Comments on: Eldering in a Decentralized Movement

By: D. Goodmanson

D. Goodmanson — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:35:40 +0000

Steven

#1 – I think we communicate a lot about it and connect it to the gospel. The willingness needs to be a gospel-motivation to be on mission to the world.

#2 – Currently we are thankful that we aren’t faced with a decision like this. I don’t want to get too into this because I love & appreciate men like Piper & Driscoll but at present we would not consider video sermons. Let me pray/consider this in terms of what I’d choose to share regarding our rational.

By: Steven Lee

Steven Lee — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:04:28 +0000

Thanks for sharing how Kaleo has grown/changed/adapted/etc. I see the wisdom of your “decentralized” movement which seems like it would require cultivating a willingness to “spread” among your people – as you continue to plant new MC and service sites.

Question 1 – How are you cultivating that type of willingness to spread and plant among your people?

Question 2 – If a particular teaching elder is very gifted (Fairchild or Cain), would you utilize video sermons across the multi-sites as a way to “steward giftedness” like Piper & Driscoll? If not, I’ve love to hear your current rational.

By: D. Goodmanson

D. Goodmanson — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:55:38 +0000

Jeff: The MC leaders are not ‘voting elders’. We are moving to a more prayer & planning system where decisions are made as a congregation guided by the elders. Each MC leader acts much like a pastor of a community as so we treat them as elders-in-training.

Right now MC leaders do not administer communion but I wouldn’t have a problem if they did in a MC gathering.

Our baptisms include everyone (all sites and MCs) presently.

Dwayne: No video preaching. Local elders and at present they will preach the same text but they could (will) be able to decide what is best for their body.

By: Dwayne Forehand

Dwayne Forehand — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:30:01 +0000

Is Kaleo doing video for preaching at the sites or are the local elders doing the preaching? If the latter, are they working through the same texts or are each deciding what is best for their body?

By: Rick Meigs

Rick Meigs — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:16:16 +0000

Thank you very much Drew. It is posted here:
http://missionaltribe.org/on-leadership/eldering-in-a-decentralized-movement/

By: Jeff Cole

Jeff Cole — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:18:11 +0000

Thanks for the post. If you have time…

Are your MC leaders voting elders? Will they by one day?

Do MC leaders administer communion?

Do your baptisms occur in the MC as I understand Crowded House’s do?

Thanks.

By: D. Goodmanson

D. Goodmanson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:13:19 +0000

Jed – I’m sure it (this model) will be in sessions but certainly it will shape our conversations at the bootcamp.

Rick – Reprint away.

Jonathan –

1. As your sites grow, will there come a point at which your sites independently governed?
- Yes we’ve discussed this. We have yet to know exactly when but believe there would be a point when a site would become independent.
2. Are all sites part of one budget?
- Same financial entity, different budgets yet many shared costs.

3. How much methodological freedom do you give to these sites? Do they have to be MC-driven?
- They need to be shaped by the vision (which include life-on-life relations known as MCs) but they have tremendous methodological freedom.

4. What resources have been most helfpul in shaping MC elders?
- Prayer, mistakes, repentance, experience and our relations with Soma/Crowded House. There really aren’t many out there.

By: Rick Meigs

Rick Meigs — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:14:47 +0000

Drew… Big issue and looks like Kaleo is ahead of many in its thinking and application. Would love to reprint this post as a leadership case study over at Missional Tribe with your permission.

By: archshrk

archshrk — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:37:43 +0000

Thanks for sharing this Drew. I know that as Kaleo’s vision has changed over the years, it’s been difficult to quantify or articulate that vision (while in the change) but these “beginning thoughts” layout a clear vision that not only makes sense, but closely matches what I see every week.

I look forward to seeing this developed more fully and I think Jonathan’s questions are going to be some of the top questions our members will have.

By: Jonathan Dodson

Jonathan Dodson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:48:36 +0000

Drew,

Thanks for being a leader in this MC driven model of church. As you know, we look to you and Soma for a input in our expression of similar ecclesiology at Austin City Life. You’ve been very generous with your thinking and resources, thanks!

As we move in a similar direction with elders overseeing multiple MCs, I have a few quesetions:

1. As your sites grow, will there come a point at which your sites independently governed?
2. Are all sites part of one budget?
3. How much methodological freedom do you give to these sites? Do they have to be MC-driven?
4. What resources have been most helfpul in shaping MC elders?