Multi-Site Churches: Questions that Cannot be Avoided

As soon as you become a multi-site church (with no plans for the new site to house an autonomous local church), where does the local church end and Presbyterianism begin?

How far out can a multi-site church extend and still remain a local church.

Should a church go multi-site with a site that is in the back yard of another local church of same denomination which is contending for the gospel? Is this really a good witness to the power of the gospel; to the unity of the body?

Are there principles in Scripture which cannot be overlooked when building a statistics-driven model of church?

Multi-Campus Churches

The number of "multi-site" or "multi-campus" churches seems to be growing rapidly. Just this week I received the copy of a "multi-site plan" for a church located in Southwest Virginia - in a city where there are several solid churches which preach the Gospel.

I've been thinking about "multi-site" Baptist churches for a while, and they give me pause. Initially, I could not put my finger on what bothers me about them. As I've had more time to pray and read, I'm beginning to understand why I have some issues.

My concerns are both theological and practical. In the weeks ahead, I will walk through the "multi-site" plan that I have received, and I will evaluate the document from both theological and practical perspectives.

Now, before you go get your nose out of joint . . . there is a way to "do" "multi-site" churches. Plan from the very beginning to have the congregations who meet in the new sites become new churches with their own elders in time. The churches who are planting in this way are not those who are frustrating me.

I will be writing about Baptist churches who are placing the franchising of a church brand above the Gospel and the fellowship of the body of Christ. Stay tuned.

And, if you have a particular question you want me to consider, please comment or e-mail, and I'll try to work it into a future post.