The Connecting Church Source: Randy Frazee, CCN Seminar, October 2005

Why “connect?” Restructuring our relationships and time is the solution for crowded loneliness

Why “connect?” “The biggest challenge for the church at the opening of the 21 st century is to address the fragmentation and discontinuity of the American lifestyle.” –Lyle Schaller

Where did fragmentation come from? Blame Dwight. –1941 creation of the interstate highway system and the acceleration of mobility in our culture –The average person in suburbia has 35 “worlds” to manage Which makes “quick and shallow” the order of the day

The Car is King The average family has 13 “commutes” per day. –Robert Putnam Results: –Health problems –Hurry sickness –Isolation

Is church helping? Sometimes, no. –Sometimes church structure (ie. our small groups) adds one more commute and appointment

What can a church do to help “connect?” Four “flip-flops” 1.Worship -> Community 2.Believing -> Belonging 3.Program -> Relationship 4.Community in Church -> Church in Community

1. Worship -> Community We no longer put worship as the first front door that leads to community- formation, but that worship becomes a support to already- existing communities

2. From believe - > belong No longer make “arriving” at belief the prerequisite for entering into community

3. Program -> Relationships Don’t create programs that work by promotion, with the hope that people will then form relationships Rather, build ministries out of already existing relationships

4. Community in church -> church in community The goal is not to get people into the church, but to get the church into the community The final measure of success is not church growth but church dispersion

How communities form “S.A.F.E.” Spontaneity Availability Frequency Eating meals together Repetitive, unplanned and planned informal contact

Launching “communities” Intentional creation of “neighborhoods” geographically –People who want to eat together, play golf, form small groups, play and commute together, etc. Think of a church as a collection of these communities

When forming neighborhoods … Be prepared for the issues that arise when believers and non-believers begin to be part of communities together –i.e. Matthew parties

Be prepared … For when something bad happens. –It is inevitable in collections of people –This is the point when non- believers get to see believers in action – and be moved by faith that makes a difference –The locus of ministry moves from the church building and staff to the neighborhood

What this will look like No longer will people come to church as a stranger among strangers, but as part of a community or neighborhood

First steps 1.Personally model community as a leader. 2.Start in your own immediate neighborhood. 3.Name the discontent of disconnectedness. 4.Map attendance clusters in church neighborhoods. 5.Start sharing stories. 6.Find peers or mentors.

The Connecting Church Dr. John P. Chandler The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership