“God is changing the church, and that, in turn, will change the world. Millions of Christians around the world are aware of an imminent reformation of global proportions. They are saying in effect: ‘Church as we know it is preventing church as God wants it.’ Amazingly, many are hearing God say the same thing to […]

Some more mDNA reflections.
Governance and leadership structures
Leadership structures are important as they define expectations of accountability, responsibility and communication. One of the worrying signs in the emerging church is the fear of leadership and structure. It is likely that this is a reaction to the institutionalised leadership and structures that people have experienced and felt […]

A little while ago, Dan was speaking about how the leaders of two congregations (Tangent and Jeebus) will be retreating, as we do each year, to reflect and assess how we are going as congregations. What do you think of this quote as helping us reflect on our congregational health?
Bill Easum writes:

“how do we ultimately […]

There has been some attempt to provide a reading list for a personal MBA. This has been spinning around the net. Jordon Cooper has decided to attempt to create a reading list for a personal Masters of Divinity.
Head on over and suggest what reading material you would like to add. I know Jordon would be […]

Another helping of mDNA soup:
The function of stories
Stories can inspire, challenge and nurture us. As faith communities we need to release the power of stories to portray the vision and mission of the people of God. The apostolic leadership within the Church needs to preach, teach and gossip the stories that paint a picture of […]

Garth gives a heads up to something that might be worth a watch  – Hillsong on ABC’s Australian Story

In the Australian today…
An ABC TV Australian story will air next Monday night figuring Brian and Bobby Houston pastors from Hillsong. It promises to be an insight into their lives, their home and their church.

Caleb points out some sermons by Don Miller who is the author of Blue like Jazz.

I know some of you have read Don Millar’s “Blue Like Jazz” and/or “Searching for God Knows What“, so I thought I’d post this. You can download 2 of his sermons from here.
June 26/05: Our Father in Heaven- Don Miller […]

I have been really enjoying this series from And that has made all the difference aboutconnecting with and being friends with a porn star. It is challenging, heartbreaking and uplifting. From part 1:
it was my first year of being an r.a. in college… in my previous post i wrote about a resident who […]

In my forthcoming essay on the next two mDNA components – Organic systems and communitas not community, I have been playing around with the gardening motif for leadership of faith communities.
Steve Addison posted up some interesting comments on the life cycles of movements and this paragraph caught my eye:

The Church is like a garden. New […]

Some more soup ….
The role of Vision
Five years ago, when we began nccc’s journey there was significant pressure to create a five year strategic plan, but I resisted this impulse. Leonard Sweet and Alan Roxburgh were helpful in providing some articulation of what I was feeling. Alan writes

We have left the long stable period […]