Best working definition of a church

By Jason

21 Feb 2006

Renovare

After all the books on the nature of church, the need to change church, future church, church next, missional church, alternative church, I have read, I think this (from the Renovaré site), is the best manifesto for christian living and description of the mission of church, I have ever seen.

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6 comments

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  1. Comment by Makeesha

    2.57 pm on 21 Feb 2006

    That is really good.

  2. Comment by marc

    3.07 pm on 21 Feb 2006

    Like it, like it very much!

  3. Comment by rick

    4.30 pm on 21 Feb 2006

    I discovered Renovare about six years ago. I too think that it is one of the best “models” I have found out there. Truly great “stuff”. Foster has done a wonderful jog o incorporating and condensing all the pieces into something that is digestable and cohert.

  4. Comment by Tom Allen

    6.54 pm on 21 Feb 2006

    We are begining to use Renovare principles in our Church – what particularly appeals in a broadbased inclusive Church is that it acknowledges what individuals find important- and then challenges them to see the weaknesses of each tradition and the strength of others. The spiritual growth groups idea is particularly valued by introverts who don’t relate to home groups etc. A wonderful combination of the visionary and the practical

  5. Comment by Chad Farrand

    3.14 am on 22 Feb 2006

    Hey, my mentor is a Quaker who’s involved with Renovare. It has been such a blessing to me. Rich and beautiful stuff man.

    peace

  6. Comment by tas

    9.34 am on 7 Mar 2006

    Interesting you’re flagging up Renovare Jason, I’m part of Christian community based in a cafe-bar and we are using it for our discipleship process. we changed the wording a bit, but essentially the same idea. Its a very freeing path to follow. Having been in an ‘open’ small group structure for years, our ’spiritual formation’ groups are a life-saver, a real place of honesty and soul friendship. There have been critisisms though, that they are exclusive groups, and to some extent they are (to fellow Christians at least, who are not one with the vision) but it has allowed us total freedom to invest in the unchurched relationships we have, with the hope of introducing them into this ‘way of life’. It is a great way to be ‘IN the world but not OF it’.
    I would be interested to hear your views on the perceived ‘exclusivity’ of this model, as it is very different to traditional vineyard small groups, especially as I have recently moved on from a vineyard church myself (after ten years), and the leadership there didn’t seem to get/seemed scared of anything ‘emerging’?
    You seem to do a good job of holding the ‘emerging’ and ‘vineyard’ tags together? How do your fellow vineyarders feel about your role in the ‘emerging’ conversation?

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