New Methodist Churches
I’m spending this week in Fayetteville, AR learning about church planting in the United Methodist Church.
As I think of church planting, I think of the population growth areas around me. Suburban areas jump to my mind. I know that in Tulsa there is at least one suburb with no Methodist church. Asbury has several families, that I know, who come from this suburb. My mind also goes to the urban areas that are seeing renewal as whole neighborhoods find new life as younger adults move into these urban neighborhoods.
The church plant in suburban Tulsa makes a whole lot of sense. It is simply a matter of there not being any Methodist churches there. What kind of sense, though, do we make of the urban churches that are doing okay, but are not able to reach the population growth of young adults? I ask this in terms of the churches doing okay, because it is a bit more obvious than the church that has a great location and facility and only has 10 elderly people in worship…. probably time to shut it down. But there are churches (probably in most cities) that are doing okay in attendance and finances, but have no real ability (or interest) in connecting with the new young residents in their neighborhood.
I can think of neighborhoods in my city where there are great shifts occring in demagraphics, but no shift really occuring in the churches that are in those neighborhoods.This is a real catch-22 for us as Methodists. We believe in a connectional system where every church adds equal value, but there are areas where we probably need to plant a church right on top of the pre-existing church in that same neighborhood. How do we make sense of this?
These decisions will never “make sense” when viewed through the political matrix in which we typically make these decisions. We need leaders at the highest levels who will say, “reaching these new population groups for Christ is more important than pacifying dying congregations and their leaders.”
I used to look at these dying congregations and be really depressed. Over the last few years, I have arrived at a slightly different place. These congregations made the decision (either intentionally or through poor leadership) to die a long time ago. Affirming that decision is not a sin.
the umc plants churches like it’s 1950.
If you are at all considering planting a church with them, or have a friend that is.
Here are a few things I’d suggest:
1. think less about location and more about people. the umc will want to think about geography, because of it’s history.
2. don’t buy land, and don’t the let the umc buy land for you. this is a must. land floating out there will only hurt your mission, not help it. this is a hard one to overcome with the umc. see number 1.
3. start planting a church from within a church. again. not something the umc does. but should do.
Love this conversation and especially Mark’s three pieces of advice. I tried to post a comment after I first read Spencer’s post but it didn’t go through.
The good news is that there are people (me being one of them) that are trying to do exactly as you (and Mark) suggest. We’re working on a plant in midtown Tulsa as we speak with an unconventional approach (if others want to join in, let me know). Thankfully, the district, conference, and denomination are all in support (though not with land, Mark, don’t worry…and I certainly haven’t asked for it!). So it’s not necessarily true that the denomination doesn’t support such efforts, but you both raise legitimate questions as to their ultimate level of interest and how much they’re willing to risk for urban plants.
After all, there’s a qualitative difference between pat you on the back “go get ‘em, tiger” support and “we’re going to help you succeed” support. Ultimately, there’s little institutional security in the former because, as Mark wisely points out, that’s not the vision the mainstream church has in mind. Church planting is “risky” enough, and urban planting is even riskier. And, apparently, most United Methodist pastors and churches (let alone districts, conferences, etc.) aren’t willing to take on even the slightest amount of risk (see Spencer’s most recent post) even if it builds the kingdom.
That’s why I think it’s going to take pastors, churches, DS’es, and Bishops that are willing to step out and take risks to make these things happen. There are certainly some (Willimon in Alabama is a good example of a risk-taking Bishop) who are up for the challenge, but it takes a willingness to put your future on the line and jump. It’s not easy. I’m right in the middle of it right now. But it’s an exhilarating ride. Will it work? I don’t know. But I hope it builds the kingdom. Anyone else want in?