Darryl's Blog
Missional within a traditional setting
I've now been at Richview for over nine (!) years. The people there are amazing, and I've learned tons in this time.
One of the tensions is that it is an established, traditional church. Even with great people, there are forces at work that draw us inward to focus on maintenance, routine, budgets, meetings, etc. I haven't always succeeded in wrestling with these forces but here are some of the phases I've been through at various times:
- trying to do better at the institutional game (an attractional approach)
- occasionally despairing of the institution altogether
- realizing that I am as much of a problem as the demands of institutional life
- doing the bare minimum to maintain the institutional demands while focusing energy on moving toward mission
- drawing hope from other churches where God is at work within traditional settings
I move between various of these phases, but generally I have been living more near the bottom of this list. There I am facing other challenges, such as learning how to serve a community that's diverse and more suburban with some urban pockets.
Some argue that established churches are a waste of time. I disagree. I think some are called to new forms of church and church plants, but we also need missional leaders who are called to traditional settings. Both callings have their challenges.
I'll be reflecting a little more on this as I review a new book coming out called Pagan Christianity . For now I'll say this: from what I can see, non-traditional settings have their challenges as well. I've learned that smaller, organic groups can be just as inwardly focused as established churches. This isn't to say that established churches don't have significant challenges. It's just easy to overstate them and understate the challenges of new forms of church. But more on this when it comes to review Pagan Christianity (which is better than I expected, by the way).
One of the best things we can do for each other is to get to know and support those in settings different than yours. If you are part of a newer form of church, I hope you adopt and pray for a church in a more traditional setting, and vice versa. There are lots of ways that we can understand and help each other.
David Fitch has an excellent post on the tension between mission and organization. As always, he's worth reading. More to come.
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Hi Darryl,
This post really encouraged me. I'm too pastor in a traditional church here in Norway - and I guess we've also got a high megachurch factor on us. At the same time I really feel related to the missional thinking that is going on all around. And often I feel optimistic about being called to and part of a change where I am. Sometimes I wonder if I compromise too much, and dream of a plant. Other times I doubt the grass is greener over there. And so on....
I guess I just wanted to say it encouraged me to read about someone in a (perhaps) similar situation having some of the same thought(although I've only been here for a year...)
Is there any place I can read more about your church?
Thanks, Elling. Glad the post encouraged you. I hope to have a bit more on this in the next week.
You can read more about Richview here:
http://www.richview.org/
The reality is that every church, regardless of type, faces institutional issues. What concerns me is the notion that it is an either/or situation. Either you are institutional or not.
To do well with mission requires organization. It can't be simply people "feeling" missional and it happening. Structure is a tool for helping people grow into more commitment and service. So, for me, it isn't whether your church is institutional, but what purpose does your organizational structure serve. It is still hard to do well and hard to balance, but it is the reality that every church faces.
Ed,
I tend to agree. The key seems to be shaping the structure to fit the mission vs. the other way around. Barna and Viola may disagree in Pagan Christianity - hope to tackle this in a couple of posts I have brewing.
Well said.
I'll look forward to reading your review, Darryl. I just read about this book via Andrew Jackson's site (SmartChristian.com) and was chewing on whether or not to order it.
Rev. Mike,
Order the book. You may disagree with much of it - but it will also stir your thinking.
I post my first review of it tomorrow morning and am looking forward to interacting with Triple D on his comments.