TRACKING THE EMERGING CHURCH Eddie Gibbs North American Society for Church Growth New Orleans, November, 2003

USA: % Church Attendance

3 The Average Sized Church George Barna Report, Jan-Mar, 1999:2  The average sized church dropped from 102 adults in 1997 to 91 adults in 1998  This corresponds with a 15% drop in the annual operating budget of churches, from $123,000 to $105,000 in the past 12 months

4 Changing Position of Church in Society  Traditional Society Chaplain to Community Church at the centerChurch at the center  Modern Society Marketing Entrepreneur Church on the marginsChurch on the margins  Postmodern Society Apostle on the Frontier Church as one segment among manyChurch as one segment among many

5 What is the “Emerging Church”?  Other names “Missional Church”“Missional Church” “Liquid Church”“Liquid Church” “Organic Church”“Organic Church”  Why “emerging church?” The Church is in the process of becoming until Jesus returnsThe Church is in the process of becoming until Jesus returns The Church is a “pilgrim” churchThe Church is a “pilgrim” church The Church needs to be contextualized, and re- contextualizedThe Church needs to be contextualized, and re- contextualized  The “emerging church” is to be found both within traditional denominations as well as among new, independent movements

6 How Churches Emerge  Hub and Cluster  Decentralized Networks HubChurch

7 Forms of Worship: 1. Centrality of the Meal  The main event and the backdrop of everything that happens  Fellowship meal  Eucharist  Appropriate location: HomeHome Café or restaurantCafé or restaurant

8 Forms of Worship: 2. Multi-sensory  Worship in which all participate according to their creative talent SongwritersSongwriters PoetsPoets ArtistsArtists  Indigenous to the culture  Variety according to the topic and the occasion

9 Forms of Worship: 3. Participation of all  Every worshiper is a minister Priesthood of allPriesthood of all  All gifts are shared  Leadership moves around the group Assigned leader for the worship serviceAssigned leader for the worship service Leadership of each person according to their giftLeadership of each person according to their gift  Recognizes the giftedness of each person  Space for spontaneity  Emphasizes both community and mission

10 Forms of Community: 1. Small is Better  Cell is the base  Strong commitment to community  In some cases, scheduled meetings are incidental because they are meeting all the time

11 Forms of Community: 2. Higher level of Commitment  Inspired by the Celtic monastic model Celebration (Chichester)Celebration (Chichester)  Apprentices of Jesus Learning in CommunityLearning in Community Learning at the feet of Jesus: prayer and contemplationLearning at the feet of Jesus: prayer and contemplation Learning by action and reflectionLearning by action and reflection  Pastor as spiritual director

12 Forms of Community: 3. Leader without Control  Leadership based on vision and maturity  Organic structure  Church leader as “organic gardener” (Doug Pagitt), not as general in charge  Facilitate growth: air, weather, soil – balance between letting things happen and intentionality

13 Forms of Witness 1. Identity forged through serving  Jesus is the model for ministry Gospel of the kingdom.Gospel of the kingdom.  Strong sense of servanthood  Incarnational ministry as servants of the poor  Holistic mission: transforming relationship with Christ, in fellowship with one another and in witness and service  Social justice and racial reconciliation  Empowering local community

14 Forms of Witness: 2. Engaging Culture  Urban focus - shaping our culture  Use of pop culture in engaging youth  Nighclub culture, art expressions, café movements  Art as mission  “Labrinth” accessible to Christian and non- Christian  Mission flows from culturally appropriate points of contact: in homes, clubs, etc.

15 Peering into the Future  We do not know which are fringes and which frontiers  We do not know how they will evolve From new dynamic movements to bureaucratic institutionsFrom new dynamic movements to bureaucratic institutions  We do not know how the traditional denominations will respond either to the emerging churches within their own traditions or to the new independent networks

16 From Hunters to Herders David K. Hurst, Crisis and Renewal, Harvard Business School Press, 1995, 2002  Mission becomes Strategy  Roles become Tasks  Teams become Structure  Networks become Systems  Recognition becomes Compensation