what is organic church?
I have to be honest I get a little tired of answering the question "What is organic church?" So I reckon I've come up with the solution: give people a copy of Frank Viola's answer!

Here's a bit of it:

Organic Church. I’ve been using this term for around fifteen years now. Today it’s become somewhat of a clay word, being molded and shaped to mean a variety of different things by a variety of different people.

T. Austin-Sparks is the man who deserves credit for this term. Here’s his definition:

"God's way and law of fullness is that of organic life. In the divine order, life produces it's own organism, whether it be a vegetable, animal, human or spiritual. This means that everything comes from the inside . . . function, order and fruit issue forth from this law of life within. It was solely on this principle that the New Testament came into being. Organized Christianity has entirely reversed this order."

By "organic church," I mean a non-traditional church that is born out of spiritual life instead of being constructed by human institutions and held together by religious programs. Organic church life is a grass roots experience that is marked by face-to-face community, every-member functioning, open-participatory meetings (as opposed to pastor-to-pew services), non-hierarchical leadership, and the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ as the functional Leader and Head of the gathering. Put another way, organic church life is the experience of the Body of Christ. In its purest form, it's the fellowship of the Triune God brought to earth and experienced by human beings...

To put it in a sentence, organic church is not a theater with a script. It’s a lifestyle—a spontaneous journey with the Lord Jesus and His disciples.

The full article is here. It forms part of Frank's April 2007 Newsleter.

Labels: Organic church

posted by alexander @ 6:12 PM    2 comments

2 Comments:

I just finished Neil Cole's "Organic Church" which is a great read. I blogged 3-4 times on things learned from this book on my own blog. If you haven't gotten a copy yet, it is a must read book!

By  GuyMuse, at 9:37 PM  

I prefer using Organic Church but have stopped because it just seems to create so much confusion including people contacting me about whether they can get their fruit and veges from me!
Since I have restarted using 'Simple Church' I have been really amazed at the excitment I see in peoples eyes especially jaded church goers.
www.everyhomeachurch.blog.co.uk

By  Philip, at 1:55 AM  

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prayer walking produces results
Here in Bath we have been prayer walking, together with various other activities and community involvements in one particular area of the City for around ten years. We know too that others had prayer walked through this area in previous years. It is an area full of all the usual social problems similar to those in any large outer-city estates.

We have prayed constantly for three specific things; 1. That God would raise up and send labourers, willing workers, into this needy area to bring his harvest in. 2. That He would raise up men and women of peace (Luke 10) who would be ready to receive those workers and the message they bring. 3. And we have prayed blessing on the community, house by house, family by family, on the 2 schools and the few businesses. For Gods kingdom to come and be established in all of them.

This week I discovered that several christian families have recently moved onto this estate and there are others close by, all with a call and vision to reach out, make disciples and start simple home churches on this estate!

They have already found 2 people of peace and the main leader has been invited into the local primary school to do a second assembly at Easter. God has answered our prayers!

Labels: church planting stories

posted by alexander @ 4:52 PM    1 comments

1 Comments:

I believe the three things you guys are praying for are exactly the kinds of things Jesus is just waiting for us to pray so He can answer. Thanks for the reminder to keep our praying focused along these same lines.

By  GuyMuse, at 2:41 PM  

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gloucester april 13-15 YOU CAN
An opportunity to meet in Gods presence with other youth and be envisioned to be church wherever and whenever. It will be a powerful time. If you want more details email: network4youth(at)hotmail.co.uk .

Labels: events

posted by alexander @ 12:34 PM    0 comments

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a new waterfall in south wales
Mark Cutliffe from near Swansea in S Wales told me their brilliant story this morning of how they now have a network of five simple churches. Here it is:

From an existing church setting, in 2003, a team embarked on what they thought would be a typical congregational style church plant. As a result of this ‘experience’ the leader, Mark, was forced to begin rethinking what church was all about. God began to completely reshape his thinking and this led to a journey which has now produced five simple churches in and around the beautiful Gower peninsula near Swansea in South Wales. Mainly meeting in homes or coffee shops they attempt to get all the churches together about once a month – but often it is very difficult!



Although most involved currently were previously ‘churched’, many had been on the periphery or were disconnected from church; but this new organic shape provided a non-threatening environment for them in which they felt comfortable and able to participate.

One small group consists almost totally of unchurched young people, most of whom are still unsaved! They have also started a dedicated gathering once a month for all the children involved in the different churches. Inevitably other kids are being drawn in and they are anticipating more churches will be started as a result of getting to know these kid’s parents.

Another church is focused around a men’s group made up of guys who had generally disconnected from church; using the powerful ‘Band of Brothers’ TV series as a conversation starter they have begun to rediscover a life in God which echoes their cry for something worth living and dying for.

At the heart of their ethos is a determination not to build their own thing but to serve and release others into their own vision - a kingdom rather than church approach. For example another believer living about 30 minutes away in Porthcawl approached them interested in simple/organic church, but rather than ‘recruiting’ him into their own group they are now mentoring and encouraging him in the process of starting a church in his own home.

‘Our biggest challenge’ comments Mark, ‘is the need to find and raise up more leaders who will take on responsibility for the growing work. Too much is dependent on me right now.’

Mark also has a vision to provide an opportunity for others involved in organic/simple church in South Wales to get together to share stories and encourage one another, so if you live within an hour or so of Swansea and would appreciate this sort of gathering you will find Mark’s contact details in the directory under Swansea.

Labels: church planting stories

posted by alexander @ 4:22 PM    3 comments

3 Comments:

Thanks for a great story.

I love the whole concept of simple church. We've planted a simple church among he Homeless in Dallas Texas. I can't imagine trying to do a traditional church that way.

We have no building payments. If the weather is nice we gather at City Hall Plaza. If it's not we may find a quiet place in the library, or go to a restraunt, share a meal and time with the Lord.

We're still new to this, so we haven't gotten to the point of trying to multiply gatherings yet. But I believe that is coming soon.

Thanks for the great story.

By  John Lunt, at 7:38 PM  

This is a wonderful story. Here's to many more in the amazing power of the Spirit in these exciting days.

I'm from Melbourne, Australia... Alan Hirsch country, etc!

I'm from a traditional church but am convinced even a massive church like mine has to face the challenge of moving to the margins.

Thanks for the encouragement in this :)

- Alister

By  Alister Cameron, Blog Coach, at 12:18 PM  

Glad to see that Waterfall's story is an encouragement to others. John, sounds brilliant what you guys are up to in Dallas - send me your contact details so next time I'm in DFW we can get together. And great to hear that our 'dangerous stories' are provoking you guys down under!

By  alexander, at 12:24 PM  

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site updates
Various pages on the site have been updated; including old links repaired and a new event posted on the events page.

posted by alexander @ 6:20 PM    0 comments

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going organic - some thoughts

Some thoughts for those embarking on organic church planting, taken from the Department for Agriculture web site;

Converting to organic production is a major decision for any farmer or grower, often involving changes to farm structure, management and finance. It is therefore important that careful consideration is given to the process of conversion, and how it is undertaken.

If you are considering converting to organic production then taking sound advice is highly recommended. Unless you already have considerable knowledge of organic production systems, organic standards and procedures, assistance to help you make the correct decisions and fill in application forms is invaluable.

Prior to conversion, it is also a good idea to talk to, and visit, other organic producers, particularly those with a similar farm size and structure to your intended organic unit.

Apparently it can take up to five years for a farm to become 'fully organic'.

posted by alexander @ 1:02 PM    0 comments

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organic review
Have begun reconnecting with people around the UK in order to do a review of all things organic.

Always good to talk to Peter Worthington who runs house2house uk. They have about 8 different household churches in their local network and are helping a further 50 in some way around the UK.

One great story: A couple who gather in their home got to know a homeless guy who they eventually invited to stay with them for several months. He made a commitment to the Lord and subsequently moved up to Manchester to a Salvation Army hostel. Here he began an alpha course for residents and they now have 19 on the course!

Another couple Peter has connections with up in Manchester teach english to immigrants. Several have become believers as a result of this couple inviting them into their home for Sunday lunch and now there are 2 home churches meeting along similar lines.

Again and again as I ask people what they would find most helpful in their organic church planting journey the reply is - to be able to get together with others locally who are travelling the same road to share stories and lessons learnt etc.

Are you already doing that sort of thing locally/regionally? If you are let me know and I can help spread the word to any others who may be in your neck of the woods.

Labels: church planting stories

posted by alexander @ 4:48 PM    1 comments

1 Comments:

Yes I think we all crave connecting together, yet when we try it, organic churchers get suspicous about 'control' which is a bummer!
www.everyhomeachurch.blog.co.uk

By  Philip, at 2:08 AM  

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apostles - slaves of Christ
With permission from Brian Dodds I include some quotes from an article he has written about true apostolic.

The full article can be read here on Steve Hills site.

Why do some apostles make themselves into super stars? And conversely, why do some folks claim there are no apostles today? Paul identifies it as one of the five gifts needed for the building up and maturing of the church. Why would some exalt this gift ? And why would some believe that God has taken this gift away? The answer is centered in a misunderstanding of what an apostle was in the first place (in the Greco-Roman social context), and is based on a hierarchical understanding that places apostles at the top of the church structure when the New Testament clearly places them at the bottom. The understanding of leadership in the New Testament that should frame our understanding of apostles is the foot-washing, low-status slave (John 13), and the “race to the bottom” to become a “slave of all” (Matthew 20:20ff; 1 Corinthians 9:19).

An “apostle” in the ancient world is simply someone who is sent (Greek: apostolos). An apostle was someone who was sent to conduct business on the behalf of another. There was—originally speaking—nothing religious about them. They were normally an unvalued slave, who was expendable.

Travel in the ancient world was dangerous, and something that individuals did not choose lightly. Who would have the right to send someone on their behalf? A slave owner or a governmental or military commander. The person sent—the apostle—did not have a choice. In the case of the government or military, the apostle sent with orders normally would be a part of an armed entourage. The slave-apostle would not have such protection. The master would pick the slave he could most afford to lose, and send that one to conduct his business in some extended location. The apostle-slave might be the same as the lowest household slave who was given the shameful duty of washing feet (see John 13). Mattering least, and therefore sent.

“Apostle” was not a title for a high status leadership position. Before and after Jesus “apostles” were low status slaves with no power of their own, and they were as common as dishwashers are today. If we practiced slavery like they did in the ancient world, when you said “apostle” today no one would think of the manager, owner or executive of a restaurant. They would think of the dishwashers and busboys...

...What we need more than anything is a release of these kind of slave-apostles for the mission of Jesus to the lost and hurting. God is a sending God and commands his followers to go to those who have lost their way, not waiting for them to come to us.

posted by alexander @ 10:37 AM    2 comments

2 Comments:

"...What we need more than anything is a release of these kind of slave-apostles for the mission of Jesus to the lost and hurting. God is a sending God and commands his followers to go to those who have lost their way, not waiting for them to come to us.

Good stuff, Alexander. One of the issues we struggle with big time in our midst is the sending of these apostolic workers into the harvest fields. There are many who are willing, but few who are willing to support them in their task. I think it was Wolfgang Simson who has said maybe this is something the Church in the West could do to "pour oil" on these workers and use the West's financial strength to bless those who are willing and yet unsuported harvest workers. I know such is a very controversial subject in missiology, but I throw it out there anyway. At least we need to be struggling with this issue or how we are to support these apostolic workers.

By  GuyMuse, at 4:18 PM  

Guy, I'm challenged by your comment. interestingly those here in the 'west' who are 'willing' to pursue organic church planting work (full time) also struggle to find those willing to support them! secondly, if we (or any other readers of this blog) as a home church wanted to support a 'willing worker' out there, through you, how might this work?

By  alexander, at 9:01 AM  

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