Church renewal vs. church planting
Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 1:37PM Michael Spencer argues that church planting must take precedence over church renewal:
I’m convinced that the greatest answer evangelicals have within their power is the determination to start new churches. Renewal and revival of existing churches is a worthy cause, but I don’t think you are going to reverse the downward, deteriorating direction in most existing churches. The hope for evangelicalism lies in becoming a massive church planting movement, and in encouraging as many churches as possible to make the creation of networks of new churches a priority in their 5-25 year goals.
The resources evangelicals are pouring into facilities and staff for megachurches need to be directed towards new churches. It’s a decision for every church, but it may be the single most important decision a church can make. We don’t need bigger churches; we need more and more diverse churches.
Tim Keller has said some similar things. Church plants not only reach people that existing churches don't, but they help to revitalize existing churches.
No doubt there's a role for both renewal and planting, but I am wondering if we need to shift more of our energy to planting.
Reader Comments (4)
In my experience, most established churches may want to change to be more relevant, but know it may take a decade to happen, if ever. But if they can plant a church that can take a fresh approach to ministry, they can perhaps accomplish more. They won't alienate their current ministry core, and they can do something fresh.
And it can depend entirely on the type of church plant. Too many plants have simply drained away believers from other local churches, creating a situation where the established church is crippled because of the loss, and the plant ends up filled with churched-folk.
I think it's a both/and proposition rather than an either/or. I've seen church plants die a horrible death - and old churches renewed. The Spirit of God is with the people of God, wherever they might be. The test is to respond to the Spirit.
I really don't think the answer is more churches. When I look at Christianity, now from the outside, I keep coming back to if its true it should make more of a difference. I find myself a much happier and kinder person away from the organization. The longer I stay away from church the less frustration I feel. I know I'm not alone in this experience. Many of my friends who grew up in churches can't see the relevance to church in their daily lives. Somehow Christianity needs to show how it's relevant. I don't know the answer but I don't think its in more churches. Rob