New pioneer community launches
New pioneer community launches
Aspen is a community whose purpose is to accompany change makers, pioneers, fringe dwellers and midwives of the new to join in God’s unfolding movement to heal and renew all things.
by Jonny Baker,
During last week’s Assembly gathering in Glasgow a new community – Aspen – was launched with around 90 founding members and friends! It was a joyful occasion and those present were joined by around 50 online. Founding members are in several countries. The centre piece was a sculpted tree made by Phil Hoyle and members and friends wrote names on aspen leaves which were added to the tree.
The name Aspen was chosen (or we feel it chose us) because it is a pioneer species of tree that is the first to grow in desolate spaces with its seeds spreading far from the mother tree. Its leaves shimmer in the wind, which in some cultures is a sign of going between heaven and earth and it has a deeply connected root system.
Somewhere for pioneers to belong
Lee Barnes, Adviser for Curacy and Fresh Expressions of Church at the Diocese of Bristol and part of the Aspen working group that has helped develop the rhythm and life of the community, said, “I am really excited about the Aspen community and its potential for those who, through a prayerful discernment process, look to explore joining – if right for them.
“Both from personal experience and working with those who have the God-gift of Pioneering, I am aware how people can sometimes feel quite isolated, lonely, misunderstood, and not quite ‘fitting in’ but, at the same time, are engaged in the unfolding movement of God.
“Aspen is one place to gather, support and encourage these ‘change-makers, pioneers, fringe-dwellers and midwives of the new’. I look forward to seeing what it becomes.”
Aspen is a community whose purpose is to accompany change makers, pioneers, fringe dwellers and midwives of the new to join in God’s unfolding movement to heal and renew all things. It is part of the body of Christ. Its way of being is spread out. Aspen is somewhere for pioneers to belong, to be part of community that encourages and celebrates who they are and the pioneering practice they are called to.
Nurturing the pioneer gift
We have seen and experienced the emergence of a particular charism, a wonderful gift from the Holy Spirit around pioneering mission over the last 20 to 30 years or so. We sensed it is time to birth a community to support those people in a spread out ecumenical community in a way that builds on what we have already done and takes it into the next season. We think this may be the best way to look after the gift, and as far as we can discern, we have been called by God to do so at this time.
We want to see this ministry and charism deepen and continue in the life of the church. Communities like this have a charism, purpose, a community, rhythm of life, and a way of discerning and encouraging new vocations that grows a movement. Networks and movements do this to a significant degree and we have seen how generative that has been in the last 20 years.
But this kind of community affords more realistic possibility of longevity or a future that keeps the gift moving forwards. We expect it to be generative – new possibilities will arise through its life, and the colliding of its members. Aspen is not designed to pull people away from what they are doing but rather add value to it and enable it to flourish.
Interested in Aspen pioneer community?
There is currently no website and not a lot of information in the public domain. During this first phase it is being incubated within CMS. We won’t be shouting about it too much at this point as we want to let it grow slowly and are developing its life and structure. But equally it is not a secret. If you would like to know more do get in touch via aspen@churchmissionsociety.org
