organic paradigm shift

My Christmas present from Amazon arrived finally a couple of days ago. It included Neil Coles book on their organic church planting movement in the US. They have now seen almost 800 churches planted in 6 years. And although each one has an average of 16 people, this represents over 10,000 people in total, around 40% of whom were previously non-churched. The other factor is that rather than plateauing out like most mega-churches of this number, the movement will continue to expand exponentially, without costing millions of dollars or requiring 1000's of men and women to take 3 years out studying at seminary.

What has surprised and pleased me about the book is that it is not a 'here's 10 steps to how to start the latest model of church planting movement' type book, but instead it is a mind renewing book, rightly so because as Neil has correctly understood what we are dealing with here is a new paradigm not a new model as such. And unless people grasp the new way of seeing/thinking about church they will only end up frustrated if they attempt to emulate what Neil and others are doing.

PS. I would love to get Neil over here sometime.

posted by alexander @ 9:45 AM    0 comments

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18th birthday ball

Phew! Got back at 2;30 this morning having hosted almost 150 at Rebekah's 18th birthday Ball which she shared with Katie who she grew up with. It was a fairly wild affair but went really well, apart from a couple of girls who managed to drink themselves into an ambulance! Bet their parents were happy!
For those who don't know, the other 2 in the pic are Tim (11) and Jamie (15).

posted by alexander @ 10:24 AM    0 comments

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1st draft of report uncovers exciting new trends
Having presented the first draft of the research report yesterday for Mission 21 it is now apparent that we may have uncovered some exciting new trends and signs in the church in this nation. You may well see the highlights of this in the media in the next month or so, so I won't divulge any more at this point.

Clearly we are in the midst of a major paradigm shift and no part of the church is unaffected. What this shift is and what implications it will have will be among the major issues raised at the Mission 21 conference next March. Whether you are working within, on the edge or far beyond the edge of the existing structures these three days in Sheffield could turn out to be critical for the future of the church here.

Those responsible for organising the event are all committed to the goal of seeing this nation reached and discipled, regardless of denominational affiliations. Their desire is to see something of the 'phenomenal movements' we are currently observing in many other parts of the world, begin to happen here in the UK.

If you have any interest in this sort of thing as a practitioner or strategist then I would strongly encourage you to book a place ASAP as there is limited space.

posted by alexander @ 11:27 AM    0 comments

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clearing the decks for christmas
Have been working hard over the last week to bring the main church planting report to a conclusion. Tomorrow I will present the first draft to the GFE committee which I am looking forward to. Hoping to go through the report and get input from George Lings and Stuart Murray before Christmas then apart from any late additions to the various denominational reports that should be it. It's a satisfying feeling having worked on something for over a year seeing it completed. I suppose that's my creative man kicking in. I will hold back any formal conclusions or insights til the report is publicly available, but basically although there is much to be discouraged about in the broad picture, there are scattered signs of something which could prove to be very significant.

I have also been clearing my intray, sorting my files and getting my accounts done, so I will be able to completely switch off over Christmas. Wonderful.

I am still excited and expectant about what the new year holds.

posted by alexander @ 5:15 PM    0 comments

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theological educators

Had a very interesting (eye opening!) time with a group of C of E and Methodist theological educators, plus a team from CMS to stir the pot.

As is often the case the highlight has been one on one conversations. It has been a very enlightening time for me in terms of clarifying my thinking about the state of the institutional church and its relationship with the emerging church.

There is more to say but I need to be somewhat guarded in my comments for a while.

Sent from my XDA2.

posted by alexander @ 9:37 AM    0 comments

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