I struggle with the idea of being an "Urban Church".
Focusing on a label ("urban church") takes away from our true mission to proclaim the Gospel. I don't think the debate should be whether we are an urban church or suburban or rural. We are called to preach the Gospel to all the nations (and neighborhoods).
Where we choose to minister will certainly affect how we minister, to whom we minister, the demographics of the church, the personality of the church, and so on. It does not, however, change our call to proclaim Christ.
If God has provided a facility in an urban neighborhood, then so be it. But our focus MUST remain on Christ, not the community or environment of our ministry.
Good words, Jon. I do not care if we are an urban church, suburban church or a rural-agrarian church. I actually think that the labels are meaningless. Are we doing the will of God? Are we looking to follow His lead? Are we looking to see where He is moving and joining Him?
I do not see how our church changes based on where we meet, only on what we can do with the space. Look at First Baptist or First Presbyterian...they are urban churches by location and dead by actions.
Lets be the best community that God can make us whatever we are called.
As far as the location: I like the price (although that’s part speculation, isn’t it?) and the short lease. The building is ‘okay’. Don’t love it. BUT, that being said, having a kitchen is great, sounds like there’s some room for fixing/rearranging things later if needed, so that’s cool. It’d be nice to have an actual facility of our own, but there are lots of facilities all over the place that we ‘could’ rent. So...
the location all depends on IF the church (as a body) feels like it’s called to being an urban church. If we ARE, then we probably need to get downtown as soon as possible (a place with a rent we can afford/able to trust God for) and trust God for the results. But if we’re NOT, then we might as well stay where we are. People are from all over anyway, people aren’t really bringing neighbors/friends to church anyway (most new folks seem to come via finding us on the website*), so why bother moving when we don’t really ‘need’ to? But...
As far as being an urban church: I am for it. I want to consider moving to an urban area and really getting to know the folks in our community there. It’s happening where we live now, but honestly, it’s kind of weird/awkward to invite an unchurched friend to a church miles away. (I think unchurched folks, if they do have a hankering to go to church on their own, tend to go to whatever is close to their house.) Brian is warming up to the idea of considering a move. He likes the idea of being located closer to where college students live. Brian thinks that having a location in that part of town will open up a lot of opportunities that we don’t have now.
*an interesting topic for the steering team to discuss might be: if we’re (as a church) not really getting to know people in our communities (where we live), sharing Jesus, etc. etc. how can we expect to get to really know folks in a community where we DON’T live (but where the church is located)?
Okay, so these are the basic thoughts I have. As I’ve prayed about it, I keep coming back to the fact that if I don’t reach out to the folks around me where I live now, why should I think that living somewhere else is going to be any different? So, I’m a little convicted about that. I have the same concern for the church as well.
I agree with Jon and Cody - our primary call is to follow God and proclaim the gospel. So why NOT go to a place where it doesn't 'seem' to be happening (churches leaving) even though it doesn't seem as 'safe' (urban crime) and trust God to use us?
Danidoodle, your thoughts about who we invite is also a conviction I share. However, I am confident that if we had a place, rather than a rented school, I would be much more inclined to invite people to join me in fellowship. The permanence of a place changes at the least my capacity to invite and promote. Not to mention the other activities that we can add with having a place.
4 comments:
I struggle with the idea of being an "Urban Church".
Focusing on a label ("urban church") takes away from our true mission to proclaim the Gospel. I don't think the debate should be whether we are an urban church or suburban or rural. We are called to preach the Gospel to all the nations (and neighborhoods).
Where we choose to minister will certainly affect how we minister, to whom we minister, the demographics of the church, the personality of the church, and so on. It does not, however, change our call to proclaim Christ.
If God has provided a facility in an urban neighborhood, then so be it. But our focus MUST remain on Christ, not the community or environment of our ministry.
Jon
Good words, Jon. I do not care if we are an urban church, suburban church or a rural-agrarian church. I actually think that the labels are meaningless. Are we doing the will of God? Are we looking to follow His lead? Are we looking to see where He is moving and joining Him?
I do not see how our church changes based on where we meet, only on what we can do with the space. Look at First Baptist or First Presbyterian...they are urban churches by location and dead by actions.
Lets be the best community that God can make us whatever we are called.
From an email I sent Paul:
As far as the location:
I like the price (although that’s part speculation, isn’t it?) and the short lease. The building is ‘okay’. Don’t love it. BUT, that being said, having a kitchen is great, sounds like there’s some room for fixing/rearranging things later if needed, so that’s cool. It’d be nice to have an actual facility of our own, but there are lots of facilities all over the place that we ‘could’ rent. So...
the location all depends on IF the church (as a body) feels like it’s called to being an urban church. If we ARE, then we probably need to get downtown as soon as possible (a place with a rent we can afford/able to trust God for) and trust God for the results. But if we’re NOT, then we might as well stay where we are. People are from all over anyway, people aren’t really bringing neighbors/friends to church anyway (most new folks seem to come via finding us on the website*), so why bother moving when we don’t really ‘need’ to? But...
As far as being an urban church:
I am for it. I want to consider moving to an urban area and really getting to know the folks in our community there. It’s happening where we live now, but honestly, it’s kind of weird/awkward to invite an unchurched friend to a church miles away. (I think unchurched folks, if they do have a hankering to go to church on their own, tend to go to whatever is close to their house.) Brian is warming up to the idea of considering a move. He likes the idea of being located closer to where college students live. Brian thinks that having a location in that part of town will open up a lot of opportunities that we don’t have now.
*an interesting topic for the steering team to discuss might be: if we’re (as a church) not really getting to know people in our communities (where we live), sharing Jesus, etc. etc. how can we expect to get to really know folks in a community where we DON’T live (but where the church is located)?
Okay, so these are the basic thoughts I have. As I’ve prayed about it, I keep coming back to the fact that if I don’t reach out to the folks around me where I live now, why should I think that living somewhere else is going to be any different? So, I’m a little convicted about that. I have the same concern for the church as well.
I agree with Jon and Cody - our primary call is to follow God and proclaim the gospel. So why NOT go to a place where it doesn't 'seem' to be happening (churches leaving) even though it doesn't seem as 'safe' (urban crime) and trust God to use us?
Danidoodle, your thoughts about who we invite is also a conviction I share. However, I am confident that if we had a place, rather than a rented school, I would be much more inclined to invite people to join me in fellowship. The permanence of a place changes at the least my capacity to invite and promote. Not to mention the other activities that we can add with having a place.
Post a Comment