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Missional: Has It Been Shrink-Wrapped Too?

Posted Sep 26, 06:44 AM | 0 comments | by Editor | Link

This Thursday (September 27), up/rooted in Chicago is hosting a roundtable discussion with Spencer Burke, Neil Cole, Alan Hirsch, Denise VanEck, and Ron Martoia on the question “Missional: Has It Been Shrink-Wrapped Too?”

Hear these well-known authors and leaders in the Missional Church conversation discuss whether the concept of “missional” has already become too much of a fad, gimmick, program, buzz-word, etc., or whether there is still some value to be had in embracing this term.

A live webcast will be available beginning at 7 p.m. CST via www.soularize.net/feedlive.

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UPDATE 9/27/2007: The live webcast just wrapped, and here are a few snaps and choice comments I transcribed on the fly (DISCLAIMER: “on the fly” means they may not be completely word-for-word accurate). An audio podcast of the discussion will apparently be posted on shapevine.com. Until then, here are some excerpts from tonight’s discussion:

Neil Cole: “We’re in a capitalistic country [U.S.A.] so our weaknesses are going to be individualism and consumerism. ... But Jesus started with the poor. ... I don’t think we do a poor person a favor by teaching them to be consumeristic.”

Alan Hirsch: “[The emerging church] is largely a renewal movement … trying to discover spirituality in a postmodern environment, but in my opinion it lacks a real focus on the genuine missionary call. ... The missional movement is much more focused around the missional cause. ... One [‘emerging’] is a renewal movement and the other [‘missional’] is a missionary movement. ... Emerging comes out of missional, not the other way around.”

Spencer Burke: “I think, if we keep thinking about a movement in old terms, we’ll keep thinking about reaching from the top down … [But] the tools change the rules. ... I’m not sure it will not spread from the means of the past [but] ... I think it’s going to move where it’s viral, less in a top-down way. ... I am fascinated by those who are in power who know it’s going to happen in that way but who are still in positions of power. ...

“I challenge the institutional church, where are you spending your R&D [research and development] money now? ... If it’s trying to figure out the next big church, I think you should not spend your money that way. ... I actually believe that you will see major organizations in the next few years investing in R&D because of the missional question … because of the things they are discovering now …

“I really believe the institutional church will die to itself … even though it will destroy our Sunday morning event … even though it will mean no longer investing in training biblical teachers for the one-hour event … for the greater good, the greater cause, the missional opportunity …”

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