Future of Unichurch: Option 3: Split

Well, if option 1 is faithless and option 2 is thinkable but seemingly impractical, then we need to move to option 3–split.

Now, there’s splitting and there’s splitting. You could just split on purely practical grounds. That is, it looks like we could fill the venue, there’s no other venue, so lets try to minimize the pain of chance as much as possible by offering two identical services and two convenient times (say, for example, 5:30 and 7:30). This would have a few things going for it, and it’s certainly on the table.

But, what if, instead of just being motivated by minimum change and maximum continuity, we actually allowed the mission to shape our split? Let me explain this by way of a concrete example.

What if we decided to meet at 6pm and 8pm. My guess is that 6pm could be well positioned to be a large, broadly based congregation of high school students, uni students, young workers and others. Much like the current 7pm and in some ways better (ie, better time for workers and high school students.)

And 8pm? Well, who knows what that time slot would through up! Just guessing, but I wonder if that time could set us up for doing something really interesting. Maybe College students would be attracted to the idea of coming down to church at that time? Maybe a more edgy service, geared toward young, post-Christian people would emerge? Maybe Emos are kicking around at that time wondering what to do? Who knows! All I do know is that it would be different.

The first option (maximum continuity) would mean that people simply looked at their Sundays and committed to the service that made the rest of Sunday’s commitments as do-able as possible. Okay, but not exactly “doing all things so that by all means some might be saved” (1 Cor 10) The second would force us all to make more missional, other person centred decisions, thinking not just of our own convenience, but of those who don’t yet know the Lord. Especially in the case of the 8pm, it would require a small group of committed people to get together, work like mad, pray like mad, and orient themselves for mission.

Don’t get too caught up on the times. They are all negotiable. But do get caught up on the mission versus convenience thing. Allow yourself to put your own comfort down the list and ask: “How could we best shape our lives together to see unbelievers come into relationship with God?” I like that question. Sounds like something Jesus might say…

Thoughts? 

Love, Rory