Big Questions Facing the Church about Planting and Denominations

Host Ed Stetzer chats with Vice President of Research and Resources Development, Trevin Wax, about the shifts in how church planters relate to denominational affiliations, networks, and institutions as a whole. Tune in to learn more about current church planting trends and their impact on the future of our new churches.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Your denomination’s role in supporting and shaping your church plant
• The events that have led to the decline of denominational affiliation and the rapid rise of the non-denominational church
• How to approach the question of belonging to a network of churches versus belonging to a denomination
• The significance of theological conviction in selecting who you’ll partner with
• How church planting networks are fulfilling the call of Hebrews 10:24 today

Helpful Resources:

• Ed’s article, “The Rise of the Evangelical ‘Nones'”
• The Reconstructing Faith Podcast
• Church Planting Leadership Fellowship Facebook Page
• Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.
• Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.

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Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

Institutions endure way more than we give them credit for. We live in an anti-institutional age that doesn’t seem to value what institutions bring because change can be really difficult within them. You can lose patience and wonder if it’s as effective as it once was. — Trevin Wax

Denominations are most needed when difficult times come. Of course, church planters never think there’s going to be difficult times, but invariably, they do come. And you want a group of people who are there for you. — Ed Stetzer

In the church planting world, there’s been not only the arrival of new networks in the past 20 years or so, but also a renewed emphasis on church planting within denominations. There’s renewed creative energy taking place. — Trevin Wax

Institutions endure. If you look at the two big denominations church planting in America today, it’s the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptists. They’re the two big ones, and they’re going to be doing this in 15 years. — Ed Stetzer

Don’t take money from a family you’re not willing to be part of first. The Lord has put us in a family. Let’s stay connected to that family and make that family better. — Ed Stetzer

Decisions are made by people who show up. So, if you’re in a denomination or a network, there’s value to being in there. By walking this journey with institutions, we can make a bigger difference. You go slower, but you go farther when you do it in institutions. — Ed Stetzer

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