Nominate An Innovative Church

I got an e-mail from Tony Morgan asking me to be on a panel that will help select the most innovative churches in America for Outreach Magazine.  Sounds like fun and I'm hoping to pick up a ton of great ideas for Community Christian Church and our NewThing Network churches.

They have started taking nominations for the list of most innovative churches and you can add your nomination by clicking HERE.   I took a quick look and I don't think CCC has been nominated yet.  Think we should be?  Here is the criteria they are looking for to be on the list:

• multiple sites
• lead a church planting network
• resource for other churches
• civic partnerships with school or government organizations
• intergenerational ministry
• multi-lingual ministry
• unconventional outreach
• podcast and/or vodcast
• innovative web presence
• blogging
• social networking (myspace, facebook and YouTube)
• film/media production

If you know a church like that (hmmmmm...I think I know one!) you can nominate them by clicking HERE. 

Here are two things I'd like to know from you.

1. What other criteria should be added for a church to be considered innovative?
2. What churches do you think are truly innovative and why?

Comments

[KathyJ]

I would like to see a division into 2 groups of innovators...1) Churches that respond to God's voice in uncharted territory. and 2) Churches that integrate innovative technology and creative thought.

The first category relates to churches who are "first responders" to God's call. What is happening in our culture and what kind of church does God want us to be to meet the challenges. Innovative churches listen for the prophetic voice of mission. I would like to hear about leading edge church movements and who's involved.

The second category are the creative uses of technology and new knowledge to advance the effectiveness, efficiency and leverage of the existing mission.

KathyJ

[Dave Travis]

Agree with Kathy in part.

What about a church that is effectively reaching a micro niche?

How effective is its discipleship ministry?

Are they reproducing small groups internally as well as externally?

How is the church transforming its community?

In the criteria is being a "small" multi site more important than having a large recovery ministry?

What about a church with an effective healing/healthcare ministry? How many points for that?

The criteria set up the list for one type of church. A different criteria would suggest another type of innovative church.

[Gregor]

I like Kathy's idea and would think that getting points for innovative social ministries would be cool...ultimately though does it matter and why not focus the energy and resources on helping others rather than coming up with another list?

[Dave Ferguson]

I think you guys are right on! Maybe we should be identifying innovations that are emerging and tell their stories and not simply list the most innovative churches. Most of the churches on the list we all know about anyway. I think it would be more helpful to single out new innovations that are happening in relatively unknown settings and in new churches and by young leaders. It would really empower/encourage new churches and young leaders to take risks in ways that were previously unknown. Thanks!

[Gregor]

Dave,

now that is an awesome idea! To lead that kind of innovation and encourage that movement would be incredible!

[Christine Caridi]

What if there was a church that basically met in coffee shops and little off, off broadway theater venues, in Chicago. The church would invite locals to participate in a sort of "talent show night" and then, the local musicians would naturally bond with the music minded folks at CCC and..voila... relationship! CCC regs could spy on their open mic night and infiltrate the scene with provocative Christian theatrical performances (wheel chair monologue) and lively chit-chat, coffee shop conversation. Wait a minute, the Pilsen CCC church did that already! Very cool!

[anne jackson]

Brilliant thought :)

[Kevin]

Dave,

I couldn't agree more! Let's not focus on the churches, but instead, the innovative ideas. And I think we should re-evaluate the criteria also. There are several ideas on that list that are really no longer that innovative. They have been birthed, developed, growing and even already being replicated by churches across the country. Let's look further out on the horizon. What do we see? Let's look at all of those ideas, and begin to look in the direction that God seems to be leading the church. What do we see? What seeds are being planted? What kinds of things are just now beginning to bud, to show life? What do we see?

I like your comment on looking at young leaders. Because, as i look out, I don't see the focus on technology or innovative strategies, instead I see God developing a passion, a spirit, a fire in PEOPLE, leaders! My 2 cents...let's celebrate the win - leaders and people finding their place in God's story.