At a recent Rural Theology group we were discussing the nature of the church and how in some ways the kingdom of God and the church reflects the character of God reflected in his creation and in this case an ancient mixed broad leafed woodland. We were fortunate to have as a member of the group Geoff who used to manage an estate, which included a remnant of ancient woodland, which is being restored.
Geoff dropped a comment in to the discussion that a sign of healthy ancient woodland is that it contains an amount of standing dead timber. This left us a bit stumped at the time. Since the meeting I have been reflecting on this trying to understand, what it might mean and if there is a message in this analogy for the church today.
++Rowan Williams has spoken about the importance of the mixed economy in the church; with old established models of church existing alongside fresh expressions of church. I know when I have mentioned the concept of Fresh Expressions that some people in established models of church feel anxious about this; may be they feel this could mean radical change and a loss of what they hold dear.
At the same time I know others are excited about the possibilities of developing of Fresh Expressions of Church. I also know from being a student on a Fresh Expressions Mission Shaped Introduction Course that for a fresh expression of Church, there needs to be some sacrifice or change made to the existing or established church to allow space and to provide resources for a new expression of church to develop.
In thinking about this and the ancient woodland and Geoff’s comment I can see some connections and the analogy with the ancient woodland which may provide a wider understanding of the nature of church growth, development, inter-dependence, decline and death.
We need to understand that the whole of the woodland and not a single tree is the metaphor for the church we are considering.
One thing that I have noticed is that, if we respond to where people are at and allow the church to grow there, the world is in fact a fertile environment for the growth of the church.
This is in comparison of trying to impose something from outside or expecting the world to join us where we are, in our buildings and in a way, we like to worship.
In a way this is bit like identifying the new growth in a wood and seeing, which young trees can be supported and encouraged and the under growth cleared from around them so they have the space to grow.
In woodland the mature trees will produce thousands of seeds, many of which fall to the ground and sprout up. Some will be grazed by animals and birds while others will not have enough light to thrive due to the shade of older trees.
However; if space is created in the woodland due to an older tree falling then where it stood will grow young saplings which will be feed on the nutrients released from the decaying wood of the deed trees. While at the same time other tress in the woodland will be providing shelter from the wind for the young tree to grow.
The new young trees don’t look much like the older tress they are replacing, although they will formed from the same DNA. However; when they grow into maturity they will gradually take the form of the tress they replace, which are their parents.
For woodland to thrive it’s essential that some trees die and space is created for the growth of new trees. Thus the process of new birth, growth, decline, death and decay is a natural part of the woodland process. Without it the woodland would not be healthy and provide the diverse habit ancient woodlands are known and valued for.
In fact, if we interfere with this cycle the ecology of the wood becomes distorted and there is not a balance between old and young trees. This produces the potential for a catastrophic event such as a woodland fire or significant wind damage caused by all the trees blowing over together.
When such a major event happens like a forest fire and there is mass destruction and it may look as though the woodland is gone for ever, yet we know in such circumstances that very quickly the woodland will re grow. Although it will take many years before the woodland is returned to a healthy mixture of young growth, mature trees, dying trees and standing and fallen dead timber.
My conclusion from this is as a church we need to see the bigger picture and not be too preoccupied with a single tree in the woodland. Secondly we must realise that there has to be lots of new growth, only some of which will grow into mature trees.
This is part of the richness of the economy of God and not a failure. We should accept that some congregations will naturally be declining and perhaps need to be given permission to disband in order to give space and allow new expressions of church to grow. Which will be supported out of the resources released from the disbanded congregation?
This may not be that farfetched as it may seem and for example forms part of the strategy of the Diocese of Toronto which has sought to identify congregations which are declining and to work with them so their buildings can be released for new expressions of church. There are a number of examples of churches taking this approach in this country. This has meant that new vibrant congregations have replaced what was previously declining. In some case such as Wesley’s Play House at Howden Clough the congregation is now actively supporting the development of a new expression of church, which now meets in their building.
These new expressions of church will be growing in the context of the environment or context in which they are placed and will be free to develop structures and methods of operation which are appropriate to that environment or context.
In many respects a church that is able to plant new congregations within it or alongside, which are different to those which precede it, are acting like healthy ancient woodland with a mix of young and old trees. Whilst churches that don’t allow space for new congregations to grow within it or alongside and resourced by it are like a group of ancient standing trees all of the same age that are vulnerable to be blow over and be up rooted by the high winds of a rapidly changing culture.
