As part of my role for Oasis Bath as Community Director, I work a few hours a week for the wider group of Oasis Churches, primarily supporting Oasis Church Reading and also by engaging with groups and churches who are either interested in starting an Oasis Church, or becoming one if they’re already a church.

Growing up in Nottingham, I was very excited to hear from a group there who were asking questions about what church could look like in their city, keen to reimagine what church could be and build links with us having been inspired by the Oasis approach. To gage interest and gather others who are asking the same questions, they held an event in the city centre of Nottingham that I was honoured to attend and speak at. Nath Jones, Senior Minister of Oasis Church Waterloo, and I spoke on the Oasis Church four distinctives, which are the four things that we believe, when combined, make Oasis churches unique. They are…full inclusion, an open progressive theology, an informal church service style and a commitment to social justice. The event was absolutely packed out, and it was so encouraging to see so many people (in my home city!) asking these big questions and wrestling with what the church should and could be.

Nath and I spoke on each of the four distinctives, with me speaking on an open progressive theology and an informal church service style. You can listen to those short talks below.

Since the event the Church Reimagined team are continuing to gather regularly, digging deeper into what the distinctives might mean for them. If you’re in or near to the area and interested in being part of the conversation you can find out more by visiting their website at https://reimaginechurch.uk/