Fresh Expressions

What is a Fresh Expression?

Fresh Expressions are communities of belonging—primarily for those not yet part of a church—marked by forming relationships around shared interests and hobbies, and by sharing stories. Fresh expressions are anchored to existing churches, connecting churches with people who would never enter the church building on a Sunday morning. They do not exist to get people to come to our church, but rather to form new faith communities in places where people are already gathering.

What qualifies as a Fresh Expression?

Fresh Expressions are not:

Temporary, annual, bi-annual, quarterly ‘event’
Tweak of the present form of the church’s Sunday service
An arm of a present church’s outreach ministries
Seeking to replace the inherited church

Dinner church at Fargo First UMC.

Fresh Expressions are:

Gathered around the resurrected Christ
Primarily for those who are not likely to engage with an established church
An on-going community
Attentive to a subculture or particular population group
Outside the traditions and most often outside the walls of established churches
Contextualized
Smaller-scale than what we tend to think of a traditional church
Adaptable and flexible

Resources

Join the Fresh Expressions Facebook group

Introducing a Movement: Three short videos with Rev. Michael Beck

Fresh Expressions resources from Discipleship Ministries of The UMC

Fresh Expressions - Training, Books & Resources for Church Leadership

Field Guide to Methodist Fresh Expressions

Recordings of past DK-MN Area Fresh Expressions Trainings

Handouts and PowerPoints from the trainings

Upcoming Trainings and Events

Fresh Expressions Coaching Calls: June 27, July 25, and August 29, 6:30 p.m., online

Monthly Coaching session are for Fresh Expressions practitioners and their teams. Participants will learn from each other as they process the loving first journey together. Participants will share stories, ideas and get support from others. Rev. Michael Beck will facilitate these calls.

Fresh Expressions, panel presentation facilitated by Rev. Dan Bader — Friday, June 7, 2024, noon, at Annual Conference

Inspired by the teaching and trainings over the past year as well as the movement of the Holy Spirit, many churches across the Dakotas are experimenting with innovative ways to be in ministry in new places and with new people. Join us as a panel of leaders share their Fresh Expressions joys and challenges and facilitate creative brainstorming for how you can join this Kingdom work in your own context.