In the rural east of England, a pastor was exhausted. After planting six or seven traditional churches, he had hit a wall. The model wasn’t sustainable – it required too many resources and too much energy to continue.
But rather than give up, he decided to try something radically different: gathering people in homes for meals and authentic conversation about faith.
The result?
Within three years, his Garden Church Network had grown to 30 groups across eastern England, with hundreds of people exploring faith in fresh ways.
This story of moving from complex, resource-heavy church planting to simple, relationship-based gatherings captures the heart of what Rev. Canon Dave Male, Co-Director of Vision and Strategy for the Church of England, sees happening across the UK and beyond.
In a recent conversation on the Pivot Podcast with hosts Dwight Zscheile and Terri Elton, Dave shared insights from his years of helping churches move beyond their walls to connect with neighbors.Â
Start with Relationships, Not Programs
“We’ve completely twisted things around,” Dave explains. We mostly work by creating something—a new service or program—then trying to find people to come to it. Instead, we should start with love that leads to relationships, and out of those relationships, create ways to help people connect with Jesus.”
This shift requires rethinking how we spend our time. Dave recalls a phrase from one church he worked with: “Minimize meetings, maximize relationships.” The danger, he notes, is that we often “suck people into the church world” with activities every night of the week, keeping them from building relationships in their communities.
The numbers tell the story: only 1% of the UK population knows a church leader, but 66% know a Christian. “The role of a leader,” Dave emphasizes, “is to release those people that have all those contacts and relationships.”
Experiment and Adapt
One key to this approach is embracing experimentation. Dave prefers the term “prototype” over “failure” when initiatives don’t work out as planned. He points to inventor James Dyson, who created 5,274 prototypes before developing his successful vacuum design.
“The attitude we go into this with has got to be that attitude of experimentation,” Dave says. This means starting small, trying things for three months, and being willing to adjust based on what you learn.
When Dave’s own attempt at starting a sports ministry didn’t work as planned, the experience still led to three leaders starting other successful initiatives.
Empower Lay Leadership
For clergy feeling overwhelmed by the thought of starting something new, Dave offers encouraging advice: “Your role is moving from ‘I have to do everything’ to ‘I have to find and release the people to do the things they’re called to.'”
He shares how this worked in his own context: “A young couple turned up with two young children with a real passion for intergenerational church. And in a way, all I’m doing is following their coattails. I’m letting them go and say, ‘You tell me how to do this, and I’ll support you.'”
The Church of England is investing heavily in lay leadership training, recognizing this as essential for the future. Dave suggests that empowering lay leaders actually frees up clergy to focus on what gives them life in ministry, rather than trying to do everything themselves.
Start with Simple Questions
For churches wondering where to begin, Dave recommends starting with two simple questions:
- What do we know about our area and community?
- Who do we know?
“Instead of copying what other churches are doing or jumping on the latest trend,” Dave advises, “start with these basic questions and listen to what God might be saying about how these things come together.”
He emphasizes that the solutions don’t need to be complex or expensive. While traditional church programs often require buildings, bands, and projection systems, gathering around a meal in someone’s home costs virtually nothing.
The Path Forward
As churches navigate the changing cultural landscape, Dave’s message offers hope: meaningful ministry doesn’t require elaborate programs or massive resources. It starts with relationships, experiments with simple gatherings, and empowers everyday Christians to share their faith in natural ways.
“If this leaves just one person thinking, ‘You know what, I’m going to give it a try,'” Dave reflects, “then our time together is undoubtedly worth it.”
