The Crowded House Values

In my last post, I mentioned that our church is now part of a formal partnership with The Crowded House. The Crowded House is a group of church planting networks with a commitment to missional communities and household church. This partnership is defined by our shared values. These values are a statement of what makes us distinct as a network, but are not intended to be a judgment on those with a gospel commitment who do things differently.

1. The priority of the gospel
 ('community in mission')

We are committed to taking the gospel both to our neighbors and to the ends of the earth. We will challenge one another to be sacrificial, risk-taking and flexible because the gospel has priority over our comfort, security and traditions. We want to have a global gospel vision and to this end be generous with our resources. We will not let Christian activity be just one part of our lives.

2. Mission through community

We are committed to communicating the gospel message in the context of a gospel community. We want people to experience church as a network of relationships rather than a meeting you attend or a place you enter. We will not put on evangelistic missions outside the context of a Christian community.

3. Home as the location and ethos of church

We are committed to homes as a context for all or most of church life. We want home to define the ethos of church and believe it facilitates effective evangelism, especially among the unchurched. When congregations use other buildings, those buildings will not be viewed as sacred or the main focus of mission.

4. Living as an extended family

We are committed to caring for one another, discipling one another, investing in relationships and resolving conflict. We will expect one another to make decisions with regard to the implications for the church and to make significant decisions in consultation with the church. We will not view church as a meeting you attend. We will not let conflict continue unresolved.

5. Being an inclusive community

We are committed to making church accessible to unbelievers and welcoming to the socially marginalized. We want all who come to have a sense of belonging. We will not let our welcome be dependent on adherence to any cultural norms when these are not demanded by the gospel. We will not do that which might make unbelievers feel left out.

6. Growing churches by planting churches

We are committed to starting new congregations - both in areas where no church exists and through subdividing growing congregations. We will not develop into a single, large congregation.

7. Church without the trappings

We are committed to freedom and simplicity in church life. We are committed to Bible teaching; loving community; the breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2:42). Apart from these things we want to be flexible and relevant for the sake of the gospel. We will not regard as necessary for church life such things as accomplished music, constitutions, monologues, officers or anything that might hinder the core activities of the church and its mission.

8. Everyone exercising gospel ministry

We are committed to everyone in the church exercising gospel ministry. For some this will be expressed in their employment. We believe leadership is important and see leaders as facilitators of gospel ministry rather than those who exercise control. We will not make distinctions between fulltime and non-fulltime ministers.

9. Shaping our activities around people

We want the activities of a church to reflect its context. We will shape activities around the opportunities we have with unbelievers, and the gifts and passions of church members. We expect one another to see ourselves as servants of Jesus even when that means operating outside our comfort zones. We will not give people roles simply to maintain programs.

10. Good Bible teaching and learning

We want to shape our lives and our life together in obedience to the Bible, which we believe to be the reliable, authoritative and sufficient word of God. To this end we are committed to good Bible teaching and learning. We will not act on the basis of tradition, habit or pragmatism without reflection on the Bible. We will not see Bible teaching as an end in itself, but as that which must shape our thinking and action.

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Comments

[brad brisco]

Mark, I really like the way you have articulated these values.

[Chris Rich]

Mark I am very excited for you guys and God's continued use of Providence to spread the Gospel in the Metroplex.

A couple of questions for clairification based on #7

We will not regard as necessary for church life such things as accomplished music, constitutions, monologues, officers or anything that might hinder the core activities of the church and its mission.

Does this change the role/qualifications of the Office of Elder at PCC. Also, when refering to monologues are you talking about preaching? Just wondering.

Again I am very excited for you guys. In Christ.

[Chris Rich]

Mark I am very excited for you guys and God's continued use of Providence to spread the Gospel in the Metroplex.

A couple of questions for clairification based on #7

We will not regard as necessary for church life such things as accomplished music, constitutions, monologues, officers or anything that might hinder the core activities of the church and its mission.

Does this change the role/qualifications of the Office of Elder at PCC. Also, when refering to monologues are you talking about preaching? Just wondering.

Again I am very excited for you guys. In Christ.

[LLB]

I thought #5 sounded good. I'm glad to hear that these are your principles