A Bishop's Mission Order allows for a fresh expression of church to be legally established in a diocese across parish boundaries. BMOs are a useful tool for mission and allow for much-needed flexibility. Cranmer's Curate assures the youth group that the following conversation is purely fictional, though the last time he looked the London clubs did exist.
Bishop's Secretary: The Revd Kneecap is here to see you.
Bishop: Thank you, Jane. Please let him...
Kneecap enters the bishop's study with two large gentlemen in their mid-20s who stand in the doorway.
Kneecap: Hi Dave - meet Reg & Ron, my apprentices. (Sits down on the sofa with bodyguards standing behind him.) I'm about to hop on a plane for Seattle, Phil, so we'd better skip the tea and talk turkey. The thing is, we're full - to bursting. So we wanna plant a church in the Garrick Club. You'll grant the necessary BMO, won't you, and ordain Reggie here to lead it.
Bishop: The Garrick. Right...erm...Why the Garrick, may I ask?
Kneecap: It's got the kind of people in it we wanna reach.
Bishop: Um...you see...there is an Evangelical ministry already underway in that parish. I'm just not sure how helpful a church plant would be so close by. The incumbent there could actually do with a few more resources in his ministry for Christ...Have you thought of Boodle's?
Kneecap: Boodle's is not in our targeted demographic quartile, Alan. We've gotta guard our brand.
Reg & Ron in unison: Yeah, guard our brand.
Bishop: What about the Athanaeum?
Kneecap: Nah, it's too....Roy Jenkins. Listen Tony, we've got to get on and plant churches. Look at the attendance stats in your patch, not to mention the income. Not looking very pretty, is it? Not that we're in that scheme.
Bishop: Quite.
Kneecap: Let us know asap, will you Pete, or we'll go and do it anyway. Arrivederci, as they say in the trade.
Reg and Ron: Yeah, Leonardo Da Vinci.
Kneecap leaves wedged in between bodyguards.
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If only it was that simple! I speak as one who knows...
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