Rebranding Reflections
Thought it might be worth sharing some rebranding reflections. For eight hours we drilled down on these questions: 1) What business are we really in? 2) What is our greatest passion? 3) What are our greatest strengths?
I think rebranding is really rediscovering your primal calling. And I think the genesis moment for me was a Willowcreek Conference. I remember feeling like Willowcreek gave me permission to do church differently. I think many of my core convictions trace back to that moment. Here are a few of them:
1) there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet.
2) the church ought to be the most creative place on the planet
3) we need different kinds of churches because there are different kinds of people
Even our core value, everything is an experiment, is an expression of that fundamental desire to do church differently. It's not about being different for difference sake. It's about reaching emerging generations. And that requires new wineskins.
Creativity, at its core, is a stewardship issue. It's about living out of a sanctified imagination. We've probably said this a thousand times: if the Kingdom of God had departments, we'd feel called to work in Research and Development. We take an experimental approach to everything we do. And I think a kingdom mindset has released us from the lie that we have to be all things to all people. We don't. We can't. We simply need to know our kingdom niche. And thank God for the other Bible-believing churches in our city. We'll all on the same team! We simply play different roles.
Identifying our driving motivation is helping us reimagine who we are and what we're about as a church.
I think way too many churches have copied mission statements. We have what I would call cut-and-paste churches. Please don't tell me your mission is to make fully-devoted followers of Christ. Of course it is. And, of course it isn't. That is Willowcreek language. If we simply use someone else's language I'm not sure we'll ever own the mission. Every church needs its own unique words, pictures, and values.
Just thought I'd share some initial reflections.
I think rebranding is really rediscovering your primal calling. And I think the genesis moment for me was a Willowcreek Conference. I remember feeling like Willowcreek gave me permission to do church differently. I think many of my core convictions trace back to that moment. Here are a few of them:
1) there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet.
2) the church ought to be the most creative place on the planet
3) we need different kinds of churches because there are different kinds of people
Even our core value, everything is an experiment, is an expression of that fundamental desire to do church differently. It's not about being different for difference sake. It's about reaching emerging generations. And that requires new wineskins.
Creativity, at its core, is a stewardship issue. It's about living out of a sanctified imagination. We've probably said this a thousand times: if the Kingdom of God had departments, we'd feel called to work in Research and Development. We take an experimental approach to everything we do. And I think a kingdom mindset has released us from the lie that we have to be all things to all people. We don't. We can't. We simply need to know our kingdom niche. And thank God for the other Bible-believing churches in our city. We'll all on the same team! We simply play different roles.
Identifying our driving motivation is helping us reimagine who we are and what we're about as a church.
I think way too many churches have copied mission statements. We have what I would call cut-and-paste churches. Please don't tell me your mission is to make fully-devoted followers of Christ. Of course it is. And, of course it isn't. That is Willowcreek language. If we simply use someone else's language I'm not sure we'll ever own the mission. Every church needs its own unique words, pictures, and values.
Just thought I'd share some initial reflections.
9 Comments:
Great word Mark. Even as a church planter I hear how you need to pick a "model" - which mistakingly gets interpreted as "copy a really cool church's vision statement and you will be successful." More people and pastors need to be comfortable with what God is asking of them in their unique setting and culture! Thanks for the encouragement.
Church isn't a brand! Respect for the pulpit is lost, and you know it.
copy and paste the bible on handouts so the congregation can follow along without opening a bible. That isn't church my friend, that's a money maker.
don't listen to bill. he would've been a real mess before gutenberg came along ;)
Great word. I think I've heard that cut-n-paste mission statement a ton of time. I like your wording... "kingdom niche", and how we have to "own" it. I think deep down we don't want to copy, but we do need help on how to properly pray, brainstorm, and implement what our team is feeling from the Holy Spirit.
Bill,
Not sure a comment exchange is the right format. And your comment tells me that you have a very different paradigm. And I respect that. But here is a question. Can we be biblical and creative at the same time? I think the answer is yes. We need to be true to Scripture. But we also need sanctified imaginations so we can incarnate the gospel message into a language and culture that people can understand.
You talk about cutting and pasting the Bible on handouts. What version? If you mean the original Septuagint that's fine. But if you say a more modern translation then that is an example of what I'm talking about. It's a rebranding of the Bible.
By the way, Paul said "I become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might reach some." That is rebranding in it's biblical context.
Mark
Mark,
I've been asking myself many of the same questions. I think we're going to have to discover a different or new model for ministry here in our town. We're in a town of 18k that is very under-developed because it's sandwiched in between two over-developed towns. We don't own property and there are almost no places in town big enough for us to meet. I'm trying to "think outside the church". Pray for us.
Jeff
I appreciate this post, Mark. We started Connection Church November 1 and I have read and listened to alot of opinions on planting a church. One principle has helped more than any: you can NOT do everything. Find your place in the field and work in it like the end is tomorrow. Gives you a ton of freedom and appreciation for other churches who are in a different part of the field.
Mark,
You are right on point with your comments. I look at the variety of the Disciples as the epitome of diversity. Yet the Disciples shared a common mission.
I am sure that our lack of contemplation in regards to allowing the Holy Spirit to fully define church missions as it pertains to individual churches has stifled the Church's overall effectiveness to date. We fail to take into account that we will answer for our "creative" stewardship as much as our "financial" stewardship one day.
When will we understand that our Creative God never runs out of ideas - or the desire to impart His plan to our hearts? When will we lay aside our "best" ideas and seek His? When will we understand that His are always better?
I'm afraid too many people have forgotten how to "stir up" the gifts that power, love, and a sound mind bring those who earnestly seek Divine Direction to see the "image" of new and emerging ways to assemble together.
There are lots of "church" ideas, resources, models and "designs" in books, on the internet, and all around us, yet the best ideas will always come as we discern what the Lord's design and desire is for each particular setting of His Church.
Diversity doesn't distress Him. It's straight from His imagination!
Betsy Harris
Uh, Mark, "all things to all men" is a biblical principle out of 1 Co 9. It doesn't mean that we have to be all things at all times. That passage is a call to be relevant. To the Jews, be a Jew. To the weak, be weak. Etc. There SHOULD be different churches because there are different people. That is what "all things to all men" is. To the hippy crowd, you are a hippy church. In China, the church is relevant to Chinese culture. In DC, be relevant to that culture. Etc. etc. etc.
1 Co. 9 is not a lie. All scripture is God-breathed. Right?
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