This just in from our Presbyterian friends (but from a Methodist pastor):
"Most of the evidently successful "mega-churches" and church-growth movements have actually been failures because they have watered down the 'radical gospel message of transformation of individual and community lives'"
Read on for more about this from the PCUSANEWS listserve
'An experience of God'
04043
January 23, 2004
'An experience of God'
Bold ideas, actions are keys to church transformation, speaker says
by Jerry L. Van Marter
CHARLOTTE, NC - Most of the evidently successful "mega-churches" and church-growth movements have actually been failures because they have watered down the "radical gospel message of transformation of individual and community lives," a leading religious innovator told a crowd of nearly 1,000 Presbyterian leaders on Jan. 23.
The Rev. Mike Slaughter, the lead pastor of Ginghamsburg (United Methodist) Church in Tipp City, OH, near Dayton, said during the opening plenary session of the annual Churchwide Transformation Conference that "the mega-church has failed as a reproducible model, because the Biblical measure of strength is not size, but faithfulness."
Although his own church is an example of rapid growth - it had 118 members when he became pastor two decades ago, and now attracts more than 3,000 to weekly worship - Slaughter says its hallmarks are the demands it makes on people to engage in community service and to practice spiritual discipline.
"We're looking for seekers who are asking the hard 'God questions,'" he said during the opening session of what used to be known as the Redevelopment Conference. "We're not trying to convince the unconvinced - this is radical, revolutionary service we're demanding, not a quick weekend fix we're offering."
Slaughter's message clearly struck a responsive chord among the church leaders from across the country who have come here to talk about how Presbyterian churches in changing communities can change to serve new people and meet new needs.
The theme of the conference, which continues through Sunday, is "Xtreme Boldness," a reference to 2 Cor. 3:12 - "Since then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness." Its co-sponsors are the Evangelism and Church Development Office of the National Ministries Division and the Network for Churchwide Transformation.
Slaughter's advised his rapt listeners not to try to be all things to all people.
"The church's problem is trying to reach every one in every location," he said, noting that Christianity has "a large umbrella" that provides "plenty of room for particular appeals to specific cultures."
As an example, he cited Jesus, who "had a specific target audience" and a specific goal - "to seek and save the lost; moreover, the lost Jews; and even further, poor, lost Jews."
Slaughter told ministers and other church officials to "identify the culture that you can best relate to, and go after them."
He said his studies of "the emerging church" have revealed that all successful 21st-century churches are:
+Intentionally missional;
+Multicultural;
+Multi-sensory; and
+Multi-media.
"Post-moderns don't want to be put on a committee," he said. "They want to be
equipped to make a difference in the lives of others."
And the reality is that U.S. communities today bring numerous cultures together. Slaughter quoted comedian Chris Rock: "You know this country is turned upside-down when the best golfer is black (Tiger Woods) and the best rapper is white (Eminem)."
Churches must accept the new reality and say goodbye to the racial homogeneity of traditional places of worship, Slaughter said, adding: "To be Biblical, you have to be multicultural. All the tribes have to be represented. That's what God demanded."
Ginghamsburg has forsworn building ever-larger sanctuaries to accommodate its growth, he said. "Seekers want an experience of God, not an explanation of God," he explained. "They want the intimacy of a cafi, not the expansiveness of a mall. The appeal of the church is intimate relationship - with God and with fellow seekers - not a mass movement."
Punctuating his address throughout with short video clips, Slaughter said 21st-century life, especially for young people, is "an electronic playground."
"The language of the post-Christian generation is multi-media," he said. "The tutors are MTV and Sesame Street."
Churches that fail to "speak" that electronic language will not be understood, he said.
Slaughter also sounded a warning to ministers who may take his advice.
"Oh, you're going to get (critical) letters," he said. "You'll lose some people. But you'll gain your community's soul. ...
"You may get crucified, but you'll be in great company. Like Jesus, your crucifixion may just include real transformation."
Dr. Eddie Gibbs, professor of church growth at Fuller, is going to be at St. Paul's Walnut Creek, March 26-27, talking about evangelism and GenXers.(More details will follow). Here's a sample of his thinking, from an interview last January in Christianity Today : "When you look at Baby Boomers and the generations before them, they all represent a culture of control. Generation X and Generation Y possess a strong reaction against the culture of control. This is another one of the reasons for [those generations] to walk away from the church. "
"I represent the older generation, and we used to think in terms of delegating ministry. That's the language of control. You can't delegate to somebody what God has already called and gifted them to do in the first place. Instead, we need to use the language of empowerment. We've got to learn the skills of doing that.
I go back to the Bible and its understanding of authority: the authority must be intrinsic. Having been with Jesus for three years, the disciples would say that he was full of grace and truth. That was the authority. Grace is generosity. Truth is authenticity. Your authority doesn't arise out of your position—your authority arises out of who you are. Gen Xers are very sensitive about that."
For the entire interview, click here.
We all make them. Shouldn't you have some condev resolutions for 2004? Here are a few suggestions.
1. By the end of this year, everyone in the congregation will be able to articulate his or her faith story, and in their own words.
2. During 2004, every active member of the congregation will have invited at least one family or individual to attend church with them.
3. We'll pray for mission at every gathering of the church leadership.
4. We'll get to know our neighbors -- including especially those who live near our church.
5. We'll begin to learn more about the emerging or "postmodern" culture that is beginning to dominate our society, and consider how we might authentically share the Good News in ways that relate to that culture.
6. We'll make greater efforts to face our racism and cultural prejudices that blind us from sharing the Good News with those who may not look like us, or speak our language.
7. We'll enhance our adult Christian formation efforts, as well as our work with children and youth,
8. We'll encourage our members to speak to their unchurched friends about their faith, and we'll make sure they have the support they need to do so.
9. We'll strive for a lively personal faith that makes our lives richer and more loving toward God's world.
10. Our mission will be purposeful and spirit-filled.