The Revd Steve Hollinghurst has been appointed as our New Worshipping Communities Lead. Steve is joining our Transformation Support Hub team, which is funded by the national church, replacing Kim Brown. Steve is an ordained priest with a heart for mission and evangelism. He joins us from the Diocese of Hereford where he has been working as a ‘Mission Enabler’ focusing on Environmental ministry.
One of our diocesan priorities is to develop 100 New Worshipping Communities (NWCs) by 2030, to ensure we are offering a range of ways for people to come to faith and worship God. Steve has had significant experience of developing New Worshipping Communities throughout his ministry. He will support parishes as they explore new ways of being church to help bring new people to God.
Steve said:
“I’m passionate about Christian faith connecting with people where they are in today’s world. New Worshipping Communities can create places that connect and resonate with people far removed from traditional church culture.”
Steve helped create a New Worshipping Community in his very first ministry role in 1990, when he was working as a youth evangelist in inner city Nottingham, planting a church in the city’s nightlife scene.”
Steve added:
“Creativity and thinking outside the box is really what this kind of ministry requires. Sometimes it’s best to start with an area of contemporary culture and look at how faith can flourish within it.”
Earlier in his ministry, Steve developed an Arts based New Worshipping Community for adults and spent a decade working for the Church Army’s research unit contributing to the influential Mission-Shaped Church report which first introduced the idea of ‘Fresh Expressions’ of church.
More recently Steve has worked for two other West Midlands dioceses (Lichfield and Hereford), exploring mission in both urban and rural contexts. He also has experience of creating churches in local schools and is one of the founders of the ‘Forest Church’ movement.
Steve’s excited to learn that there are already Forest Churches and other similar outdoor NWCs in our Diocese, as well as initiatives like Early Birds, Kingdom Arts, and Walking Church, and that these NWCs are flourishing across all age groups.
In the early months of this new role, Steve plans to spend some time listening and learning. He said:
“Initially I'm going to spend a lot of time finding out what's already happening as well as getting to know the various communities of the Diocese. I'll be interested in looking at ways we can support what already exists as well as thinking about what kinds of churches and projects could make sense in each context going forwards.”
Outside of work, Steve is married to Anne, Principal of the Queen’s Foundation and former Bishop of Aston. Together, they enjoy countryside walks, National Trust visits, cooking, theatre, and the opera.
Steve is due to start his new role with us on 17 November.
