The underlying issues
This post is from the defunct blog “Dying Church”
Emerging Grace has a great post on some of the underlying issues of church as usual. It's a follow up to Bill Kinnon's post The People Formerly Known as the Congregation.
Passivity
We are convinced that a church system which allows believers to fulfill their weekly spiritual obligation by listening to a sermon creates a consumerist audience who have not been encouraged to step into the responsibility of being a disciple and discipling others.
Clergy/Laity
We have seen that the false distinction between clergy and laity has led to a professionalization of ministry which contributes to the passivity of congregants.