Dear Sir,
Paul Hinton (en letters, December) makes some valid points about church planting. I agree that if mission drives church planting, we shouldn’t just look for a ‘quick win’ by planting churches likely to appeal to students and professionals … whom we know to be on the doorstep! And yes, there is no excuse for establishing churches merely to further our theological ‘brand’ or to expand the latest ‘network’ of churches. To these concerns I would add the depressing trend among some contemporary church plants of resistance to accountability by the leadership. Too often, there is a failure to make the transition from the ‘solo ministry’ of the church planter to a fully functioning church.
However, while the need for gospel witness is vitally important, I would question whether this is the only basis on which we might justify planting a new church. It is hard to read the New Testament and fail to observe that the foundational idea of the ‘church in a particular place’ is fellowship among believers. Breaking bread, prayer, being built-up and equipped, encouraging one another, showing practical care… the essence of the ekklesia described by the apostles is a mutual gathering on the basis of the true gospel. These gatherings are not perpetually ‘owned’ by a visionary church planter, nor do they ‘fence’ the fellowship on narrow doctrinal lines.
