Many who stand outside the ‘church network world’ often ask, Why Networks? What’s so special and appealing? With that launching point, let’s dive in.
I believe the formation church networks in today’s world is not by chance. They are not the church bus fad of the 21st century. They are not just a ‘cool boys club’. They have real meaning and purpose. So why networks? We’ve had only denominations for all these years – aren’t they good enough?
Well, to be honest – no they’re not. I believe denominations have their place and can be beneficial, but networks provide a less bureaucratic, more relational partnership for ministry. Because of the size, and often excess structure, of a denomination genuine relationships are very difficult to foster. This doesn’t mean we eliminate denominations, but I’ll talk about that more in my next post. On the other hand, a network is almost always created through relationship. It is the foundation for partnership.
Scripture is very clear in stating the importance of doing life (and ministry) in community with others – this is ultimately what networks strive to provide. It is the partnering of like-minded individuals toward a common goal. Pooling resources to accomplish more then you could possibly do on your own.
What do you think? Are church networks all they’re cracked up to be?
Nick Poole 
Hey Nick, are you talking about church networks like the Willow Creek Association? What are some examples of networks that are out there? I know about youth networks, but I think you’re talking about much more than that.
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Yeah, I’m talking about church networks. That would include networks like the Willow Creek Association, but there are also others like Association of Related Churches (ARC) or the New Thing Network that are geared specifically toward church planting. Youth Networks like Teens for Christ have become more common, but they are geared more toward a specific ministry focus. If you’d like to do a short post on youth networks, e-mail it to me and I’ll post it.
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