So what do you think?
Here is a short blog post by J. D. Greear
Here is an article by Dr. Hammett that I would like to get my hands on that discuss it in a more "scholarly way":
Multi-site Churches: Good or Bad
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Greektim, Nov 9, 2012.
?
Page 1 of 2
-
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The one article you have to pay for so it is a non starter and the other article fails to explain the purpose or benefit of multi-site churches. Quite frankly they just do not make sense. Why not turn the other sites loose to be their own church?
-
-
It is clearly what went on in the NT.
Titus 1 is one place that makes this clear. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
-
Egalitarianism holds to the idea that everyone is equal and therefore is predisposed to group decision making, i.e. democracy, whereas elitists think they are the smartest people in the room and need to make decisions for the "masses. Thus narcissistic Pastors like mega-churches and multi-campus churches, where they wield power over ever larger numbers of people, but the NT model teaches Pastors are simply part of a leadership board made-up of equals, i.e. leadership by a plurality of Elders taking direction from the congregation as a whole.
The well known Pastor's disease is AND (Acquired Narcissistic Disorder) where with no one to check the affection and differential treatment afforded Pastors, they begin to think they are "spiritually" special people. -
It can be good and it can be bad. It all depends on how things are setup and what they have determined to be the end goal. We are attending a larger, for our area, church that is in the processing of adding a campus. The campus is an existing church in a rural area about 25 minutes from town. They have some mature members, both spiritually and physically, but they had no pastor and not many younger folks. The church in town is supplying the pastor, and helping to cover his salary. They have asked people to prayerfully consider moving out to the rural church. The end goal is a self sufficient local church reaching the community for Christ.
I think that is very good. It allows an avenue for a growing church with some real assets to come alongside an a struggling one.
When is it not good? When the church has half a dozen campuses and video feeds all the sermons from the home church. I have seen several ads looking for a "campus pastor" by churches that want someone on the ground to do the grunt work. They typically ask the campus pastor to be prepared to preach 4-5 times a year.
It is true that the Apostles wrote letters to elders in other churches to encourage, teach, and edify the local leaders and the local church. There is no basis for the hierarchy and control that we see in the RCC and many Protestant denominations. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I do not see a need for satellite churches. they just do not make any sense. -
Mark, The EFCA is doing this campus thing as a way of doing church planting and in re-starts. They are doing the things that you and I would support, but using the modern terms to label them. It's been really interesting to watch.
-
-
I think annsi's husband is a campus pastor in a multi-site church. Maybe she can join this discussion and share their experience.
-
Fulfilling the great commission is more important than feeling like a family with "us four and no more."
Good megachurches break their multitudes up into small groups that have this same family experience.
Small groups are important- but heaven is characterized by multitudes which no man can number all gathered together singing in thunderous chorus the praises of the Lamb. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
What we want via the church is for God's will to be done on earth even as it is in heaven.
How, anthropologically, is God's will done in heaven?
Partly by multitudes of people coming together to sing praises unto the Lamb.
Not only does my post speak to the matter- it speaks to the heart of it. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
-
-
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Where I have a problem with Multi-Site churches is where they move outside of their immediate geographic region. There is simply no reason ecclesiologically for Seattle Community Church to go and start a new campus in New Mexico, New York, or Georgia. I believe that kind of expansion violates congregational and ecclesiological distinctives of most of these churches. Also, I don't think nearly as many churches need to be multi-site as are multi-site. Some pastors are just doing this because it is the new sexy church growth model. I think that is silly.
Anyways, my experience with multi-site is personal, the church where I get to serve is a multi-site church. We have had an amazingly blessed experience and have grown because of it.
I think there are certain boundaries and borders in multi-site we need to be careful about. However, the model is a good one for some churches to consider. :)
Page 1 of 2