Liquid Church - selling solid church short
In his desire to critique solid church I believe that Ward focuses on the gathering component of solid church too much. Solid church has always had elements of the fluidity that Ward desires. In fact, there are many gatherings associated with solid church which I and others would continue to see as valuable. Networks of small groups, youth clubs and sporting clubs are common examples of this.
It is a matter of emphasis that is the distinct difference. What solid church fails to do is give the same status to these ventures as the Sunday gathering and this is the real challenge to solid church. What would it mean for larger churches to begin to see some of their groups within the existing structures as “Church”? Larger churches offer a diverse range of seminars and events that fit within Ward’s vision of the commodification of spirituality. In fact, the larger church supermarket mentality has often been criticised for being too consumeristic.
Other Liquid Church reflections can be found here:
Liquid Church - Reservation on the role of gatherings
Liquid Church - Unity
Liquid Church - Compartmentalising Church
Liquid Church - Community vs event mentality
Liquid Church - Plasma Church
Liquid Church - Who will pay the bills?