Comments on: FREE AGENT CHURCH….from organizational loyalty to project-based ministry

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:38:53 +0000

Dan:

Thanks for your comments. Castell’s book sounds a book worthy to look at as far as this discussion is concerned. Aloha back to you!

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:36:55 +0000

Pete:

Yes. Loyalty is a good thing and hard to measure. I think serial church hopping is unfortunate and puts the church in a competitive mode for people–either to attract more or keep more. That is not always a good focus when there is a mission to galvanize people around and it turns out to not be the focus of the people in the pews all the time.

By: Dan Smith

Dan Smith — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:04:47 +0000

Aloha,
Very informative and engaging post, Rich.
The experiences in the modern, progressive churches may be part of what Manuel Castells calls the network society. He wrote in his book, Power of Identity, about a new form of identity that he calls project identity. “Project identity: when social actors, on the basis of whichever cultural materials that are available to them, build a new identity that redefines their position in society and, by doing so, seek the transformation of overall social structure.”
Moved by the church and it’s people, the ministries to the downtrodden do change society.
Keep it up!
Best Regards,
Dan

By: Peter Park

Peter Park — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:03:28 +0000

It’s a great outlook on big churches. I feel like sometimes our church is proud of the fact that it is small, yet they want to grow big. This seems strange.

By: Pistol Pete

Pistol Pete — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:03:39 +0000

Without a doubt, the best ministry projects I’ve been a part of have originated and are driven by people in the pews. Still, I think there is a place for more church loyalty (maybe not institutional, but in some form). It’s like a marriage. I see too many modern folk involved in serial-church-relationships. As a result, they tend to lack the commitment that would contribute to genuine community.

By: Karen Kogler

Karen Kogler — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:52:59 +0000

My first visit to your blog. Thanks for describing so well one of the reasons most churches have trouble finding volunteers — they expect people to loyally meet the organization’s needs, and they’re not focusing on helping people figure out and follow the specific ways God is calling them to serve. Even when a church “gets it,” it’s very hard for churches (and denominations) that are 40+ years old or more to do things differently. It’s a huge challenge for the church today but your article is a reminder of its importance for the life and health of the church.

By: Mike Dalton

Mike Dalton — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:03:13 +0000

BRILLIANT!!! I just can not say how great it is to have you as our leader not only in worship but in our church and community. You hit the nail right on the head. Thanks again Rich for seeing things outside the box.

By: Rob Walls

Rob Walls — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:52:55 +0000

Hey Rich,
I have been reading your blog for a while and just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy it! This is an especially good blog. I am a worship arts pastor in North Carolina and I am finding that what you are saying is so true. We put people in this box where they have to commit there entire lives to being at church doing ministry every week with no room for their lives to breathe at all. Thank you so much for your thoughts.

-Rob