{"id":12685,"date":"2017-05-18T20:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-05-19T03:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=12685"},"modified":"2017-05-18T21:51:40","modified_gmt":"2017-05-19T04:51:40","slug":"to-strategically-grow-or-let-organically-grow-that-is-the-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/to-strategically-grow-or-let-organically-grow-that-is-the-question\/","title":{"rendered":"To strategically grow or organically grow? That is the question!"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week we read the book \u00a0Shaping The Church:\u00a0 The Promise of Implicit Theology, Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology<\/em> by Martyn Percy, he explores Implicit Theology and its impact on shaping ecclesial life. He writes “Only by understanding implicit theology can theologians gain an understanding of ecclesial evolution, pastoralia and faith development. The volume seeks to introduce academics, clergy and ecclesial commentators to something it in some sense already knows: that which is implicit is deep and informational\u00a0for ecclesial life. The implicit therefore deserves to be\u00a0<\/em>treated as both an original yet familiar concept to the academy and church, which offers fresh insight on the apparently ordinary. Implicit theology opens up new vistas of enquiry in practical and pastoral theology that grapple with the perplexing, puzzling and perspicacious possibilities for ecclesial life<\/em>.”[1] His discussion is broken into three parts–Part I:Sacraments-Spiritual Life, Part II: Church -The Nature of the Body, Part III: Ministry-Practising Theology. Instead of giving a full summary of his book, I am choosing to discuss his work through practical reflection. His discussion in Part II: Church- The Nature of the Body was very interesting to me. The current sta\"\"<\/a><\/em>te of affairs with the Church as we know it universally has so many layers. There is so much pressure within church movements now to \u00a0increase growth and impact. Unfortunately, the way in which these metrics are measured are not consistently measured and bench marked within or across many denominations. Furthermore,the level of consumerism that has plagued our culture makes church more of a commodity than a safe haven for community and worship. Despite alternative views, ministries are challenged to address the current day to day affairs that exist within their communities. With the pressure to grow, ministry leaders must ask themselves do I try to grow strategically\u00a0or do I choose to\u00a0grow organically? While strategies are vital to organization execution of vision and unity, I wonder if sometimes the strategies get in the way of building the organic relationships and draw people to something more authentic than what could be artificially manufactured. In his book, Percy discusses church growth and highlights what we would call in America a “seeker church” in England they would identify as \u00a0“Fresh Expressions”. What I would deem as the seekers movement, is a way in which churches and\/or home based ecumenical communities find ways to connect with contemporary culture. I would not say that there is something holistically wrong with seeker groups or churches but I found it very intriguing the way in which each of these groups choose to associate their spirituality to God and others. He begins Part II by identifying eight Fresh Expression groups:[2]<\/p>\n