congregations, many 'new worshipping communities' are springing up. As patterns of life change, new forms of church arise to match them.
New Worshipping Communities can come about in different ways:
Pioneering is ministry that involves crossing boundaries to risk new things. Pioneering can be part or all of your ministry. In the Church of England, most pioneering is done within the parish. Pioneers may be lay people or clergy. People with a strong pioneering ministry may find they need encouragement and support, and Lichfield's pioneer network can be helpful.
Pioneering may lead to Fresh Expressions of church: church done in new ways. Some Fresh Expressions are now quite well established. Models like Messy Church can be found in parishes and schools across the country.
Church Planting often occurs when God has provided more leadership potential than a church needs. A small team leaves the church and establishes itself in a new area that needs a church planting. Many 'mission churches' in rural areas or urban estates are testimony to previous generations of planting.
Revitalisation is like Church Planting, except that the team will join an established church to bring new spirit and energy. Revitalisation needs to be done sensitively, as two distinct communities and cultures merge.