Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Ten Paradigm Shifts
Here's a suggested resource for your reading:
Ten Paradigm Shifts
Cost: free download
Date Posted: 3/9/2004
By: Leadership Network
This concept paper outlines ten paradigm shifts that churches are experiencing as they engage their communities with the good news and good deeds of Jesus.
Ten Paradigm Shifts
Cost: free download
Date Posted: 3/9/2004
By: Leadership Network
This concept paper outlines ten paradigm shifts that churches are experiencing as they engage their communities with the good news and good deeds of Jesus.
Undertstanding the Emerging Church--Ed Stetzer
Below is a good article, sent to me by Jim Snavely, which I thought you would appreciate:
FIRST-PERSON:Understanding the emerging church
By Ed Stetzer
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--It’s been interesting to watch the emerging church conversation over the last few months. Important issues are being discussed. Unfortunately, like many conversations, good things are lumped together with bad and important conversations are lost in more heat than light.
My own observation as one who speaks at some events classified as “emerging” is that there are three broad categories of what is often called “the emerging church.” Oddly enough, I think I can fairly say that most in the emerging conversation would agree with my assessments about the “types” of emerging leaders and churches -- and just differ with my conclusions.
In this too brief article, perhaps I can make a few suggestions on how conservative evangelicals should view these types of emerging churches. I believe that some are taking the same Gospel in the historic form of church but seeking to make it understandable to emerging culture; some are taking the same Gospel but questioning and reconstructing much of the form of church; some are questioning and revising the Gospel and the church.
-- Relevants.
Yes, I made up the word. Sorry about the grammar. However, it expresses an important idea. There are a good number of young (and not so young) leaders who some classify as “emerging” that really are just trying to make their worship, music and outreach more contextual to emerging culture. Ironically, while some may consider them liberal, they are often deeply committed to biblical preaching, male pastoral leadership and other values common in conservative evangelical churches.
They are simply trying to explain the message of Christ in a way their generation can understand. The contemporary churches of the 1980s and 90s did the same thing (and some are still upset at them for doing so). However, if we find biblical preaching and God-centered worship in a more culturally relevant setting, I rejoice just as I would for international missionaries using tribal cultural forms in Africa.
The churches of the “Relevants” are not filled with the angry white children of evangelical mega churches. They are, instead, intentionally reaching into their communities (which are different than where most Southern Baptists live) and proclaiming a faithful biblically-centered Gospel there. I know some of their churches -- they are doctrinally sound, growing and impacting lostness.
-- Reconstructionists.
The Reconstructionists think that the current form of church is frequently irrelevant and the structure is unhelpful. Yet, they typically hold to a more orthodox view of the Gospel and Scripture. Therefore, we see an increase in models of church that reject certain organizational models, embracing what are often called “incarnational” or “house” models. They are responding to the fact that after decades of trying fresh ideas in innovative churches, North America is less churched, and those that are churched are less committed.
Yet, God’s plan is deeply connected with the church (see Ephesians 3:10). God’s Word prescribes much about what a church is. So, if emerging leaders want to think in new ways about the forms (the construct) of church, that’s fine -- but any form needs to be reset as a biblical form, not just a rejection of the old form. Don’t want a building, a budget and a program? OK. Don’t want the Bible, scriptural leadership, covenant community? Not OK. (For an excellent summary, see NAMB’s document by Stan Norman called “Ecclesiological Guidelines to Inform Southern Baptist Church Planters.”) Also, we must not forget, if Reconstructionists simply rearrange dissatisfied Christians and do not impact lostness, it is hardly a better situation than the current one.
-- Revisionists.
Much of the concern has been addressed at those I call revisionists. Right now, many of those who are revisionists are being read by younger leaders and perceived as evangelicals. They are not -- at least according to our evangelical understanding of Scripture. We significantly differ from them regarding what the Bible is, what it teaches and how we should live it in our churches. I don’t hate them, question their motives and I won’t try to mischaracterize their beliefs. But, I won’t agree with them.
Revisionists are questioning (and in some cases denying) issues like the nature of the substitutionary atonement, the reality of hell, the complementarian nature of gender, and the nature of the Gospel itself. This is not new -- some mainline theologians quietly abandoned these doctrines a generation ago. The revisionist emerging church leaders should be treated, appreciated and read as we read mainline theologians -- they often have good descriptions, but their prescriptions fail to take into account the full teaching of the Word of God.
Does that mean we cannot learn from them? Certainly not. I read mainline theologians like Marcus Borg and George Lindbeck like others in the past read Karl Barth -- good thinkers, but deeply wrong on issues I hold as important. I read many emerging church writers the same way. They ask good questions, but I am driven to Scripture for the answers.
So, where do we go from here?
Much of SBC life is absent from the emerging church conversation. Let’s jump in -- John Hammett at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has done a great job not just in his paper, but in entering the theological conversation that has flowed from it. His paper can be read at http://ateam.blogware.com/AnEcclesiologicalAssessment.Hammett.pdf.
To be in this conversation, we need to think biblically and critically. We should journey and partner with the “Relevants,” seeking to make the Gospel understandable in emerging culture. We can and should enter into dialogue with Reconstructionists -- learning, discussing and applying together what Scripture teaches about church.
But, we can and must speak prophetically to revisionists that, yes, we know the current system is not impacting the culture as it should -- but the change we need is more Bible, more maturity, more discernment and more missional engagement, not an abandonment of the teachings of scripture about church, theology and practice. Every group that left these basics has ended up walking away from the faith and then, in a great twist of irony, is soon seen as irrelevant to the world they tried to reach.
This is an important moment in the emerging church. Many “emerging” evangelicals are distancing themselves from the revisionist leaders. Papers have been presented, publishing relationships have been altered, and many in the blogosphere are questioning the ecumenical nature of new partnerships. That’s good. Let’s affirm the good, look to the Scriptures for answers to the hard questions, and, yes, let’s graciously disagree when others hold views contrary to our best scriptural understanding of God, Bible and church.
Ed Stetzer serves as research team director and missiologist at the North American Mission Board.
FIRST-PERSON:Understanding the emerging church
By Ed Stetzer
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--It’s been interesting to watch the emerging church conversation over the last few months. Important issues are being discussed. Unfortunately, like many conversations, good things are lumped together with bad and important conversations are lost in more heat than light.
My own observation as one who speaks at some events classified as “emerging” is that there are three broad categories of what is often called “the emerging church.” Oddly enough, I think I can fairly say that most in the emerging conversation would agree with my assessments about the “types” of emerging leaders and churches -- and just differ with my conclusions.
In this too brief article, perhaps I can make a few suggestions on how conservative evangelicals should view these types of emerging churches. I believe that some are taking the same Gospel in the historic form of church but seeking to make it understandable to emerging culture; some are taking the same Gospel but questioning and reconstructing much of the form of church; some are questioning and revising the Gospel and the church.
-- Relevants.
Yes, I made up the word. Sorry about the grammar. However, it expresses an important idea. There are a good number of young (and not so young) leaders who some classify as “emerging” that really are just trying to make their worship, music and outreach more contextual to emerging culture. Ironically, while some may consider them liberal, they are often deeply committed to biblical preaching, male pastoral leadership and other values common in conservative evangelical churches.
They are simply trying to explain the message of Christ in a way their generation can understand. The contemporary churches of the 1980s and 90s did the same thing (and some are still upset at them for doing so). However, if we find biblical preaching and God-centered worship in a more culturally relevant setting, I rejoice just as I would for international missionaries using tribal cultural forms in Africa.
The churches of the “Relevants” are not filled with the angry white children of evangelical mega churches. They are, instead, intentionally reaching into their communities (which are different than where most Southern Baptists live) and proclaiming a faithful biblically-centered Gospel there. I know some of their churches -- they are doctrinally sound, growing and impacting lostness.
-- Reconstructionists.
The Reconstructionists think that the current form of church is frequently irrelevant and the structure is unhelpful. Yet, they typically hold to a more orthodox view of the Gospel and Scripture. Therefore, we see an increase in models of church that reject certain organizational models, embracing what are often called “incarnational” or “house” models. They are responding to the fact that after decades of trying fresh ideas in innovative churches, North America is less churched, and those that are churched are less committed.
Yet, God’s plan is deeply connected with the church (see Ephesians 3:10). God’s Word prescribes much about what a church is. So, if emerging leaders want to think in new ways about the forms (the construct) of church, that’s fine -- but any form needs to be reset as a biblical form, not just a rejection of the old form. Don’t want a building, a budget and a program? OK. Don’t want the Bible, scriptural leadership, covenant community? Not OK. (For an excellent summary, see NAMB’s document by Stan Norman called “Ecclesiological Guidelines to Inform Southern Baptist Church Planters.”) Also, we must not forget, if Reconstructionists simply rearrange dissatisfied Christians and do not impact lostness, it is hardly a better situation than the current one.
-- Revisionists.
Much of the concern has been addressed at those I call revisionists. Right now, many of those who are revisionists are being read by younger leaders and perceived as evangelicals. They are not -- at least according to our evangelical understanding of Scripture. We significantly differ from them regarding what the Bible is, what it teaches and how we should live it in our churches. I don’t hate them, question their motives and I won’t try to mischaracterize their beliefs. But, I won’t agree with them.
Revisionists are questioning (and in some cases denying) issues like the nature of the substitutionary atonement, the reality of hell, the complementarian nature of gender, and the nature of the Gospel itself. This is not new -- some mainline theologians quietly abandoned these doctrines a generation ago. The revisionist emerging church leaders should be treated, appreciated and read as we read mainline theologians -- they often have good descriptions, but their prescriptions fail to take into account the full teaching of the Word of God.
Does that mean we cannot learn from them? Certainly not. I read mainline theologians like Marcus Borg and George Lindbeck like others in the past read Karl Barth -- good thinkers, but deeply wrong on issues I hold as important. I read many emerging church writers the same way. They ask good questions, but I am driven to Scripture for the answers.
So, where do we go from here?
Much of SBC life is absent from the emerging church conversation. Let’s jump in -- John Hammett at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has done a great job not just in his paper, but in entering the theological conversation that has flowed from it. His paper can be read at http://ateam.blogware.com/AnEcclesiologicalAssessment.Hammett.pdf.
To be in this conversation, we need to think biblically and critically. We should journey and partner with the “Relevants,” seeking to make the Gospel understandable in emerging culture. We can and should enter into dialogue with Reconstructionists -- learning, discussing and applying together what Scripture teaches about church.
But, we can and must speak prophetically to revisionists that, yes, we know the current system is not impacting the culture as it should -- but the change we need is more Bible, more maturity, more discernment and more missional engagement, not an abandonment of the teachings of scripture about church, theology and practice. Every group that left these basics has ended up walking away from the faith and then, in a great twist of irony, is soon seen as irrelevant to the world they tried to reach.
This is an important moment in the emerging church. Many “emerging” evangelicals are distancing themselves from the revisionist leaders. Papers have been presented, publishing relationships have been altered, and many in the blogosphere are questioning the ecumenical nature of new partnerships. That’s good. Let’s affirm the good, look to the Scriptures for answers to the hard questions, and, yes, let’s graciously disagree when others hold views contrary to our best scriptural understanding of God, Bible and church.
Ed Stetzer serves as research team director and missiologist at the North American Mission Board.
Church Planting Class
Seminar in North American Church Planting
Date: March 6 – 10
Location: Grace Brethren Church of Columbus
8225 Worthington-Galena Road
Westerville, OH 43081
Cost: Grace Theological Seminary three hour course credit: $960
Official audit: $480
Course Description:
This seminar introduces the student to the basic understanding and skills necessary to start a congregation in any North American cultural context. It takes the student from call through self-assessment to reaching and bringing together a group of 25-75 individuals committed to being a church. A separate training track is planned to train developmental pastors to take a congregation beyond the 75 barrier through developmental pastoral ministry. Informed by David Garrison’s concepts of church multiplication, it seeks to train church planters to form new congregations aggressively and rapidly with a dependence upon follow-on pastor church developers. Some attention is given to participants who desire to pursue a founding pastor model as well. Students will be expected to engage the experience both intellectually and spiritually with significant encouragement given to building spiritual community within the class and work groups.
Course Requirements:
· Completion of all required assessment materials prior to February 28, 2006
· Attendance at all sessions and experiences
· Timely completion of all prerequisite reading assignments and submission of a reading report on Friday morning of the workshop week
· Submission of a typed personal church-planter portfolio indicating completion of assigned exercises by April 30, 2006. This portfolio will represent the first draft of a personal management philosophy and strategic ministry vision document for the church planter’s proposed project. It will be based upon insights gained from the class and assessment materials. It will include the following
o First draft of a church planter self-management plan
o First draft of a bootcamp strategy, including KRA’s
o First draft of a contact-making strategy
o First draft of a birth design
o First draft of proposed metrics and two-year ministry plan for the new congregation
o Active and positive participation in the worship and work groups
Course title: MI 700 Seminar in North American Church Planting
Registration: Contact Jessie Schroder, Grace Seminary Missions Coordinator:
Email: schrodil@grace.edu
Phone: 1-800-544-7223, ext. 6413
Fax: 574-372-5114
Date: March 6 – 10
Location: Grace Brethren Church of Columbus
8225 Worthington-Galena Road
Westerville, OH 43081
Cost: Grace Theological Seminary three hour course credit: $960
Official audit: $480
Course Description:
This seminar introduces the student to the basic understanding and skills necessary to start a congregation in any North American cultural context. It takes the student from call through self-assessment to reaching and bringing together a group of 25-75 individuals committed to being a church. A separate training track is planned to train developmental pastors to take a congregation beyond the 75 barrier through developmental pastoral ministry. Informed by David Garrison’s concepts of church multiplication, it seeks to train church planters to form new congregations aggressively and rapidly with a dependence upon follow-on pastor church developers. Some attention is given to participants who desire to pursue a founding pastor model as well. Students will be expected to engage the experience both intellectually and spiritually with significant encouragement given to building spiritual community within the class and work groups.
Course Requirements:
· Completion of all required assessment materials prior to February 28, 2006
· Attendance at all sessions and experiences
· Timely completion of all prerequisite reading assignments and submission of a reading report on Friday morning of the workshop week
· Submission of a typed personal church-planter portfolio indicating completion of assigned exercises by April 30, 2006. This portfolio will represent the first draft of a personal management philosophy and strategic ministry vision document for the church planter’s proposed project. It will be based upon insights gained from the class and assessment materials. It will include the following
o First draft of a church planter self-management plan
o First draft of a bootcamp strategy, including KRA’s
o First draft of a contact-making strategy
o First draft of a birth design
o First draft of proposed metrics and two-year ministry plan for the new congregation
o Active and positive participation in the worship and work groups
Course title: MI 700 Seminar in North American Church Planting
Registration: Contact Jessie Schroder, Grace Seminary Missions Coordinator:
Email: schrodil@grace.edu
Phone: 1-800-544-7223, ext. 6413
Fax: 574-372-5114
Thursday, February 23, 2006
The Evangelist Gathering notes and resources
Here's the beginning of a RECAP Article:
Out of the dream and invitation of Kurt Miller, the first Evangelists Gathering—a gathering of evangelists from the Grace Brethren family for conversation, encouragement and movement—happened over the weekend of October 7-9, 2005. No one knows for sure, but quite possibly the last time evangelists from across our fellowship gathered in this fashion was back in 1973 for the Grow73 initiatives. Forty Grace Brethren men and women from across the United States all came together for this recent gathering. READ More HERE
Reports & Resources from the Evangelists Gathering check out the links below:
Churches Planting Churches mini-magazine
My mini-magazine from last year on Churches Planting Churches is posted HERE
It was helpful to many. Maybe it will encourage you and your church to start new churches.
It was helpful to many. Maybe it will encourage you and your church to start new churches.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A new blog that connects with my newsletter-- "thechurchplanter"
This is me--Kurt-- and this is a new blog to have an online conversation connected to my newsletter.
I'm asking my assistant-Mike--to help with some updates for me so we can keep this current.
I hope you really enjoy this...
I'm asking my assistant-Mike--to help with some updates for me so we can keep this current.
I hope you really enjoy this...
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
A new blog...connected to "thechurchplanter" newsletter
Well here is our original post to start this new blog. It'll be a place to post things to encourage and resource church planters and church planting. Enjoy.
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