While its always helpful to define yourself 'positively', it may also be of value for us to describe what we are not seeking to aspire to.
That way people joining us know what not to expect.
As Upstream Communities we are not:
Concerned with developing a large and attractive Sunday meeting
For many churches this is a significant priority as a means of attracting people (often existing Christians) into attendance. There are plenty of these kinds of churches around suburbia and we don?t feel we need more of them. We believe discipleship tends to happen more effectively in up close relational settings and that larger gatherings, while inspiring at times, do lend themselves to a passive consumerist mentality.
Aiming to employ full time pastoral staff
We will intentionally travel light with any role that requires financial support, as history has shown a tendency for church members to shrink back and allow ?experts to do ministry once trained and paid clergy are involved. We believe everyone is capable of serving and we don?t want the community to be dominated by one paid person.
Looking to invest our financial resources in buildings
We will use homes and local facilities as required, but we will not seek to develop a dedicated worship centre. We believe the enormous dollars required for such a venture could be better spent elsewhere.
Seeking to depend on programs for our community connections and gospel presentations
We place a high priority on a personal commitment to genuine relationships and see these as the primary way to connect with people and to communicate the gospel message.
Wanting to complicate things
The biblical images of church are simple and organic - family, flock, body, but over the years we seem to have come to view church as a corporation with complex organisational structures and CEOs as leaders. We are not seeking to deny the reality that church is both organism and organisation. But to avoid getting caught up with elaborate organisational structures, we will seek to ensure that we are a network of smaller self sustaining, multiplying communities who can operate with minimal structural support.
Seeing church as a product to be marketed but as a community to be encountered
Generally speaking we will not seek to promote ourselves in the community as a way of attracting new ?customers?.
Seeking to establish a parallel universe
For some time now churches have sought to offer Christian versions of secular activity. We would choose to get involved in local activity rather than creating our own sub-culture.
Suggesting we have found the perfect way to do church
We are an experimental group who do want to provide an alternative to the current dominant expression of church. Because of that we want to be free to change and adapt as needed rather than developing a larger, less fluid structure.
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So… none of this is a dig at anyone out there ?having a go in a more typical church expression. But it does give a description of who we see ourselves as not aspiring towards.
One thing I am increasingly conscious of is the power of the current form of church in our imagination. We have been so dominated by one expression of church that it is hard for anyone, including those of us experimenting, to actually think any different.
Feel free to tell us what you think!
