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Please redirect your links, bookmarks, and browsers to my new site: www.jonathandodson.org Spread the word!
The VERGE missional community conference starts tomorrow, a conference that Neil Cole has referred to as “first of its kind in the missional church field.” This conference will explore gospel-driven missional community from both the micro and macro church perspectives, which is one of the things that makes it unique!
Too Organic?
Cole is known for his work on organic church, leadership, and discipleship. His work with CMA has produced churches that reproduce quickly and make a significant missional impact. Some have critiqued his approach due to his low bar for leadership of MCs, and his soft approach to doctrinal fidelity. However, doctrinal fidelity is sometimes the obstacle to mission. As Cole has said, “we become educated beyond our own obedience.” We need more orthopraxy not more orthodoxy.
Too Structured?
Alternatively, the organic approach to leadership can force us to be more discipleship oriented and communally sensitive. The Western approach of testing and measuring everything has its limits and can intrude on good theology. Take spiritual gifts tests, for instance. These tests can often pigeon hole people, appeal to their consumerist longings, and isolate them from community. Organic church can keep us honest, from over-structuring the church. At least that’s what Cole said in our recent discussion regarding gift testing. Cole just wrote a post in response to my query called Spiritual Gifts Inventories
Let’s continue the conversation at Verge!
This week we’ll be releasing a new blog/site that combines my writing from Creation Project, Church Planting Novice, and other resources. The hope is that we can provide a central, well-organized location for all my writings and resources on Gospel & Culture and Missional Church. I’m excited about it.
John Chandler of Strange Idea Labs has been working with me to create this new site. When the site goes live, can you help me by correcting all your links, feeds, etc. so that the new site can build back its ranking? Unfortunately, I’ll loose some of that Google ranking, which has been so helpful in getting these resources out to people. Your help will be appreciated!
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