What makes for an innovative church?
I recently ran across the survey (nominations) of the most innovative churches in ‘08.
Why are America’s Most Innovative Churches also some of the largest in America? Northpointe, NewSpring, Saddleback et al are nominees for the award in 2008. Is this like when Taco Bell wins best Mexican food because it’s the most voted place in town? Aren’t there small churches who are doing innovative things too? It seems like smaller churches should have more freedom to be innovative. House church movements? Harbor’s multi-site, multi-congregational non-video venue model? Soma’s multi-congregational, involved discipleship (street walking) and dialogue based services? How about people who are doing amazing mercy ministries, changing a city, Tentmakers, re-thinking church structures based on changing paradigms?
Hmmm…according to the survey these aren’t considered as much as podcasts, blogging, websites, social networking, film production and video venues ….
Good point, Drew.
That reminds me of a short phrase I heard from an recorded message by Rick McKinley of Imago Dei Community. In light of the trend to seek to be relevant in our churches so much is done in music and messages and architecture, while forgetting that “the way to be relevant to people is to genuinely love them.” Amen.
Which brings me to Molalla. Kari and I recently moved back to her hometown, to live with her parents while finishing up seminary. So many factors led to this transition and innumerable blessings certainly are and will come out of this season of life. One area is fusing together our seminary with helping our local church — Foothills Community Church, which gathers in downtown Molalla. This week we will be meeting with pastor Dale Satrum to talk over what our involvement in the vision and mission of Foothills could look like in the coming months and beyond.
In our visits over the past couple of years we have grown to love and respect the leadership of Foothills and certainly have enjoyed observing the spiritual growth we have seen in so many who call it their church. Certainly the vision and impetus of Foothill’s whole purpose in the community is innovative, and on so many levels. The people of Foothills love the people of Molalla, and the surrounding area. In fact, there are more than 10,000 unchurched people within 10 miles of Molalla, and Foothill’s vision is for the church members to personally reach them with the love of Jesus Christ. Innovative, relevant, loving.
Yet, by the standards of innovation as mentioned in the survey above and critiqued by Drew Goodmanson, Foothills apparently is not with it. There is no real podcasting, no blogging, the church website isn’t exactly the coolest, there is no online social networking that I know of, at least not on the corporate church-wide level, and not a real emphasis on the use of technology. (Perhaps the survey/list title needs to be changed to focus on “technologically savvy” churches or the like, for it seems that is what it really is.) In these areas I would love to spend some time and revamp some of the ways Foothills utilizes technology, particularly with its website and content … for the purpose of reaching people in deep and personal and meaningful ways with the Gospel. And, helping believers to grow in Christlikeness and biblical community.
To be relevant and innovative to people means to love them. The focus is the innovative part — to the glory of God. Technology can be used to that end.
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