Driscoll Versus the WeeWars, Part 2
A Word of Prophecy
Tom Dixon’s teaching began with some fumbling and mumbling mishaps with the microphone and sound system, which probably shook Tom up a little. It promised to be a dismal teaching from an obscure figure.
But then Tom launched into a strong message about what it means to carry out the Great Commission: “GO!” It’s all there in the first word. Aside from Tom, there was a surprising paucity of insights about the Great Commission at the STR.
Calvary is perpetually sending out leaders to plant extra-local churches.Dennis strongly endorsed Calvary’s “hot theology of ministry,” but then grew vague about exactly why it was so hot. It was difficult to discern what changes leaders could implement from the STR, beyond avoiding the obsession with statistics. The deemphasis on counting was only marginally-helpful for NeoXenos leaders, since our statistical work is already sloppy and pathetic enough.1
NeoNews reported the aspects of Calvary which Dennis said were not enviable or easily-transferred into a Xenos ethos, and the list eliminated most of the distinctive differences from Xenos.
But there was one major distinction from Xenos which Calvary pursues with gusto: Calvary is perpetually sending out leaders to plant extra-local churches. This was, of course, the point of Tom’s teaching about “GO!” Unfortunately, only Tom’s teaching tackled this issue. Some of the other teachings casually mentioned the “sending” ministry of Calvary, but without much practical benefit.
The Multi-Site Movement
Driscoll’s “Tri-Perspectival View” of leadership is merely an introduction to the real excitement and drama in Driscoll’s teaching. He uses the Prophet-Leader concept to call for potentially-unsettling changes at Mars Hill in Seattle. He calls it “Multi-Site Church”, and whatever else may be said about his vision, it is certainly valuable for Xenos in two big ways.
This issue should get resurrected and resolved before long-term demoralization robs Xenos of its vitality.
Second, Driscoll is leveraging the most effective tools in the modern era for growth, and not merely as a conveniences.
NeoZine published an article about the Meeting House last year describing their “teleconferencing” strategy. Driscoll’s approach goes further by adding Web technology and – most significantly – targeting the elusive Church Planting Movement (CPM).
The Difference in Fruit
Willow Creek church in Chicago became a major influence on Columbus Xenos at the same time our first feeble efforts at extra-local church planting met with catastrophic failure. Instead of extra-local churches, Willow built annexes and larger parking lots at its central campus accommodating nearly 50,000 people. This is double the attendance in 1990 when Xenos elders (including this author) first visited Willow.
“Sending” is far more-compatible with the Xenos paradigm
“Sending” is far more-compatible with the Xenos paradigm, since Willow’s “holding back” strategy means increasing organization, structures, buildings, bureaucracies, budgets, policies and many other elements not conducive to a “relational model” of fellowship.
The Mars Hill “sending” strategy is experiencing more growth, more salvations, more giving, participation, leadership development and more enthusiasm at their extra-local sites than back at the “mother ship”. These facts should not be overlooked at Xenos.
Weenie Wars
There is a silly online gaming site where gamers wage “Weenie Wars”, or mini-wars. The battlefield is all contained in a tiny square window, and gamers pitch battle with cute little tanks and little men. All the excitement comes from the creative control the gamer has over the the battlefield, so gamers create their own battlefields. Unfortunately, other gamers don’t play on your battlefield since you know all the advantages!
I thought it was a humorous depiction of the spiritual battlefield under excessive Kingly-Leadership:
Yes, it is fun, and it does work, but only for a little while. Then the game gets boring.
Next up: “The Weenie Wars.” Stay tuned to NeoZine for more about the spiritual vitality and excitement of the big “GO!” in the Great Commission. Get an RSS feed of our upcoming articles, or sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new articles are posted.
Editor’s Note: NeoXenos was, of course, far ahead of Mars Hill in the use of Web technology when we launched the groundbreaking and renown Basecamp years ago. (FYI, our Basecamp also beat Facebook to the punch and was only a few months behind MySpace!) All jocularity aside, it is noteworthy that Mars Hill developed a similar online community for their church which enhances their fellowship and helps to resolve the difficulty of extra-local church planting. We know from experience in Northeast Ohio that such online communities greatly enhances Christian fellowship and communications.
What will happen when Basecamp II is launched?
Additional Information
Footnotes:
- Leaders discuss statistics about once every six months: the October leader retreat and February FST retreat. View a slide show of the 2008 retreat slide online. [↩]
[...] Driscoll Versus the Weenie Wars, Part 2 tackles the tough issues of planting new churches. The article raises issues that all Christians should consider, but certainly the impact on NeoXenos should be quite noticeable if these proposals are adopted. [...]
With the above in mind and that Xenos has a reported history of “failed” extra-local plants, what does this mean for NeoXenos who also has experienced growth which then appears to flounder or stagnate? Was sending equipped leadership Xenos’ true calling?
Also the article reads…
This was at one time a great part of Xenos’ paradigm – mission’s became a focus not only world-wide but also extra-local – however, many plants never took off (ie Pittsburgh) due to apparent failure at other plants. Did we forsake our vision?
Could it be said that the amazing growth in Xenos was in part due to the passion of the Body to “GO” – whereever the need or “call” seemed evident? That the zeal for the Lord’s cause spilled over resulting in several mission fields and several church plants. People were willing to sacrifice in many ways (many made life style choices to live very modestly and gave heavily) – giving was not limited to missions but a “building fund” and other such endeavors were heavily supported. Was this the abundant life we were corporately called to do?
So are passion and zeal for the Lord’s glory what drives a church’s growth? Should a mission’s focus of “GO,” whether extra-local, inner city or world wide, be a greater part of vision or a paradigm? If so, what does this mean for NeoXenos?
Is the vision something that is merely for an individual’s leading or has the Spirit called us to a more corporate action?
I thought Tom Dixon’s teaching was by far the best of the STR. He was honest and unsure about the leap he was about to make, but completely faithful that God was going to do something great because he was giving him the opportunity.
I agree with what you’re saying here, it seems like sending out qualified leaders like Tom will give others a chance to step up and get broken and used by God in ways that they weren’t before. It will also serve to let God work in other neighborhoods and areas that the sent people are going to. God’s Great Commission is pretty genius because it’s an answer to stagnation and “staying home”.
Dr. Hugs and I talked about this at STR – it seems like Xenos should be doing a lot more of this!
However, I think you err by claiming you “beat” facebook to the punch- when exactly did basecamp launch? Facebook has been online since February 2004.
What will happen when basecamp II is launched?
The bold and courageous will flock to it and revel in it; they will use it for the glory of grace.
Others will feign disinterest and will pretend with stubborn indignation that they are not interested or able to use it. In time, their hearts will be softened and moved and excited by the possibilities and they will submit to use this amazing tool.
As for Lisa’s comments regarding all the changes swirling around the “failure” of extra-local church-plants, I really should write an article about this. It’s really quite silly, because the only “failure” was the first attempt made in ‘87 to plant up here in Cleveland by Guzzo & Co., and that was so well-publicized, I think it overshadows the rather wonderful blessings from the Lord we’re now seeing, and Cinci is experiencing, from what I know about it.
Actually, if you listen to Guzzo’s testimony on the issue, he was already struggling spiritually before leaving Columbus. The entire approach taken at that first effort was flawed.
Keith, I would be interested in an article about “all the changes swirling around the ‘failure’ of extra-local church-plants.”
I hope I was not misunderstood when I referred to the “failure” of extra-local church plants – I am and always have been a strong advocate of them. In fact, Steve and I were considering an extra-local plant in Pittsburg and we hosted a prayer meeting concerning that possibility. The door was not open to us at that time.
The Cleveland church’s ministry has been blessed in amazing ways – such a bounty of fruit! Your article just got me thinking.
BTW-did you read the article in Leadership magazine that discussed church franchising! Goodness imagine a McXenos.
Link to article
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/02/franchising_chu.html
McXenos, yeah what a great franchise!
But the “failure” motif didn’t originate with you Lisa, of course. It was a widely-held axiom at the time I moved up here.
Dixon also caught my ear at STR. He was so out of step with everyone else! It is exactly what Xenos needs.
Sociologists have shown that ideas spread like viruses. Person to person, without programs or structures. We need a “viral” church model that is anti-program, anti-institution, and pro-relationship.
Consider this: church “growth” and “planting” are agircultural metaphors. The bible is full of easy to understand agricultural metaphors like this. But think about it: the goal of a plant is not to become a REALLY BIG plant with no offspring. Rather, every flower, bush, and tree has a plan to scatter seeds. Whether by wind, water, animals, or other means.
We should have a truly organic church–not just at our fellowship but also by planting new churches all over the place.
[...] Read http://neozine.org/inside/str2008-vs-driscoll-2/ [...]
I just read the articles – fascinating! I will take in Driscoll’s video on this. Its an interesting distinction. I’m glad my STR teaching had some positive impact. I, of course, felt terrible about it.
I certainly wouldn’t have cast my message as prophetic. But I do sense that an old husk of accumulated know-how needs to be removed from our approach to ministry. Each generation needs to experience first-hand both the grace and the mighty deeds of God. That’s my prayer for the under 30 crowd.
I wonder if some thought needs to be put into marks of church-age prophetic leadership, as opposed to mere charisma or worse, false prophetic leadership. You began to address it in the Lucy article – love for jesus. But how can others recognize that?
[...] and http://neozine.org/inside/str2008-vs-driscoll-1/ and http://neozine.org/inside/str2008-vs-driscoll-2/. Some day soon Keith will write about his dream. The instant I heard it I knew it was prophetic. [...]