PIMs: Anabaptist Network
admin@anabaptistnetwork.com
www.anabaptistnetwork.com, www.urbanexpression.org.uk
Formed in 1992, the Anabaptist Network is a loose-knit, relational network of individuals interested in drawing on the insights and experiences of the Anabaptist tradition. Their mandate is to offer resources and perspectives from the Anabaptist tradition for reflection on Christian discipleship in a post-Christendom culture, where churches are now on the margins rather than at the center of society. They want to encourage friendship and sharing of ideas between those who are wrestling with the challenges of this context and who are interested in mining this marginalized tradition for responses. Above all, they want to stimulate and encourage faithful and creative forms of mission, church life, and discipleship.
Urban Expression is one of the partners of the Anabaptist Network. It is an urban mission agency that recruits, equips, deploys and networks self-financing teams pioneering creative and relevant expressions of the Christian church in under-churched areas of the inner city. The inner city is where Christian mission in Britain has been at its most creative over the past two centuries. Many new expressions of church life, evangelism, and social action were pioneered here. People have come to faith in Jesus Christ, communities have been renewed and signs of God’s kingdom of justice and peace have been evident. But church life in many inner city communities is weak. So, under-churched areas of the inner city continue to challenge Christians to engage in pioneering and creative mission. Urban Expression is one response to this challenge.
In September 2008 Franconia Conference sent Krista Ehst to serve as an intern with the Anabaptist Network and Urban Expression, working out of East London. Her ten-month assignment is one way of working out our partnership and beginning to build bridges to bring learning to Franconia Conference congregations.
New book discusses the ‘bare essentials’ of a radical faith
by John Longhurst What does a naked Anabaptist look like? That’s what Stuart Murray wanted to know. “Anabaptism has been around for almost 500 years, and for much of that time it has been clothed in Mennonite, Hutterite and Amish traditions and culture,” says Murray, who helps direct the Anabaptist Network in Great Britain and Ireland. “But what [...]
Posted on 19 April 2010 | 12:38 pm
Eastern Mennonite Seminary offers cross-cultural seminar in United Kingdom
Eastern Mennonite Seminary at Lancaster (PA) is offering its first ever cross-cultural experience to the United Kingdom. “Struggle and Hope in Post-Christendom,” led by Stephen Kriss and Stuart Murray Williams, will explore Christian presence and witness in Bristol and London, England. Kriss is director of communication and leadership cultivation with Franconia Mennonite Conference in eastern Pennsylvania and [...]
Posted on 12 February 2010 | 8:54 am
UK partnerships continue to build: Offering help and building faith together
Lora Steiner Goshen College professor John Roth tells the story of early Anabaptists in Europe, who were pushed to the margins of society and geography because they refused to conform to the state church, yet still managed to draw people to their fold. When the new converts were asked why they had joined the Anabaptists – [...]
Posted on 1 September 2009 | 4:03 pm
March Pastors’ and Leader’s Breakfast
Posted on 3 March 2009 | 9:59 am
Shrinking an ocean: Learning from post-Christendom ministry
Gay Brunt Miller, Spring MountThe Atlantic Ocean is getting smaller. No, I’m not referring to the impact of global warming but to Franconia Conference’s partnership with the Anabaptist Network in the United Kingdom. As this partnership grows deeper and wider, the Atlantic Ocean feels like it is shrinking.Ten Franconia Conference congregations are participating in the [...]
Posted on 2 March 2009 | 1:02 pm
On Christmas, community and diversity: The Good News in East London
Krista Ehst, Perkasie krista.ehst@gmail.com There is only one Mennonite church here in the United Kingdom, which I have yet to attend. Not surprisingly, then, I’ve recently been trying to explain my Mennonite faith identity to some very curious and sometimes very confused Brits. Somewhere near the beginning of those conversations, I often mention the strong emphasis that [...]
Posted on 23 December 2008 | 12:30 pm
Establishing Partners In Mission: Finding ourselves transformed by God as well
Noel Santiago, Executive Ministernsantiago@franconiaconference.orgEstablishing Partners In Mission: Finding ourselves transformed by God as well“…that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, NASVThis text shapes a critical piece of the heart of the work we as God’s people are called to – joining Christ in reconciling the world to God!Franconia Conference [...]
Posted on 29 September 2008 | 11:44 pm
Global shared convictions series: Welcome to the table in the name of Christ
Blaine Detwiler, Lakeview detwiler@nep.net Gay Brunt Miller, Steve Kriss and I were going to the Baker’s for dinner. It was that simple, I thought. For Gay it was a reunion of recently made friendships…for Steve and I, the Bakers were merely a name, a picture and a promise by Gay that we would love them. Joe Baker came [...]
Posted on 29 September 2008 | 11:29 pm
Sharing vision, values and people: First Conference-based intern set to learn and serve across the pond
Gay Brunt Miller, Spring Mountgbmiller@franconiaconference.orgWhen Krista Ehst leaves for the United Kingdom (UK) in September, Franconia Conference will take another step toward deepening our relationship with the Anabaptist Network in the UK. From seeds planted in 2005, rooted in a relationship of shared vision and values, this Partner In Mission relationship is beginning to grow [...]
Posted on 23 July 2008 | 10:27 pm
The Latest British Invasion
Gay Brunt Miller, Spring Mountgbmiller@franconiaconference.org What began with a seminary course in Indiana in August 2005 has opened the way for visits and friendships across the Atlantic with a recent reciprocal visit to the U.S., and a Franconia Conference intern preparing to depart for the United Kingdom in September. It’s amazing to see God [...]
Posted on 6 June 2008 | 1:14 pm
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