Mars Hill Church planning to add 100 new video sites
USA Today: Multi-site churches mean pastors reach thousands
“Driscoll rooted the multisite model in history, citing Francis Asbury, the 18th-century founding bishop of Methodism in America. Asbury covered a quarter-million miles on foot and horseback launching churches: “Now, instead of a horse, we have a video screen. We’ve given it a high-tech upgrade.”
Greg,
He isn’t “the” pastor of the church in Albuquerque. He isn’t “the” pastor of any of the campuses, even that in which he preaches live. He is a pastor. Perhaps we have lost in our autonomy the great connection that we are linked by Christ to those far away. When in a large church I didn’t know everybody I was approached by an older gentleman who introduced himself “I sit on the other side of the auditorium and I don’t think we’ve met, if you’re new or old here I’m glad to meet you.” I’d been there for two years, a fraction of his tenure.
Did the pastor there know my name? Yes. Did he know the name of everyone? No. But as I had connections with my brothers and sister close to me, we each grew in our walk with Christ because we heard great sermons that poured Christ into our hearts.
I believe that shepherding has changed. Sheep expect the shepherd to clip their toes, fluff their wool, kn ow all their extended family’s names and ailments, read them a bedtime story and tell them they’re wonderful. But the shepherd for a flock is more often at a distance looking for another pasture, watching out for wolves and calling the sheep to follow them sit down and eat in the field. Yes, Pastor Driscoll is the guys who preaches each week and is not individually connected to each sheep. Are there connections for the sheep? Are they fed, exhorted, rebuked by an assistant pastor locally? Are the loving one another locally? Are they serving locally? Are they reaching locally?
For what do we feel we must have local autonomy? To purchase land, hire secretaries and janitors, build buildings, train men in theology, participate in missions? These the campuses have the right to do. Perhaps Mars Hill Church is a more intense network of local believers than Garbcquest with a central hub of teaching. They choose to fellowship in this manner. Might it be better if the term church we used instead of campus?
He isn’t “the” pastor of the church in Albuquerque. He isn’t “the” pastor of any of the campuses, even that in which he preaches live. He is a pastor. Perhaps we have lost in our autonomy the great connection that we are linked by Christ to those far away. When in a large church I didn’t know everybody I was approached by an older gentleman who introduced himself “I sit on the other side of the auditorium and I don’t think we’ve met, if you’re new or old here I’m glad to meet you.” I’d been there for two years, a fraction of his tenure.
Did the pastor there know my name? Yes. Did he know the name of everyone? No. But as I had connections with my brothers and sister close to me, we each grew in our walk with Christ because we heard great sermons that poured Christ into our hearts.
I believe that shepherding has changed. Sheep expect the shepherd to clip their toes, fluff their wool, kn ow all their extended family’s names and ailments, read them a bedtime story and tell them they’re wonderful. But the shepherd for a flock is more often at a distance looking for another pasture, watching out for wolves and calling the sheep to follow them sit down and eat in the field. Yes, Pastor Driscoll is the guys who preaches each week and is not individually connected to each sheep. Are there connections for the sheep? Are they fed, exhorted, rebuked by an assistant pastor locally? Are the loving one another locally? Are they serving locally? Are they reaching locally?
For what do we feel we must have local autonomy? To purchase land, hire secretaries and janitors, build buildings, train men in theology, participate in missions? These the campuses have the right to do. Perhaps Mars Hill Church is a more intense network of local believers than Garbcquest with a central hub of teaching. They choose to fellowship in this manner. Might it be better if the term church we used instead of campus?
Seth,
Pastors are supposed to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2) and be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). Why, then, do the campus “pastors” only rarely preach and teach?
And I don’t believe you answered the primary question that I have repeatedly asked. In what sense is the campus in Albuquerque “coming together” for communion with a campus in Seattle?
Pastors are supposed to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2) and be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). Why, then, do the campus “pastors” only rarely preach and teach?
And I don’t believe you answered the primary question that I have repeatedly asked. In what sense is the campus in Albuquerque “coming together” for communion with a campus in Seattle?
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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)
Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA
Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University
Greg,
To belabor my thought again, why then do assistant pastors in our churches “rarely” preach and teach? Sounds as if only the Sunday Am preaching counts.
As to the “coming together” I would not be so bold as to assume that the gatherings referred to by Paul we in one house at one time. Are we to say that only the full corporate body must be present under the same roof? Are the local campuses “coming together” with those who are local? Your point that they, all the campuses, are not coming together in one location is taken, but is it essential? Is the greater emphasis on not unity of position in Christ? Paul’s instruction to “wait for one another” doesn’t seems to address proximity but rather an indictment of those who were If we decided to hold a communion service here with while a team was on missions trip to Africa we would have a sense in which we are united in celebrating our unity in Christ (as part of the same local body) even across the miles. I consider Paul’s instructions to “wait for one another” not a call to attendance or proximity but to each other but for the wealthy to wait for the poor and thus show their connection to one another and unity in Christ.
If you find a prescription in the “coming together” phrase do you also find a prescription in the “to eat”?
Alas the Christmas wrapping, taping, peeking and hiding calls.
Thanks for the thoughts and questions, much to consider still.
To belabor my thought again, why then do assistant pastors in our churches “rarely” preach and teach? Sounds as if only the Sunday Am preaching counts.
As to the “coming together” I would not be so bold as to assume that the gatherings referred to by Paul we in one house at one time. Are we to say that only the full corporate body must be present under the same roof? Are the local campuses “coming together” with those who are local? Your point that they, all the campuses, are not coming together in one location is taken, but is it essential? Is the greater emphasis on not unity of position in Christ? Paul’s instruction to “wait for one another” doesn’t seems to address proximity but rather an indictment of those who were If we decided to hold a communion service here with while a team was on missions trip to Africa we would have a sense in which we are united in celebrating our unity in Christ (as part of the same local body) even across the miles. I consider Paul’s instructions to “wait for one another” not a call to attendance or proximity but to each other but for the wealthy to wait for the poor and thus show their connection to one another and unity in Christ.
If you find a prescription in the “coming together” phrase do you also find a prescription in the “to eat”?
Alas the Christmas wrapping, taping, peeking and hiding calls.
Thanks for the thoughts and questions, much to consider still.
Sorry for the disjointed note - a corrected thought
Is the greater emphasis not on unity of position in Christ? Paul’s instruction to “wait for one another” doesn’t seems to address proximity but rather it is an indictment of those who were sinning by parsing relationships based on financial status, drunkenness and selfishness.
If we decided to hold a communion service here while a team from our church was on missions trip to Africa we would have a sense in which we are united in celebrating our unity in Christ (as part of the same local body) even across the miles. I consider Paul’s instructions to “wait for one another” not a call to attendance or proximity but to each other but for the wealthy to wait for the poor and thus show their connection to one another and unity in Christ.
Thanks for the patience with repost.
Is the greater emphasis not on unity of position in Christ? Paul’s instruction to “wait for one another” doesn’t seems to address proximity but rather it is an indictment of those who were sinning by parsing relationships based on financial status, drunkenness and selfishness.
If we decided to hold a communion service here while a team from our church was on missions trip to Africa we would have a sense in which we are united in celebrating our unity in Christ (as part of the same local body) even across the miles. I consider Paul’s instructions to “wait for one another” not a call to attendance or proximity but to each other but for the wealthy to wait for the poor and thus show their connection to one another and unity in Christ.
Thanks for the patience with repost.
Discussion