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A Pioneering SpiritA Pioneering Spirit
http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/
A missional A missional re-engagementre-engagement
with societywith society
2007 Tear Fund survey of 7000 adults in contact or not with church
“ “ this majority (66%) presents a major this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are challenge to churches. Most of them are
unreceptive and closed unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing isto attending church; churchgoing is
simply not on their agenda.”simply not on their agenda.”
Churchgoing in the UK.Churchgoing in the UK.A research report from Tearfund. April 2007A research report from Tearfund. April 2007
Playing Away
‘ ‘ the church is missionary the church is missionary by it’s very nature…….by it’s very nature…….
the church does not havethe church does not have a mission a mission
but the mission has but the mission has a church.’a church.’
Prophetic Dialogue. Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and ScroederBevans and Scroeder
‘‘Mission is often described as if it wereMission is often described as if it werea planned extension of an old building.a planned extension of an old building.But it fact it has usually been more likeBut it fact it has usually been more like
an unexpected explosion.’an unexpected explosion.’
John V Taylor John V Taylor
A re-imaginationA re-imaginationof what church isof what church is
(and could become) (and could become)
““ And so from the start, where Jesus is,And so from the start, where Jesus is,there is the church, the church is the there is the church, the church is the
assembly of those who are finding their assembly of those who are finding their relationships, their lives transformedrelationships, their lives transformed
by the presence of Jesus.”by the presence of Jesus.”
A re-orientation A re-orientation towards whole lifetowards whole life
discipleship.discipleship.
The glory of God is the human person fully alive
Irenaeus of Lyon
‘‘a discipleship movement a discipleship movement shaped for mission’shaped for mission’
What kind of people are we called to be?
What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?
Dreamers Dreamers whowhododo
“We cannot solve problems by
using the same kind of thinking
we used when we created them.”
Albert Einstein
“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust
Three pieces of adviceabout imagination
1.Forget everything you know
2.Remember everything you know
3.Re-arrange everything you know
•Who is the mission for?
•Who is the mission by?
•Who is the mission with?
Dissenters who are loyal
‘‘There can be no constructive changeThere can be no constructive change at all, even in church, unlessat all, even in church, unless
there is some form of dissent. there is some form of dissent. By dissent I mean simply the proposing ofBy dissent I mean simply the proposing of
alternatives….alternatives….and a system that is not and a system that is not
continuously examining alternativescontinuously examining alternativesis not likely to evolve creatively.’is not likely to evolve creatively.’
Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church
Four enduring features?• Dissatisfied
– Not grumbler but wanting change for the better
• Visionary– Looks beyond what is to what could be
• Hopeful– Change is possible and this inspires others
• Risk takers– Acts on convictions and out of comfort zones
Stuart Murray: Ch 7 Planting Churches: who?
‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’
Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church
Diversifiers who uniteDiversifiers who unite
‘‘Take leave of the gospel Take leave of the gospel for the sake of the gospel.’for the sake of the gospel.’
Spectrum of pioneeringSpectrum of pioneering
PioneerStarter
PioneerSustainer
SustainerPioneer
SustainerDeveloper
Danger of one model for pioneering
Disturb us Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
when our dreams have come truebecause we have dreamed too little,
when we arrived safelybecause we sailed too close to the shore.
Sir Francis Drake
http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/
The Qualities of aThe Qualities of aPioneer ?Pioneer ?
People who arePeople who are
moving out
People who arePeople who are
loving change
People who knowPeople who know
when to stay or go
People who knowPeople who know
when to bring orderor chaos
http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/