Starting A New Place for New people (NPNP)
Our District is actively engaged in seeking to discern the Holy Spirit as it leads us to engage with our communities and seek to identify God’s presence and the spirituality already present, to develop new communities of faith that emerge from the relationships we establish. These new NPNP communities, by their very nature, may look very different to the traditional worshipping communities we are most familiar with. They may meet in very different venues and will harness the passions, gifts, callings and reflect the culture of those we partner with. We will also bring with us, in the mix of their formation, the treasures of our own Methodist Way of Life, and perhaps revisit a broader Christian spiritual heritage as we do so.
Dual Transformation
Our investment in Pioneering individuals and the teams who are exploring New Places for New People is balanced by our desire to invest equally in those people who are our enabling our existing Churches and Faith Communities to grow and flourish. We believe each process, will ultimately lead to learning and a revitalising of the whole.
REVD Andy LINDLEY
ASSISTANT CHAIR
NEW STREAMS
Alongside his role as Assistant Chair, Andy is the District New NPNP Lead, a Superintendent in Ryedale, co-developer of the Kairos Movement, and the newly rebranded ‘New Streams’ circuit, which as we’ll explain below is a resource circuit for expertise in Pioneering and development of new faith communities.
REVD RUTH GILSON-WEBB
ASSISTANT CHAIR
CHURCH GROWTH
Ruth’s role as Assistant Chair for Church Growth offers her expertise in journeying with circuits, churches and individuals in discovering ways in which they can re-evaluate their life, and discover new and more effective ways of reaching new people and helping them grow and develop as disciples.
The Story So FaR...
Our District NPNP : The Kairos Movement
Our first District NPNP was the Kairos Movement. Uniquely, this was developed as a District-Wide Single-Church circuit that acted as an authority space, for a network of small groups, many that met online, but connected people with different passions, gifts and desires to explore their faith and ministry. This, has over the last four years, developed into an Inclusive Core Community that meets weekly, alongside a network of groups that meet monthly, but together allow those both from the core community, but also other places and belongings to explore and flesh out a breadth and fullness of spiritual life and experience.
A dispersed and inclusive community that values curiosity and fun, being connected and grounded through story, exploring our faith shifting.
A movement for those hungry to live differently, aching for a transformed world and seeking a more balanced, life affirming way to be.
The Kairos Movement's Values
Rather than seeking to define specific doctrinal or statements of belief, the Kairos Movement focuses on a set of values. We look to Christ as our example and seek to live a life shaped by his teaching and example.
We seek to flesh out our way of life by seeking to balance our spiritual breathing in, our activity in the world (breathing out) and a community that watches over one another in love.
The New Streams Circuit
Circuit Structure
In 2026, we will be re-branding what was the Kairos Circuit, as the ‘New Streams’ circuit. We are doing so in order to share some of the expertise and gifts we have developed over the years, to assist others in envisioning, forming, initiating and walking alongside others in developing their own NPNPs. The circuit will also continue to offer oversight and accountability to the Kairos Movement, and offer a similar space for other NPNPs that it would be beneficial to form outside of their local circuit structures.
The New Streams Circuit
The New Streams circuit, is like ‘The Bridge’ a resourcing circuit. The Bridge has expertise in finances, property and safeguarding. The News Streams circuit expertise on Pioneering, NPNP development, specific Safeguarding advice for NPNPs, Web design, branding and storytelling expertise, digital evangelism expertise, coaching and mentoring. It is the oversight body for the Kairos Movement, and can do so, for other NPNPs upon request.
The New Streams NPNP HUb
The NPNP Hub team, is the team that offers the NPNP expertise, as well as oversight of some new NPNPs. In addition, it oversees three particular aspects of its ministry
Groups Within the NPNP Hub
Meet the NPNP Hub Team
The NPNP Core team is described below, but ably assisted by additional members, Ruth Gilson-Webb, Rev Dr David Perry, Rev Gail Hunt and Deacon Gary Hoare in reviewing potential NPNPs.
Elliot Crippen
Digital Lead
Elliot is a Digital Pioneer, with skills in Web design, Graphic design, Social media, Videography and host of a Podcast called Dont Wake the Baby, as well as other creative online content.
David Hunt
Treasurer
David is a Supernumerary Deacon with a wide experience of engaging with communities, as well as time in Cliff College.
Fran Taylor
Community Organising
Fran is the Districts newly appointed Faith Rooted Community Organiser FRCO. She is a Pioneer in her own right, and leads Tea2Go, en ecumenical and community led project serving takeaway meals to families in need.
Jane Masterman
Safeguarding
Jane Masterman, is a former District Safeguarding Officer for the Methodist District and now leading on developing Safeguarding solutions for NPNPs.
Content Creator
Web Developer
We will shortly be releasing vacancies for AV and IT skills to assist the team in developing media and online and social media storytelling content.
Andy Lindley
NPNP Lead
Andy’s role in the team is as NPNP lead, but he also is Superintendent of Ryedale and the Kairos Movement, which is the District NPNP and a pioneer minister.
Starting Your NPNP
What Exactly is an NPNP?
NPNPs are new Christian communities in new places for those not yet part of an existing church. NPNPs are the most effective means of connecting new people, new people groups, and new residents to Christian exploration and community.
Definition of Church at the Margins
Church: A gathered community of people being transformed by the gospel.
At: People at the margins, on the margins, of the margins – not to or for the
margins. We are not taking God to the margins; God is present with and in all people.
Margins: People can be marginalised in many, often interconnected, ways. We will focus on people who are experiencing poverty.
For more detail see Section 1 of the Manual
Form a team
Those of us who now identify as Pioneers, failed to see ourselves as anything like for many years. We just felt a call to explore something different. Some of us were frustrated, some of us were sitting on passions and ideas that never seemed to find traction with our churches. Too many of us, didn't start things, because we couldn't find that small team to even attempt something. Thats where the News Streams team comes in. We may be able to link you with others, who share your vision or dream, or with whom you can begin to put flesh on the bones of what God has planted in you.
What we know is, just like the disciples whom Jesus sent out, two is better than one, and two might be enough to make a start, but if you cant find that partner, then speak to us.
The circuit NPNP discernment team members
It is important to form this team out of prayer and conversations with people who may feel called to be a part of it and share the values of NPNP/CaM. Some suggested members of the Circuit NPNP team can be found in the table in the handbook, see the Section 3.
Identify who
You may already be clear about a community, network of people, area of need or interest group that you feel you'd like to engage with. Its good to start with those people with whom you share a passion or already spend time with, or communities of which you are naturally a part. Its more challenging, if that community doesnt already come together, but developing that relational community, may be a part of your calling.
The Methodist Church is currently prioritising:-
- new towns or new housing developments
- student/young adult/university
- families with children
- replanting in an existing place or second site of a growing church
- Church at the Margins or another context where an NPNP vision has arisen
Find The People of Peace
When Jesus pursued his earthly ministry, he talked about coming to those whose hearts and minds God had prepared for him. We believe the Holy Spirit not only plants seeds in us, calling us to make new disciples, but is already working in the communities with which we engage. There will be those God has prepared to be our allies, to be open to our ideas, and who will prepare the way for us. People of Peace are those bright-eyed people, who are likely already active in our chosen communities. They will be the people who make things happen, the people who others turn to and the people who have a vast network of relationships.
Deep Listening and Relationships
There is a temptation, when we have an idea burning in us, to assume that it is fully formed, and that it for us to bring it to fruition. Its all too easy, to initiate something we think is the solution, while never speaking to those we are seeking to bless. Or we want to share our faith, and our spirituality with those we meet. There is a space for that, but if we are serious about discovering the seeds God has planted in others, then we need to develop Generative spaces, where we really get to know others first. Relationships and deep listening is always the first step and intentional One to One conversations, starting with the People of Peace, but asking them who you might speak to next, is by far the best approach. The Faith Rooted Community Organising course, will help you flesh out the practicalities of that. In essence, we discover what passions are in others, what gets them out of bed in a morning, what has God placed on their hearts. Its also a helpful to assume God may be revealing more of Godself, through the understanding and spirituality of the people we are meeting. The faith community we hope to develop, may have learning for us, as much as those we hope to welcome.
See more in Section 5 of the Handbook
Generative Communities
One to Ones are always helpful, but you may be hoping to develop an NPNP or explore new ways of doing church starting with your own church community. The same principles apply, that we are seeking to building deep relationships, for intentional conversations that don't stay with those safe surface 'weather's poor today' levels. You may already engage with your community as a church, and if so, ask yourself, how can I enable more depth. Could I create spaces where one to ones are possible, can I use question cards to stmulate deeper conversation. Can I adjust seating, or draw people onto rotas in providing hospitality, so we can chat over making coffee, or washing up. The best generative space, is where there isnt host and guest, but a community blessing one another as equals.
Partnering
God willing, through the conversations, you will identify those shared passions, interests and desires to draw together a small team to initiate something. Once the Why of what you wish to do is identified, the What, When , How and Who can be worked out. If the goal is about addressing a social need, then hopefully you will have arrived at a solution that involves working with those who will benefit in shaping the project. It is likely that at this point,addressing the need will be the point of resonance, and a faith element may not immediately be obvious. The difference between social action, such as a Food Bank, or Free Fridge and an NPNP project, is that with the NPNP project there is the intention of a pathway, towards an intentional faith commmunity from the beginning, even if it isnt initially present. What this means is our Christian faith is openly spoken about, understood and there is an understanding it will be offered.
How to do the faith bit
Another temptation of NPNPs to make them feel spiritually 'okay', is to somehow wedge in, some element of traditional worship, or practice that bears no relation to the indigenous spirituality of the community we are forming. An example of this clunkiness, is when churches attempt cafe worship, which in a cafe environment is all about conversation and hospitality, and in context feels quite natural. Transposed into church, people often feel the need to have hymns, and then stand for them, which is no unnatural and loses something of the intimacy of the cafe ideal.
Pioneers will seek language that speaks of God's presence that is already present in the community, and use it in conversation and the development of worship that makes sense in that context. Lighting a candle, for example with simple liturgy that was developed by the community, and symbolic actions that feel natural can be drawn upon. For Recovery church, for example, a statement of how they will hold each other safely is an important beginning for their sessions, but includes how God is welcome into that space. Lighting a candle then marks the transition into their worship.
It will be different for every context, but ideally we are looking for actions and words that are a cross-fertilisation, or blending of the treasures of our Christian Faith and that communities' cultural and spiritual treasuries. If music is part of the community, seek ways in which the music they already enjoys conveys some of the gospel or character of God. Open the bible with tehniques like Lectio Divina, that allow the wisdom of all present to be shared. This isn't straightforward, and that's why we encourage Pioneers and leaders of NPNP to join our UNCHARTED group, where we share ideas, reflect on our contexts, and can signpost to training and the Connexional gatherings that help.
Pause, Reflect, Re-evaluate and Repeat
Those of us who have started new communities quickly discover, that things don't always work as we hope. Usually, there is something to learn even from what seems like utter failure. The best designed ideas, need to be reflected on, revised, iterated and repeated. A culture of risk taking, experimentation is essential, but with an openness to learning from God in the process. We need to be prepared to stop, some things have a season, but mostly we evolve. What we've learned, is even when a community ceases to meet, or individuals leave, we have grown, and are open to new ideas, new possibilities and have learned new skills in the process. Scripture says God's words are not wasted, and our formation, our deepening and understanding of ourselves, one another and our community, is never wasted. Our Kairos Movement and New Streams communities, are places to reflect on reality. Our team also offers coaching, mentoring and supervision, to help with that reflective process.
Funding and Oversight
Many NPNPs can be started and function with very little funding, but especially if you are seeking to employ a Pioneer, or what you plan requires significant resources, either to pilot, or bring to fruition, then the District has a grant funding process that can assist you. The forms for this can be downloaded below, but we encourage you to speak to the team before you get too far along, and we can help with expectations, defining roles, and drawing up budgets and responding to the questions on the form.
Each NPNP will need to be connected to, their church, circuit or another body which can provide accountability and the various expertise you will need. This may be your local church or circuit, but especially when projects are quite different from traditional worship, then New Streams can assist in providing that place of belonging and support. This can be particularly helpful when a project is ecumenical or is connecting with spirituality that make others in the locality uncertain, ie Mindfulness, Yoga etc. We would still seek the encouragement and endorsement of the local circuit, however, but we may be able to help with gaining that confidence.
Some Theology
Soil Theology
Here in the District we’ve been reflecting on the amazing ecosystem that lays below ground, and connecting trees and plants, enables the whole to flourish. We see this as a metaphor for the Kingdom of God and offering us insights into how we might develop a Kingdom Orchard, with flourishing Christian communities.
To do this, we need to follow where God is leading. We can most easily do this by developing and engaging in Generative spaces. These spaces make it simpler to chat with our community and discover the seeds God is planting for us to discover and nurture. Working with those we meet will then enable us, if we focus our resources, to move from ‘For’ activities to ‘With’ activities, which ultimately will provide a flourishing ecosystem of different NPNPs for New People to follow Jesus.
For a more detailed overview of the above, then either watch the video created by Andy, or read the paper (link through button below)
Some Helpful Documents and Links
NPNP Initial Ideas FORM
The link below will enable you to download a form to capture your initial ideas, which will help the NPNP Hub Team to work with you in developing your project, and building your team.Even if you cant answer all these questions, and just have an idea that you personally want to pursue, get in touch.
NPNP Funding Application Form
The link below will enable you to download the application form for NPNP funding. There are lots of questions to answer, and the above guidance will assist you, but we strongly encourage you to contact the NPNP team as early as possible so we can help you form and complete the application.
District NPNP Policy Document
District NPNP Policy and procedures (pdf)
If you are thinking about an NPNP please become familiar with the excellent NPNP resources provided by the Evangelism and Growth Team which are available at the following link:
Methodist New Places for New People Resources (webpage)
As part of NPNP, we are encouraged to consider establishing ‘Church at the Margins’ by building new Christian communities amongst economically marginalised people.
Discover Church at the Margins (webpage)
New places for new people Connexional Guides
How to start a New Place for New People (pdf)
Starting new Christian communities: A practical guide 2024 (pdf)
Resource matching for NPNP
Matching NPNP funding with in-kind resources (pdf)
Making your application for funding: these are the key questions you will need to answer
NPNP Funding Application Form 2024 (doc)
Circuits that wish to launch an NPNP are encouraged to:
- Form a circuit NPNP team of people with the vision and enthusiasm to plant a new Christian community and support its development. In particular Circuit NPNP Teams will initiate the circuit-led projects by discerning a context, vision and focus for the project; playing a role in submission for funding; and leading on any necessary recruitment. The Circuit NPNP Team could be any group of people committed to pioneering an NPNP. It may involve lay volunteers, paid lay workers, presbyters, and/or deacons. Though it may not always include the Superintendent, the group should have the support of the Superintendent for their project.
- Consider how Church at the Margins might best be developed in their context
- It is connexional policy that all circuit-led NPNP projects should be match-funded or match-resourced, Where possible it is therefore imperative that Circuits match fund external grants given for NPNP from their own Circuit and Church funds and resources, or give very sound reasons for the level of support that can be offered if matching is not possible.
Grants and funding
The District has been allocated £220k by the connexion for NPNP, to which we have match funded £200k from the DAF. This have given us a total available of £420k. Currently, there are fifteen circuits in the District, plus Kairos, so the amount available for any single project will not be huge. This is why match funding by circuits and churches is essential, particularly if personnel are to be employed.
As the intermediate group in the Connexional funding process, the District NPNP Team will have delegated authority to approve all applications for grants from these District funds. In so doing they will be mindful of the total available to the District and will accordingly apportion such funds with due care and diligence.
Contact us
Via the district office – admin@yorkshirenemethodist.org