Comments on: Networks, Initiatives, Conferences, and Movements http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/ Let's give the Commission back to the church. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:47:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ernest http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13591 Ernest Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:46:12 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13591 Sorry to have left JADED out of the post. It is indeed all that you say, and more. Sorry to have left JADED out of the post. It is indeed all that you say, and more.

]]> By: Ernest http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13590 Ernest Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:19:38 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13590 David, I agree. I'm certainly not saying that networks don't have their place. As I mention in the post, I was part of starting the Upstream Collective, and I think it continues to meet a need for churches. I'm just wondering if there might be a way for us to avoid redundancies or to cooperate rather than compete. I love that most networks these days don't require "exclusivity contracts." It's great that a church can associate with various networks across various commonalities. One doesn't have to choose one network- you can be part of Upstream, Acts 29, GCM, and the SBC, and you won't get any pushback (from at least 3 of the 4!). In fact, when we started the Upstream Collective, we deliberately chose the term "collective" over "network" because we wanted to be more of a loose affiliation. All it takes to be part of Upstream is to take measures to help your church think and act like a missionary! David,
I agree. I’m certainly not saying that networks don’t have their place. As I mention in the post, I was part of starting the Upstream Collective, and I think it continues to meet a need for churches. I’m just wondering if there might be a way for us to avoid redundancies or to cooperate rather than compete.

I love that most networks these days don’t require “exclusivity contracts.” It’s great that a church can associate with various networks across various commonalities. One doesn’t have to choose one network- you can be part of Upstream, Acts 29, GCM, and the SBC, and you won’t get any pushback (from at least 3 of the 4!).

In fact, when we started the Upstream Collective, we deliberately chose the term “collective” over “network” because we wanted to be more of a loose affiliation. All it takes to be part of Upstream is to take measures to help your church think and act like a missionary!

]]> By: Ernest http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13589 Ernest Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:11:49 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13589 Bob, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've always been a fan of GlocalNet. I love this: "Only when church planting is local church driven and done without huge amounts of money will we ever get a movement – the West must get in line with the East on this issue." So true. I assure you, I stay quite busy with things that "matter." Sorry to come across as whining. I'll probably keep "tinkerin'" with ecclesiology, though. I really enjoy working through all this stuff, and I think it's pretty important. Sounds like you've got it figured out– good for you. Thanks again! Bob,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ve always been a fan of GlocalNet. I love this: “Only when church planting is local church driven and done without huge amounts of money will we ever get a movement – the West must get in line with the East on this issue.” So true.

I assure you, I stay quite busy with things that “matter.” Sorry to come across as whining. I’ll probably keep “tinkerin’” with ecclesiology, though. I really enjoy working through all this stuff, and I think it’s pretty important. Sounds like you’ve got it figured out– good for you.

Thanks again!

]]> By: Bob Roberts http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13580 Bob Roberts Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:21:14 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13580 I don't know you - but you are right on. May shock you, but I agree with you, I began to realize this several years ago and we began to reformat. Glocalnet doesn't start churches - NorthWood CHURCH does, and we mentor other churches to start churches. In most networks, Glocalnet included, the majority of churches are started by a small minority in the network, with everyone giving some money and partnering in the network. The only problem is, that allows churches to be planted without a lot of labor and delivery on the part of the mother - meaning that it doesn't go deep in the DNA of a local church. Thus, several years ago, glocalnet became a training, blogging, etc., site. Our focus is on local churches planting. Call it movement - it doesn't make it one. Movement is something other people have to say about us, like the Christians in Antioch. Only when church planting is local church driven and done without huge amounts of money will we ever get a movement - the West must get in line with the East on this issue. Now would you please get busy, start lots of churches out of your church and then whine about something worth changing the world over instead of tinkerin with "ecclesiology" a lost world don't give a rip about your ecclesiology and when it's all said and done, ecclesiology followed disciplemaking and global engagement not the other way around. I don’t know you – but you are right on. May shock you, but I agree with you, I began to realize this several years ago and we began to reformat. Glocalnet doesn’t start churches – NorthWood CHURCH does, and we mentor other churches to start churches. In most networks, Glocalnet included, the majority of churches are started by a small minority in the network, with everyone giving some money and partnering in the network. The only problem is, that allows churches to be planted without a lot of labor and delivery on the part of the mother – meaning that it doesn’t go deep in the DNA of a local church. Thus, several years ago, glocalnet became a training, blogging, etc., site. Our focus is on local churches planting. Call it movement – it doesn’t make it one. Movement is something other people have to say about us, like the Christians in Antioch. Only when church planting is local church driven and done without huge amounts of money will we ever get a movement – the West must get in line with the East on this issue. Now would you please get busy, start lots of churches out of your church and then whine about something worth changing the world over instead of tinkerin with “ecclesiology” a lost world don’t give a rip about your ecclesiology and when it’s all said and done, ecclesiology followed disciplemaking and global engagement not the other way around.

]]> By: Brad http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13566 Brad Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:31:59 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13566 Ernest, great post and thanks for the mention. Ernest, great post and thanks for the mention.

]]> By: David Rogers http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13562 David Rogers Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:25:08 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13562 I think networks, initiatives, conferences, movements--and even denominations and local churches--all have their legitimate place (to the degree they are not heretical, or toxic in other aspects), provided they do not become sectarian, or de facto promoters of sectarianism. We are all a part of the Body of Christ, and, just as each individual member has its place, each network, initiative, conference, movement, denomination, and local church (that really is a part of the Body of Christ, and is really preaching the authentic gospel) has its place. I think networks, initiatives, conferences, movements–and even denominations and local churches–all have their legitimate place (to the degree they are not heretical, or toxic in other aspects), provided they do not become sectarian, or de facto promoters of sectarianism. We are all a part of the Body of Christ, and, just as each individual member has its place, each network, initiative, conference, movement, denomination, and local church (that really is a part of the Body of Christ, and is really preaching the authentic gospel) has its place.

]]> By: Kevin http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13555 Kevin Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:10:07 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13555 Relevant. Witty. Urbane. Pragmatic. Practical. Hip. These are the words used to describe this post (along with some of the network/movement/catalysts, mentioned above.) Relevant. Witty. Urbane. Pragmatic. Practical. Hip.

These are the words used to describe this post (along with some of the network/movement/catalysts, mentioned above.)

]]> By: almost an M http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2010/07/14/networks-initiatives-conferences-and-movements/comment-page-1/#comment-13543 almost an M Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:38:06 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/?p=471#comment-13543 Ernest, I'm surprised that you left off JADED. It is simultaneously a conference, a loose network, and a way of life--though celebrate-able only one day a year. Perhaps you forgot about this overtly subtle hoopla due to all the glitz and bling associated with it. Sincerely, almost Ernest,

I’m surprised that you left off JADED. It is simultaneously a conference, a loose network, and a way of life–though celebrate-able only one day a year. Perhaps you forgot about this overtly subtle hoopla due to all the glitz and bling associated with it.

Sincerely,
almost

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