LessWrong (Curated & Popular) “Church Planting: When Venture Capital Finds Jesus” by Elizabeth
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Aug 18, 2025 This engaging discussion draws intriguing parallels between church planting and tech startups, highlighting the traits of young planters driven by grand visions. It delves into the financial frameworks resembling venture capital, revealing the human costs of failed endeavors. The narrative explores the challenges of growth management, emphasizing the role of leadership and the psychological factors involved. Additionally, it highlights demographic strategies, focusing on attracting young families and the often-overlooked struggles faced by pastors' wives.
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Decentralized Funding Mirrors VC
- Church planting functions like a decentralized VC ecosystem that funds charismatic young founders.
- Elizabeth argues planters operate with minimal gatekeeping and answer mainly to funders rather than a hierarchy.
Selection Favors Charisma And Confidence
- Church planters skew young, charismatic, and often lack formal theological credentials.
- Elizabeth says selection favors charisma and low self-doubt, producing narcissistic-friendly incentives.
Growth Metrics Become The End
- The core goal is rapid conversion: introduce as many people as possible to Jesus via 'handshakes'.
- Elizabeth highlights that growth and planting daughter churches become ends in themselves under this metric.
