Linda Woodhead writes in the Church Times: 'A Remedy for an Ailing Church'. I haven't been reading the series as I don't subscribe to the Church Times, so I can't really comment on the claim that the Church is ailing, or comment on the various articles surrounding the series.

Professor Woodhead herself admits that the following remedy is a fantasy, but suggests that the Church of England could reshape itself into six different branches.

1. THE CATHEDRAL GROUP
"Celebrating the beauty of holiness since 597"

2. THE HEART OF ENGLAND GROUP
"The heart of the local  community"

3. THE ALPHA GROUP
"Freely exploring  discipleship"

4. FAITH FIRST
"Strengthening the faith"

5. JUSTICE AND PEACE
"Tackling poverty together"

6. OPEN CHURCH
"Go deeper"

And this perhaps is the rub.

I wouldn't identify with (or join) any of these groups. I wouldn't put any of the laity or clergy who inspire and energise me in these groups. If anything their defining commonality is that they are not strictly bound to these groups. But they are missional and active, passionate about encounter with God, and drawing others into relationship with Him.

For me this is what the Church of England is about, and I suspect its remedy.