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Re-Thinking the “Franchised Church”
Eddie Johnson recently had one an article on what he calls the "Franchised" Church published at Leadership Journal. You can read the article here (which we covered here at MMI way back in September). Essentially, Eddie is the pastor of Cumberland Church, one of Northpoint's Strategic Partners. Eddie writes that his job is to "establish a local, autonomous church that has the same beliefs, values, mission, and strategy as North Point...Just like that Chick-fil-A owner/operator," he says, "I'm here in Nashville to open up our franchise and run it right. I believe in my company and what they are trying to 'sell.'" He's gotten a lot of criticism for his comments, and has come out with a couple of articles in reply. It's good reading...
Here are some of his thoughts. What do you think?
(1) Contrary to popular belief, the New Testament does not present us with a specific system or model of church to follow. Check it out, it’s not there. All of you that think that it’s there are simply over-reading into the text. In the NT, we discover what the early church DID—not what church leaders are to DO. It’s descriptive but it was never intended to be prescriptive. Doctrinally, yes...they did give us guidelines and a form of church governance to use, but they NEVER gave us a road map to “do church” a certain way. That’s important to remember as we think and talk about the systems, or model of ministry, of our churches.
(2) Franchising Church is not about being a “McChurch”, it’s about following a “McSystem”. Franchising church isn’t a doctrinal issue, it’s a systems issue. Franchising church is all about following a proven “system” or method of ministry. Period. That’s it. Nothing more and nothing less. If you guys haven’t heard Andy Staley’s message about this topic at the Catalyst Conference or the Drive Conference, then you missed it. Check it out. His talk on “systems” is awesome and it’s what drove me to write the original article I did on “franchising church”. A couple of key points Andy drives home are… (1) God created and runs the universe through systems, (2) Preaching does not create behaviors--systems create behaviors, (3) Systems trump teaching or preaching every time, (4) Anytime you hear, “Well, our people just won’t ___________” (you fill in the blank), you are listening to someone who doesn’t understand the influence of systems and (5) The Bible says, “without vision, the people perish.” Your church needs vision. And vision needs systems. If that’s true, wouldn’t it be wise to choose and implement one (in part or in full) that God is already successfully using in a community that closely resembles yours? I certainly would.
(3) Church History tells us the “Franchised Church” works and that God uses it. Church History is FULL of franchised models. America was built on the franchised church. Think about it, it’s true. Don’t believe me? Check this out. This is just a small list of church movements and denominations that sought to “franchise church” in the past 500 years and primarily the past 200 years here in America. Truth is, most of us grew up in a successfully and strategically planned franchised church.
You can read more here... (Eddie is set to post four more thoughts today!)
What do you think?
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This post has been viewed 1249 times and was added on February 03, 2008 by Todd Rhoades. Filed under: Engaging Culture Trends in Today's Church Share this post with a friend right now! View reactions to this post at other blogs... You can really help us out by subscribing to our free RSS feed with your favorite feed reader, or here at Bloglines. Also, you can add us to your favorites at Technorati.
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I'm Todd Rhoades... the MMI guy. I'm also on the team at Leadership Network (although that doesn't mean that they endorse everything I write here). In my past life, I was the founder and developer of a website named ChurchStaffing.com.
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Posted by Jermayn
Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 7:02 PM
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Posted by Gman
Friday, February 08, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Post Your Comments:He is right!!!
People keep following someone elses ‘proven way’ and it does not work…
Church is different with each area, culture and town/ city! You need to try new things, listen to God and bring the church to the people..
True, both Scripture and history are filled with examples of systems that worked, sometimes phenomenally so. And judging from the enormous interest in conferences that purport to impart the latest system to church leaders so they can reproduce that measure of success in their own location, I’d say many of us believe with our actions that somewhere there is a package we can try and apply that will ensure our success.
Systems are also present in discipleship and other modes as well. Ministries such as the Navigators, Bill Gothard, and Campus Crusade have gain enormous followings based on the systematic approach they use for evangelism, prayer, scripture memory, or other aspects of discipleship.
Here is what’s important to remember, in my view. Every system has a built-in self-destruct mechanism. Sooner or later, we’ll draw from that well and come up dry. And I believe GOD sees to that - if for no other reason, to make sure we don’t make an idol out of our system.
I’ve noticed something…
As the world gets “smaller” people (those who are engaging their culture anyway) often, paradoxically I think, want to be part of something “bigger”. Witness the rise of the “big box” church. These large organizations can’t really be run without good systems.
I think Andy Stanley hits the nail on the head!
What are denominations? Are they not franchises? Each one has a system and way of “doing church” they follow. Some are more uniform than others, but you can pretty much guess the kind of church experience you will get by the name on the building.
I agree with the concept. It’s not new. The jargon thats been adopted is not new, either. It’s just that it’s new the way it’s being used in the church. The unfortunate thing about this “franchise” jargon being used in the church is that it will be over-used and the original intent and use of it will be devalued and lost and adopted as dogma. If you don’t think so, visit your local Assembly of God or Church of God or Foursquare church and listen to the out-dated, over-used, irrelevant jargon used there. Why do we set ourselves up like this?
The thing we need to be cautious on is who the franchise is built around. Have you seen the Burger King commercials where they say they are not selling the whopper and people start freaking out? Well, I fear that the whopper in this case is a personality (and partly system). What happens when the personality leaves? These church’s do not have their own preacher every week but video sermon’s based on the personality (for the most part). It seems like this could lead to trouble down the road, but I hope and pray these individual churches are becoming missionaries in their own culture.
if denominations are nothing but franchises, and the american church was built on this concept, then what is so novel about this idea? Its seems to be there is nothing novel, new, or innovative about it at all. Therefore what is there to discuss??? Also, can you really separate your beliefs from your practice? shouldn’t the one come out of the other?
I am a pastor in a family of churches we call the Bayside Family of Churches. There are 9 of us right now, three years ago there was 1. In the Spring of 04 there were about 4500 people in attendance at the one Bayside, today nearly 16,000 at the 9.
We share the same DNA, each church is autonomous and has it’s own board and staff team. All the senior pastors meet together 2 times a month for prayer, encouragement and mission. Our 20/20 vision is 200 churches by the year 20/20. Several thousand people have come to Christ in the past three years and God is doing amazing work here.
We are all different in style and such but you can attend any Bayside and get the same feeling. It is pretty awesome.
Not exactly a franchise but darn close. Todd when you coming out to Cali to check us out?
Leonard, I SO want to visit your churches.
Do you guys do something like the “Big Idea”? If not, have you read it? We are eyeing a similar expansion but in a very rural environment. Do you or have you guys done any kind of Video venues or is each church totally self-guided?
Off topic? maybe not, as you guys are doing what we’re talking about…
Peter
look, the problem is so clear. It isn’t that the NT has given us a model that everyone has to follow or that churches can’t tailor a model to our times today. Its that the model we have chosen is doing more bad than good, therefore should be rejected. By making christians into consumers, we’ve adopted the mentality of church shopping and church hopping. we ask what services (not woship) can the serves provide my family or me with, do we like the preaching, do we like the facilities. these focus on the externals create a pressure and force the church into a seek-to-please the customer attitude. That attitude erodes biblical christianity which is NOT about the kind of music we like, or sermons that are self-help pick me ups. What suffers it true community, true christianity
here is how to start your own american church franchise
1. all pastors wear Hawaiian shirts when they preach
2. when asked a basic theological question answer “well have to wait to get to heaven to ask God that!”, when asked a tough theological question don’t answer, give a wise look that says “im to clever to be drawn into your silly argument. 3. NEVER actually attempt to answer question. 4. must have a praise band with lots of theologically ambiguous language that makes people feel really really good. 5. write a book that tells people their purpose in life is to find out their purpose in life. Hire a marketing department to make it look as if no one has ever though of this in 2,000 years of modern history. 6. give each pastor free pickings at the local cheesecake factory, 7. teach them a few words to be repeated when in the presence of media such as “emergent” “post-modern” “purpose driven”. 8. never try to define any of those terms. 9. always pretend like you know what you are talking about 10. remember the most important thing: if you build it, they will come! (ps- this is all in good fun)
Oliver writes
{1. all pastors wear Hawaiian shirts when they preach}
You forgot shorts and sandals…
“ The Bible says, “without vision, the people perish.” Your church needs vision. And vision needs systems.”
You do realize that Vision = equates or can be easily translated better as without revelation, people perish. This without God it it.
“Church History tells us the “Franchised Church” works and that God uses it.”
This phrase also troubles me why? Because the McChurches out there almost can take McBible and McJesus out of their McStrategies and depend on McSELF rather than God Himself to Grow the church. Hence why the Apostle Paul said some water, some plant the seed but God gives the increase (loose translation)
I think if we base the church on our own strength and McBusiness philosphy than we McLost what Church is really McBout!
Gman
Multi-site churches do not necessarily equal watered-down gospel.
Not saying that. Liek the thinking outside the box. But if we base our individual churches on a “Business formula” alone it makes the franchising of church and its success almost man-made rather than relying on God; does it not?
Thus a valid criticism.
Gman,
Why can’t we have both… proven leadership and organizational structures, systems, and leadership AND reliance on God?
II can - it is the rely on a business model alone that concerns me and pushing only that ...
Something like here’s the latest trend to increase your church instantly ..(Believe me - I’ve seen the Instant pastor resources and sermons online and guarantee to help your church grow websites ...no lie ...I’m thinking where is God in this?)
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