Sojos House Church Co-op meeting notes Monday August 28

September 2006 Sojos-church network

The CHURCH (i.e. universal) is everyone who is IN CHRIST
local churches are specific assemblies of members of The CHURCH
local churches include the requirements to be in The CHURCH
local churches also have specific requirements not included in The CHURCH
location
time
language
and various other factors for various reasons
small local churches (like house churches) may form with intentionally specific elements
in this house and that house
a certain time (Saturday night meetings, or Sunday morning for a short time, or for a long time…
in English, Thai, Spanish, Mandarin
focused on families, singles, etc.
small churches who are focused on specifics may need to include a time of meeting with others who have a different focus

So, this is what we at Sojos Church are trying to do.

We proclaim that Jesus is the Way to be in His CHURCH
We take the time and effort to be a local church assembly with specific limitations
We believe that to be a member at the Sojos Church you must be a member of The CHURCH (saved, born again, in Christ, etc.)
We believe that local churches should form with considerations of
A place
A time
A language
A focus, etc
Our church answers these questions more or less this way
We mainly meet at the homes of 4 families in our church
We mainly meet on Sunday mornings for 2-3 hours
We speak English, and specifically, we speak to the understanding level of teens
We aim to equip teenagers to take ownership of their faith by having involved expositional teaching with lots of dialogue
i. This means we need a place where we can interact
ii. This means we need time to interact
iii. This means we need to speak in a way that is understandable but challenging to teens
iv. This means we are not also “focused” on non-teens.
Since we are a small church which is focused on a primary concern, we also need to connect with other Christians in real and meaningful ways because, although our focus is rightly important to our local church, it is not the only important thing in The CHURCH (of which we too are a part).

So, what we would like is to grow our local church with a specific focus, but also with connection to others. Here is how it could work:

Several different churches with specific elements

A local church focused on a few teen families and some folks who connect with that vision

A local church focused on elementary aged kids in a relaxed dynamic that is very open to going with the flow as the Spirit leads

A local church focused on families focused on elementary aged kids in an intentional concise and organized church experience that starts and ends briefly enough for younger kids.

A local church that is intentionally open to a wide mix of singles, married with kids, no kids, senior adult.. whatever.

Alocal church… etc. etc.

Each of these particular churches might agree to an occasional gathering (monthly?) where a concise worship service and an extended fellowship time provides a way to be connected in meaningful ways to other Christians.

The occasional event would not be a church, but a network of churches celebrating that we are part of the CHURCH

The event would be less focused on teaching, more focused on connecting (good music, simple short message, good fellowship time)

Why would this be helpful?

Most of us are very busy and not wanting to spend unnecessary time trying to work through problems that don’t need fixing. Everyone who values a particular form of church should get with those who also value that form. Getting together helps us guard from being sectarian and elitist. It helps us to realize (intentionally) that we can value our local form of church and value other Christians who value a different form of local church.

Why not just be one big church?

We want to use our gifts.
We want to use our time most effectively for specific needs.
We like the tabernacling idea: we are sojourners, pilgrims, strangers.
We learn better when dialogue is included.
And more.