About Alan Moss
Alan Moss is a two-time St Mellitus Alum, part of the first ever cohort on the BA in Youth Ministry, 2011-2014 and then 2016-2018 as an Ordinand studying the MA in Christian Leadership.
Tell us a bit about yourself:
Since finishing my curacy in May 2021, I have become an estate-based Pioneer Minister/Community Organiser & licenced as Associate Priest at St Marys Church, Walthamstow which is funded by the Church of England’s SDF (Strategic Development Fund) initiative. Our SDF project’s heart and vision is to share the good news of Jesus Christ in the most deprived estates in Walthamstow by utilising the principles of community organising and the practices of pioneering mission to create a fresh expression of church that is both contextual and relevant to the most marginalised in our community.
When I was licenced to my first pioneer role after curacy my Bishop simply said this: “Be wise but take risks.” I echo the same to you.
Alongside this role I am also a part time digital theology & missions advisor/trainer for Chelmsford diocese building on my MA dissertation research, and personal passion, to equip and raise up new leaders in contextual mission for a digital age among digital natives.
When I studied at St Mellitus between 2011-2014 I was part of a fresh expression (FX) church plant based in Romford which I had been part of developing since 2006. For over a decade we served the night-time economy of Romford and local young people. Church planting and pioneering have been in my DNA since I became a Christian in my mid-twenties. I eventually ‘gave in’ to the call to ordained ministry and came back to St Mellitus as an ordained on the MA in Christian Leadership. Whilst studying as an ordinand I served at Christ Church Spitalfields in Tower Hamlets which is also a HTB church plant. I served my curacy at St Johns, Havering-Atte-Bower and St James, Collier row in Romford where I focused on mission to the local estates and through this time I switched to the pioneer curacy pathway. In early 2019 I was asked to be part of the Chelmsford Diocesan communications team to help the diocese develop its mission in an online world and I have had the privilege of doing some digital theology training for other dioceses along the way.
I passionately believe that a key part of our future as the church will be innovating new ways of being the body of Christ in a digital age, on virtual platforms, among digital natives in order to reach a fast-advancing digital culture.
Tell us about your story to study theology:
What impacted me the most whilst studying at St Mellitus as a working-class east end lad who didn’t finish school, was the unexpected love I found for theological study in general but especially digital theology & also the wonders of Christian art. Before the Bible was translated into English and made accessible to the largely illiterate general public, Cathedrals and churches were sometimes known as the ‘Poor man’s Bible’ as their depictions of scripture through either art or the visual medium of stained-glass windows was often the only way for ‘common folk’ to interact with scripture for themselves without the need for a priest or upper-class elitist to translate it for them. As one of the ‘common folk’ I was drawn to this idea that art can be a lens through which we can encounter scripture on a personal and communal level and can make deep theological truths known and accessible to all levels of society. This led me to exploring what it might mean to become a walking ‘Poor man’s Bible’ through the ancient medium of Tattoo art. I now have the ‘Gospel Story in Ink’ tattooed on my upper body from neck, chest and back down to my hands and fingers. From the fall of creation on my chest, neck and back to the welcome invitation of the eucharistic table on my right forearm and the spiritual battles we all face on my left side, my tattoo’s tell Gods story, and my story within it, in a visual way that I hope people can encounter the Spirit through, even just in passing as I wear my collar. Becoming the illustrated priest, as locally known, has opened up an unforeseen opportunity to minister to and develop a new worshipping community among the tattooed and tattoo artists culture who have been outcast for so long. This has been a particular highlight for me over the past couple of years.
Encouragement in ministry:
My journey towards ordination took me over a decade from start to finish because I kept running away and feeling unworthy. But in the end Jesus had his way and here I am. When asked about my journey to priesthood I often reflect that I didn’t discern the call to where I am now, it discerned me.
There is so much more to say but no word count to say it… so I leave you with this. Our best laid plans may offer us comfort but the truly miraculous call of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is not a safe and comfortable calling; it’s a dangerous and risky commission. Jesus broke the mould in His life and through His death and resurrection; we are called to break the mould like Christ did, whatever that looks like for each of us. When I was licenced to my first pioneer role after curacy my Bishop simply said this: “Be wise but take risks.” I echo the same to you.