What about "traditional churches?"

We recently got this question from one of the folks that attended the recent Multi-Site Coast to Coast Conference. "The one thing we had trouble getting a feel for was track records for traditional churches going multi site.  We are 175 years old and many in the church are very set in their ways.  However, we really feel the Lord pulling us into multi site.  Is there any information out there for established, traditional churches that will give us a true insight to what we may be headed for? 

Our thoughts: 

1. Draw from your heritage as you pitch multi-site. For example, one of the United Methodist endorsements of the Multi-site Church Revolution (opening page) makes an analogy between what John Wesley did in taking the church to the people and what multi-site represents. Another quote in the book by Craig Groeschel, who grew up Methodist, likens horseback circuit riders of yesteryear to video "closed circuit" riders of today.

2. Emphasize what will not change. For many people, changed is spelled L-O-S-S. There is understandable fear of what will be taken away. You can give many assurances that will help people know that they will not lose certain relationships and patterns that are meaningful to them. 

3. Invite the existing congregation to have first-hand involvement in the excitement of the new. Don't position your multi-site initiatives as being disconnected from your existing ministries. The closer you bring your existing leaders to the front lines, the more sense of ownership they'll sense.

4. Tell stories of traditional churches that went multi-site with success For example, retell the touching story from the book about the United Methodist Church in Sedalia,  Missouri. We purposely told many stories of established, denominational churches in the book to affirm that established, traditional churches can become multi-site with good success.

5. Go forward only as fast as you can go on your knees in prayer. People want to have confidence that they are not going ahead of God. Don't wait for unanimous consensus, but do enlist your opinion leaders to be primary prayer champions of your multi-site dream.

These were our thoughts.  What advice would you offer?

Comments

[Scott Engbrecht]

We are one of the traditional, denominational churches whose story was in the book, also. Multi-site can be done with any type of church, if done the right way. Geoff, your points are great! If people are able to see life-change through the multi-site model, then you will have buy-in. Nappanee Missionary Church is proof that multi-site can happen in a 100+ year old church.