The combination of Fresh Expressions and the explosion of interest in monastic spirituality is resulting in the emergence of new monastic communities inspired by historic patterns of religious life, but reframed for the contemporary world. This worldwide movement is seen as a radical expression of ecclesial community and was named in Mission Shaped Church as one of the leading new forms of church that would help people reconnect with Christianity. A new monastic community may be a dispersed group of families and individuals meeting to share meals and worship, it might be a group connected virtually; it might be a youth group exploring monastic spirituality. In this book, leaders of traditional religious communities and emerging 'new monastic' communities tell their stories and reflect on how an ancient expression of being church is inspiring and shaping a very new one.
show more 
show less
| |
| |
| List of Contributors | |
| |
| |
| |
| Why is New Monasticism Important to Fresh Expressions? | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| The Importance of New Monasticism as a Model for Building Ecclesial Communities out of Contextual Mission | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Marks of New Monasticism | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Cave, Refectory, Road: The Monastic Life Shaping Community and Mission | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| New Monasticism, Mission and Young People | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| New Monasticism and Engagement with Spiritual Seekers | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Creating Communities of Celebration, Sustainability and Subversion | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| The Order of Mission: Being a Sent People | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Pilgrimage: A School of Transformation | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Connected Solitude: Re-Imagining the Skete | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Celtic Monastic Inheritance and New Monasticism | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| A Rhythm of Life: Critical Reflections | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Reflections on New Monasticism | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Afterword: Is God Shaping a New Monasticism? | |
GRAHAM CRAY is Archbishops' Missioner and Team Leader of Fresh Expressions - an emerging Church initiative within the Church of England.
