Concluding reflections

The research carried out with Messy Church was one of especial significance for attending to ecclesiological themes ‘on the ground’. The perennial question of “what makes church ‘church’” was never far from the reflections, and the particular realities of contemporary suburban life challenged all involved to think differently about previously assumed positions. So, the Messy Church leadership began to re-vision their understanding of ‘discipleship’ and, specifically, their sense of what ‘becoming a disciple’ entails. There was also significant ecumenical learning within and across the teams. On the one hand, the Messy Church leaders recognised the ways in which the ancient practices of catechumenate might helpfully inform their understanding of contemporary journeys into discipleship. In doing so these Evangelical Christians were also introduced to contemporary Roman Catholic practices which are based on the catechumenate. On the other hand, one member of the ARCS team (the present author) saw her

146 Ecclesiological themes

own Roman Catholic normative assumptions about ‘proper church’ challenged, and renewed, by the lived ecclesiology of grace encountered in this Messy Church.

Notes

• 1 www.messychurch.org.uk.
• 2 www.emmanuelcroydon.org.uk.
• 3 Clare Watkins and Bridget Shepherd, “The Challenge of ‘Fresh Expressions’ to Ecclesiology: Reflections From the Practice of Messy Church.” Ecclesial Practices 1 (2014): 92-110.
• 4 Ibid.
• 5 This idea is further developed by Bridget Shepherd in Watkins and Shepherd, op. cit.
• 6 Helen Cameron, Resourcing Mission: Practical Theology for Changing Churches (SCM, 2009): 34-37.