In our interaction with Alan (insert), Reinhold raised the question whether Saturation Church Planting (SCP), the classical DAWN method (mobilize all the churches in a give area to 'saturate' their area with new churches, in order to have a church in walking distance of every inhabitant) still is a valid approach. Certainly SCP in the sense of cloning existing (overall non-missional churches) is not the way forward. Besides, the terms 'church' and also 'church planting' are quite loaded, and not very helpful in a post-Christian context. Oivind said that in Norway they adopted the term 'multiplying communities' instead of 'church planting'.
Alan said he would focus on raising up missionaries who use church planting as a major (but not the only) tool. He stressed that 'church renewal' should not be a focus in itself, but is always the result of real mission and innovation taking place on the fringes. Church structures and traditions keep the imagination of mission captive, so one of the main areas to train missionaries in is to imagine the Kingdom in areas where it's not yet visible.
I love the term 'multiplying communities'. It means so much more than church planting. The later reflects relationship, while the former organization.
Posted by: Mike | January 15, 2007 at 17:58