“The sea anemone and the clownfish” as a
model of a ‘mixed ecology’ of Church:
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Rev Dr Langley Mackrell-Hey, Summary of research finding undertaken through the University of Durham DThM, 2000-2016

What’s with the clownfish?

If you look carefully you will see that the clownfish is at home in the tentacles of the sea anemone. They live in mutual relationship; in symbiosis. The clownfish protects the sea anemone by feeding off predators and emitting a high pitched sound, meanwhile the sea anemone protects the clownfish as it is immune to its stinging tentacles. There is something in this relationship which reflects the balance of independence and mutuality that fresh expressions may well need in order to mature. One has to be honest and say that there is a point where the beautiful image breaks down - and that is in that what the clownfish does not need (and excretes away), nourishes the anemone. Nevertheless, it is a powerful example.  As my presbyter colleague, Rev Gareth Baron put it, at a circuit meeting, we need to learn to ‘love our anemone’. (Let’s face it, everyone loves Nemo, but whilst many people are attracted to fresh expressions, the wider church has a crucial role.)

Rev Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, once coined the phrase ‘a mixed economy of Church.’ At the time he was responding to tensions within the Church of England between what had been inherited and what was emerging. His response was to argue that leaders should strive to develop a mutuality between the two. Whilst fresh expressions have much to learn from the inherited church, the inherited church would do well to heed the lessons that originate from fresh expressions.

Rev Graham Hoseley, former Churchplanting Secretary of the Methodist Church, and tits current Fresh Expressions Missioner has suggested the phrase ‘mixed ecology of church’ might be more useful. It speaks of a living relationship and encourages us to understand that that this is one of dependence, where our very existence is in the balance, rather than a one-sided relationship, where what is new-born exists at the good intention and well-meaning of what is mature and growing older. The literature survey in this research shows that whilst the wider church needs to reflect on its attitudes towards fresh expression, some fresh expressions leaders - and beyond that, commentators within the emerging church movement, seem to favour the idea of jettisoning the tradition of the Church, and starting from ground zero. Significantly, one of the points I make in my thesis about Fresh Expressions is that it risks becoming a victim of its own rhetoric. On the one hand Fresh Expressions makes the case that the inherited Church is failing in its mission, and therefore there is a need for a novel approach. On the other, it has to convince people to remain within the institution.

In my own reflections, I have also considered what would happen if we did not have a mixed ecology. This research suggests that in some cases aspects of our Methodist ecclesiology and discipline are unhelpful to fresh expressions because the environment in which these emerging congregations live is different. What kind of relationship needs to exist between fresh expressions and their local churches? In some contexts are we at risk of trying to force a marriage, or encourage interbreeding that is unnatural? or example, a zebra might look like a horse with stripes, but it two are distinct. Whilst breeding hybrids is possible, complications arise: most notably, infertility. Are we behaving like a parent who says to their growing children, ‘You can do this anyway that you like, but we would prefer you to do it this way’ (which ultimately disempowers them)?

Literature Review and initial
considerations for Oversight

Accessible parts of the Thesis:

Abstract and Acknowledgements

Intro, Method, and Thesis Outline

The full consultation on CPD, and the case studies are embargoed: I am however able to provide more detail on request.

Conclusion and Recommendations
for further action

Thesis Appendices

Consultation on Oversight

Sample Quantitative Survey 2

Sample Quantitative Survey 1

Probing Questions

Glossary of Terms

Bibliography