A Fresh Expression of And Are We Yet Alive?

The paper addresses the decline in membership and overall societal influence of The United Methodist Church. In response to these life-threatening developments, new forms of ministry are emerging within the church. Many of these new ministries are grouped under a program called Fresh Expressions which began in the Church of England and are effectively being implemented in American Methodism. Storefront churches are discussed, bi-vocational ministers are considered and the concept of the Third Place as a form of ministry is introduced. Three focused interviews are utilized to understand the need and necessity for changes in the way The United Methodist Church approaches ministry. The necessary joining of new places of invitation with acts of worship and discipleship is posited as a faithful model for fulfilling the Church\u27s mission