10 Ways for Denominations to Remain Relevant

Dec 2, 2011   //   by efremsmith   //   justice, reconciliation, the church  //  3 Comments

1.) Become more of a movement than an institution.

2.) Become multi-ethnic.

3.) Proclaim and practice a deeply biblically-rooted strategy for compassion, mercy, and justice.

4.) Have a high priority and passion for evangelism.

5.) Involve large churches as a resource, but don’t lift them up alone as the highest model of a healthy and missional church.

6.) Affirm and train up men and women for the offices of Apostle, Evangelist, and Prophet based on biblical principles.

7.) Increase the number of women in pastoral leadership.

8.) Become students of how the Kingdom of God is being advanced in Africa, Central America, and South America.

9.) Expand the missional church conversation to include experts within the African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic, and Native American Church.

10.) Develop strategic Kingdom partnerships beyond your particular denomination.

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3 Comments

  • Richard December 2, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    You say: Become students of how the Kingdom of God is being advanced in Africa, Central America, and South America.

    Why exclude the Asian church in this? What about the Middle Eastern martyrs and the persistent church?

    Again, culture defines church movements. Think wider.

  • That Was The Week That Was « The Pietist Schoolman December 3, 2011 at 7:06 am

    [...] errand for churches. But if you’re going to pursue relevance, at least do it in the ways Efrem Smith suggests, rather than by stripping worship of liturgy or sermons of Scripture, or by seeking numbers rather [...]

  • Peter Perrson December 17, 2011 at 12:35 am

    I think you are missing one of the greatest revivals in the last 100 years when you fail to note the growing churches in Asia. For a couple of generations, churches in ” free” Asia, South Korea specifically, have shown incredible growth. However, the church in China may be the biggest surprise. With the threat of Islam coming from the West, China has greatly relaxed it’s oppression on Christianity. We are now seeing potentially tens of millions of hidden Chinese Christians appearing on the worship rosters in that country! I am sorry to think that perhaps you ignore these churches, because they focus on the essential issue of salvation and don’t have a “social gospel” leaning.

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