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The Growth of Intentional Churches

According to Diana Butler Bass, American Protestantism has been cast as a "two-party paradigm" of liberal vs. conservative in the late 20th Century. Speaking at the Leadership Seminar sponsored by CBF of Missouri at Kirkwood Baptist Church, Bass recalled the conventional wisdom that states "liberal" churches are always dying and "conservative" churches are always growing.

Having studied the mainline denominations through her work as Senior Research Fellow at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Bass "has detected an unnoticed pattern in American Protestant life." Saying the media’s focus on "liberal vs. conservative" is simplistic and dated, she contends the real issue for growth is churches moving from being "establishment" to "intentional."  A church that is intentional is much more likely to grow regardless of its place on a "liberal/conservative" spectrum.

Intentional churches have these sorts of characteristics:

  • Church is viewed as a "community"
  • God is "with us" not just "above us"
  • Extroverted, expressive, spirituality rather than introverted, private, devotional
  • Ministry is shared, mentoring, and teaching – not just paid professionals
  • Greater openness to "risks" rather than just "rules"
  • They have "embarked on a mission" that leads beyond themselves

As illustrations for her point she used current political leaders.  She noted that John Kerry has an establishment church understanding, while George W. Bush reflects an intentional church understanding.  She then flipped the illustration and noted that George H. W. Bush, with a solid Episcopal background but conservative politics, was establishment church, while more progressive and Baptist Bill Clinton reflects an intentional church understanding.

She challenged the almost 50 Baptists in attendance to "reclaim who you are."  Noting that Baptists, like all religious groups, have gone through controversy she reminded the group that controversies have all parties claiming to be "traditional" to the values that matter.  She suggested that all sides are, in fact, true to their understanding of the traditions that matter.  The real test, measured only by time, is who is more faithful to traditions that matter and to God.

The goal for intentional churches is to become communities where people are connected with one another and to faith in Christ in ways that lead to action "in the world."  Churches that are growing have people who know God "with their heads and their hearts."  She emphasized the Christian life is "much more than belief—it is a way of being."

"It’s not the kind of music your church plays on Sunday morning" that matters.  It is how your church relates to Christian values and practices that are important.

 

 

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Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri
5 East Kansas Street     Liberty, Missouri 64068
Phone: 816.415.0009     Fax: 816.736.0122     Email:info@cbfmo.org

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