Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-028 (Book Review)

CHURCH NEXT?

by Alan Marr

The most stimulating book I have read in recent months is “CHURCH NEXT – quantum changes in Christian ministry” by Eddie Gibbs and Ian Coffey.(IVP)

Here is my summary of the main points.

1. “We are all fishing in the same pond and the pond is getting smaller.”

1.1. They draw a distinction between people who are “dechurched” and those who are “unchurched.”

1.2. The “dechurched” have had some connection with the church and are at least vaguely familiar with the stories and concepts we use when we talk the faith. They have probably gone to Sunday School as kids or had parents who were keen churchgoers. They are probably no more than one generation away from the church.

1.3. The “unchurched” have no connection with the church at all. They have not grown up with the stories of Jesus and are not familiar with the terms and concepts we use when we talk the faith. If they had a connection with the church it is more than one generation away.

1.4. Most of our evangelistic impact is upon the “dechurched” people.

1.5. The way most of our churches try to be “relevant” is more likely to be a “turnoff” to most “unchurched” people. They include a critique of the “seeker sensitive” approach to evangelism which they believe is more effective with “dechurched” people.

1.6. Many of our larger churches are growing more through connection with “dechurched” people than “unchurched” people. A survey of larger congregations in New Zealand also suggests that their growth is also at the expense of smaller churches.

2. The number of “unchurched” people is growing.

2.1. They are not afraid of spirituality, in fact they are likely to welcome it.

2.2. They are suspicious of institutions and control.

2.3. In order to reach these people the church has tended to resort to marketing techniques rather than genuine genuine missional thinking.

3. There is a need for new paradigms for ministry and mission.

3.1. Our current leaders have been trained to lead within a worldview that is quickly passing away.

3.2. We need our churches to become “missional environments”, open to dialogue and able to live with ambiguity, permission giving, where relationships and the flow of information are the most important assets.

3.3. They will be “plan – do” organizations, resembling a jazz band rather than an orchestra with an emphasis upon improvisation rather than strategic planning.

3.4. The future role of denominations will be to develop networks which will encourage churches to engage cooperatively in mission.

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Rev. Alan Marr is General Superintendent, Baptist Union of Victoria