Comments on: Is Multi-Site an Old Idea? http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:31:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sean buchanan http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-166 sean buchanan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:48:16 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-166 i believe it is not a question of control, but of quality... i mean, what exactly are we replicating? 100 copies of what wasn't working is 100x worse, not 100x better. if we can see multi-site as an opportunity to achieve the "go" part of the great commission then we are onto something worthy of replicating. the issue is that too many of us are caught in a dichotomy: we both want authentic community and we fear it - it is a reflection of the entire story of God - we beg for Him to show up until He does, and then we complain about what that presence requires of us.... guess we are all bi-polar Christians. i believe it is not a question of control, but of quality… i mean, what exactly are we replicating? 100 copies of what wasn’t working is 100x worse, not 100x better.
if we can see multi-site as an opportunity to achieve the “go” part of the great commission then we are onto something worthy of replicating.
the issue is that too many of us are caught in a dichotomy: we both want authentic community and we fear it – it is a reflection of the entire story of God – we beg for Him to show up until He does, and then we complain about what that presence requires of us….
guess we are all bi-polar Christians.

]]> By: Jody Forehand http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Jody Forehand Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:37:13 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-159 First Christian Church in Charlottesville, VA is a non-denominational independent Christian Church that is part of the "Restoration Movement" of churches made up of around 5,500 Christian Churches / Churches of Christ around the country. First Christian Church was started in 1836, and my dad was the minister there from 1988-2006. The second campus that was started in the 1950s and later split off is now known as Cherry Avenue Christian Church. First Christian Church in Charlottesville, VA is a non-denominational independent Christian Church that is part of the “Restoration Movement” of churches made up of around 5,500 Christian Churches / Churches of Christ around the country. First Christian Church was started in 1836, and my dad was the minister there from 1988-2006. The second campus that was started in the 1950s and later split off is now known as Cherry Avenue Christian Church.

]]> By: William Vanderbloemen http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-158 William Vanderbloemen Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:56:28 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-158 Thanks Chris. That's the best of the holy and the corporate. And most of the effective muliti-sites I work with are churches that get both of those in proper order, balance, and effectiveness. Well said! Thanks Chris. That’s the best of the holy and the corporate. And most of the effective muliti-sites I work with are churches that get both of those in proper order, balance, and effectiveness. Well said!

]]> By: William Vanderbloemen http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-157 William Vanderbloemen Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:55:26 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-157 Good thoughts from a good heart. You think like a missional Sr. Pastor. I like it! Good thoughts from a good heart. You think like a missional Sr. Pastor. I like it!

]]> By: William Vanderbloemen http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-156 William Vanderbloemen Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:55:02 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-156 well said my friend. well said my friend.

]]> By: William Vanderbloemen http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-155 William Vanderbloemen Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:54:43 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-155 First Christian in Charlottesville - awesome example! What was their denominational affiliation? I'd love to know, and to hear more. First Christian in Charlottesville – awesome example! What was their denominational affiliation? I’d love to know, and to hear more.

]]> By: William Vanderbloemen http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-154 William Vanderbloemen Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:53:43 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-154 Eric, I've looked into that a couple of times, and have talked to pastors and staffs who have, namely LifeChurch and Second Baptist. IF, and only if, the church you're working with wants it, it looks like a model that has worked in the past. Let's talk about it. Eric, I’ve looked into that a couple of times, and have talked to pastors and staffs who have, namely LifeChurch and Second Baptist. IF, and only if, the church you’re working with wants it, it looks like a model that has worked in the past. Let’s talk about it.

]]> By: William Vanderbloemen http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-153 William Vanderbloemen Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:52:29 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-153 Great insights Greg - and you would have the bird's eye view of it all. And what a fantastic, forward looking question. Isn't it cool to see how God is using this model to help spread the movement! Great insights Greg – and you would have the bird’s eye view of it all. And what a fantastic, forward looking question.

Isn’t it cool to see how God is using this model to help spread the movement!

]]> By: Greg Ligon http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Greg Ligon Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:31:34 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-152 William, Interesting observation. Book of Common Prayer and some of the other examples you cite have provided ways to control and systematize through the years. Though there are some mutli-site models that adopt more of a “everything looks exactly the same franchise approach,” many more exhibit diverse expressions tied together only by common vision, mission and values. Multi-site is an idea that people take wherever they want … and they do! The question I am asked most is, “What is the most effective multi-site model?” My answer is always – “the one that takes into account who you are as a church and who God is calling you to become.” William,

Interesting observation. Book of Common Prayer and some of the other examples you cite have provided ways to control and systematize through the years. Though there are some mutli-site models that adopt more of a “everything looks exactly the same franchise approach,” many more exhibit diverse expressions tied together only by common vision, mission and values. Multi-site is an idea that people take wherever they want … and they do! The question I am asked most is, “What is the most effective multi-site model?” My answer is always – “the one that takes into account who you are as a church and who God is calling you to become.”

]]> By: Eric Laverentz http://williamvanderbloemen.com/2009/12/is-multi-site-the-new-book-of-common-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Eric Laverentz Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:35:04 +0000 http://williamvanderbloemen.com/?p=356#comment-150 I agree, William, it seems like this is a new twist on an old model. Mission Sunday Schools launched y a congregation in an another part of the city is another form of this. The control part is interesting point and I wonder how the Holy Spirit fits in. I attended Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC about a month ago. It was by far the most controlled worship experience I have ever had. The best comparison for me was attending a taping of a TV show at Rockefeller Center. The sermon was good. Music was pretty good. But they are exploding, apparently changing lives and making an impact for the Kingdom. I learned a lot but the strict control left me feeling a little manipulated by man rather than led by the Spirit. We are considering going mutli-site here but with a couple of stuggling neighbor churches who cannot afford pastors. Any thoughts there? I agree, William, it seems like this is a new twist on an old model. Mission Sunday Schools launched y a congregation in an another part of the city is another form of this. The control part is interesting point and I wonder how the Holy Spirit fits in. I attended Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC about a month ago. It was by far the most controlled worship experience I have ever had. The best comparison for me was attending a taping of a TV show at Rockefeller Center. The sermon was good. Music was pretty good. But they are exploding, apparently changing lives and making an impact for the Kingdom. I learned a lot but the strict control left me feeling a little manipulated by man rather than led by the Spirit.

We are considering going mutli-site here but with a couple of stuggling neighbor churches who cannot afford pastors. Any thoughts there?

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