seeing in a mirror dimly

The website looks great.

The statement of faith is kosher.

But, I’m just a bit confused? I’m not trying to be smart here, and would appreciate even some of the principals responding here or privately. There seems to be a lot of church planting “movements” going on. As I understand it…

There’s the Geneva Push, headed up by Al Stewart and Andrew Heard. Is this the organisation that Al Stewart is resigning from the episcopate to work for? Or is there another? Or is there going to be another? I ask because initial reports said that he would be heading up an Anglican organisation, whereas Geneva Push to be trans-denominational. It is advertising that it will be conducting assessment, and holding it’s In the Chute conference in December.

Then there’s RICE en:trust, with which Steve Chong and Eugene Hor are associated. These guys are both Presbyterian ministers, but the organisation that they will work with church planters planting independently, and within a (note the indefinite article) denomination. Apparently 30 prospective church planters have been assessed and are receiving coaching in 2010.

But then today I also came across Acts 29 Australia & NZ which is obviously linked to Driscoll’s organisation. Their conference starts next week in Brissy, with assessment immediately afterward. The info on their webpage is minimal, but I understand that the Acts 29 network would preclude paedo-baptists such as Anglican bishops, minor presbyterian celebrities, and myself.

Now, from reports earlier in the year, I thought that Stewart and Chong were going to be involved in the same organisation, but clearly that is not the case. Is there a reason for this? Is it also not the case that either of them are to be formally involved in Acts 29?

But the more important question is what is a bloke to do? It seems there are at least two church planting networks I could be part of (perhaps three, if the diocese ends up doing what they said they would do), neither of which have planted any churches. I am deeply interested in church planting, yet deeply concerned about the recent sexiness of the concept, and keen to be involved in a denominational church. So what am I to do? Would you rate Geneva over Rice? Are there any distinctives that might assist in a decision?

Oh, and are you going to put yourself “in the chute”?

Chris,

Cheers for the good thoughts mate. The first thing which ran through my head was – we should get Al & Andrew and Steve & Eugene on the podcast to chat about the Church Planting networks! Get all the info out there!

Let me have a stab at some of your questions – probably most inadequately since they aren’t from the horse’s mouth.

Rice Entrust. I’m a part of the dudes involved so I have a fair idea of what’s going on. Geneva. I’ve caught up with Al Stewart and have had a bit of a yarn too. So, that’s the place where I’m at with respect to knowing what’s going on.

Now it ought to be said that Al, Steve, Eugene and Andrew Heard are all good friends. What’s the reason for the two main groups (not thinking about Acts 29′s conference yet)? Not so sure, except that they’re both keen simply to see people get out there and plant churches! What’s the difference between the two groups? Well it seems to me that Rice Entrust are keen to mentor and encourage young fellas to plant. And Geneva are keen to do likewise.

At present Rice Entrust have held a bunch of small gatherings where the 30 dudes have spoken to and with some key international leaders with church planting experience. The Geneva push is getting off the ground with the In the Chute conference. Both groups are mentoring their people, and both are hooking their people up with key leaders.

So really, I think it’s great that there are two groups doing similar things. Whatever the reasons for there being two groups – I’m not too concerned with. But I’m simply stoked that there are groups getting this up and going. Lord willing, there’ll be great fruit from both ventures!

Me personally? Well I’m keen to do something within the Anglican system (whatever that will look like), thus I’ve been privileged to attend the Rice Entrust sessions, and I’ll get on board with the Geneva guys too since Al’s the point-man for Anglican church planting (Al’s got a Geneva hat, and an Anglican hat on!). I figure that learning and being encouraged by a range of influences can only be good for getting stuck into the diverse range of people around Sydney…

What’s a bloke to do? Well, the Rice Entrust group is up and running at the moment, so I’m not aware of any additional intakes at present. But the Geneva push is about to begin, and that’d be a good place to start. Denominationally, I wouldn’t worry about the Rice/Geneva thing – there’ll both trying to equip people from different denoms to plant churches. Denominationally with respect to Acts 29? Dunno. If they’re not down with paedobaptism, that’s their loss! But in all honesty, I don’t know much about the Brisbane conference, but I’m sure they’d be keen to back Rice and Geneva.

Does that make a bit of sense mate? I simply figure – keep the denominational decision separate from the church planting organisational decision.

Mate. helpful as always. Many thanks.

I realise that the denominational side seems to be kept separate from the church planting side, and I’m cool with that, but was just wandering about the two Sydney based groups, and whether anyone has heard anything from a SydAng organisation if it exists.

Praise God for these guys!

No worries bro!

Well I’m not aware of a SydAng network as such, but I reckon that both Entrust and Geneva are there to aid that denom. Complex eh?!

Hope your exams are going well mate! Lunch soon!

Exams Mon & Thursday. Lunch after that would be grand!