Open-Source Church
Had an interesting brainstorming meeting yesterday with Dave Ferguson and Eric Bramlett from CCC and Todd Wilson who is the organizational guru behind the National New Church Conference. Just thought I'd post a few thoughts in process.
I'm a huge believer in and proponent of open-source resources. I have no issue with churches selling DVDs, CDs, etc. You've got to recoup cost. But I think it puts a smile on God's face when churches shareware their ideas and resources. We tried to take a step in that direction with www.chasethelion.com. All the video and graphics are free--no strings attached.
Honestly? We love it when churches ask us if they can use something we've produced. And we have no hesitations sharing because nine times out of ten we got it from someone else :)
Eric Bramlett threw out a word yesterday that I love: manipulatable. We talked about churches posting videos and graphics so that they are manipulatable. In other words, you take the final cut or photoshop file and make it available so that other churches can watermark it with their information.
The danger with open-source is simply copying someone else's creativity. But I'd like to think of it as stimulating creativity. I'm not sure the most creative churches in the country can come up with 52 weeks of creative material. It's ok to borrow ideas. That is what open-source is all about. We're all on the same team. Let's share best ideas and best practices.
Not sure how this idea will evolve. But I think we could have significant kingdom impact if the church-at-large becomes more open-source.
I'm a huge believer in and proponent of open-source resources. I have no issue with churches selling DVDs, CDs, etc. You've got to recoup cost. But I think it puts a smile on God's face when churches shareware their ideas and resources. We tried to take a step in that direction with www.chasethelion.com. All the video and graphics are free--no strings attached.
Honestly? We love it when churches ask us if they can use something we've produced. And we have no hesitations sharing because nine times out of ten we got it from someone else :)
Eric Bramlett threw out a word yesterday that I love: manipulatable. We talked about churches posting videos and graphics so that they are manipulatable. In other words, you take the final cut or photoshop file and make it available so that other churches can watermark it with their information.
The danger with open-source is simply copying someone else's creativity. But I'd like to think of it as stimulating creativity. I'm not sure the most creative churches in the country can come up with 52 weeks of creative material. It's ok to borrow ideas. That is what open-source is all about. We're all on the same team. Let's share best ideas and best practices.
Not sure how this idea will evolve. But I think we could have significant kingdom impact if the church-at-large becomes more open-source.
6 Comments:
I am completely with you on the need to be proponents of open-source church. After all, none of us should be in this thing if we are worried about protecting our rights and making a name for ourself. The question I have is how does one respond when challenges of plagiarism are brought? Check out this article that was recently in a denomination's national magazine, it takes a strong stand against what you would call an open-source church platform.
I thinking open-sourcing is a great idea as well. When I went to Saddleback for the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry conference, they were VERY open source with their material. And if you wanted a resource they were selling but couldn't afford it, they offered to give it to you. I left feeling like money was not their motivation for creating church resources. And that is cool.
I like making it free. At Crosspoint you can download our sermons free. if you want a CD - we'll burn it free. You can have our videos if you like them - free. We don't have a good delivery mechanism yet. But we are working toward that. I'm sure our stuff is junk compared to larger churches - but we still give it away free. I love what lifechurch.tv is doing with their Open network. We'll do the same very soon. Want a Crosspoint Sermon Transcript - you can have it free. I don't even care if you say its yours. Just make it better. I've purchased willow stuff, saddleback stuff, fellowship stuff, sermon spice stuff and its all helped - but as a church plant with no money imagine how helpful it would be if it was free. Now if I could get some free books and from nationally known authors - i'd be in business!
Mark...I often see in youth ministry that there are many smaller church youth ministries that don't have the resources to create nor purchase materials. Churches like yours and Lifechurch and others that have created an open source system are a great life giving resource to the smaller church.
I have long said that if I can at anyway make my materials available to youth ministries that don't have the capability on their own I would do it...no charge.
As far as plagiarism is concerned with my material...who gives a rip. It all came from God anyway. If you can use my stuff then use it.
Making Difference Makers
Wonder if it would make any sense for someone to create a "clearing house" type of site that offered up open-source info from all or as many churches possible and did so in a way that made them searchable by category, topic or purpose. This "clearing house" type of site could basically be a "Church Open Source Network" and either house the materials for access or just link to them on the authors sites. What do you guys think of something like that? Could be funded (time and bandwidth wise) by minimal donations, etc.
Daniel -
I love that idea.
I think the fact God and the talents He has given us have gone copyrighted far to long.
I am in the process of setting up www.opensourcefellowship.org
In the next coming weeks I will work on a format to host this platform.
In Service to the Kingdom,
Glenn Kelley - churchmedic.com
www.Vinehosting.com
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