This week I've had a few meetings regarding CNI. They have been important meetings with well-meaning, knowledgeable people. Regarding CNI, here is what they had to say.
The business model needs to have a niche in order to find people to fund it. People do not understand the impact of a networking organization and without a tangible product or service to put dollars to, nobody will be willing to sponsor it.
Churches do not even understand the need to network. Most time will be spent just trying to convince them of the need, let alone getting pastors willing to collaborate with each other.
Try focusing on one issue and prototype church involvement in that, getting other churches on board.
Thank you to my friends who have advised me. I appreciate their insight, but I am left heartbroken. Not so much for CNI, that is a mechanism for realizing the Kingdom. I'm more heartbroken for the Church as it refuses to see the impact of partnership and thus local ministry and services remains virtually pathetic and minutely effective.
There are so many churches in a city, and if they would spend some valuable time coordinating more than just ministerial associations - basically social clubs for shallow connections among pastors (stated from a pastor himself) - and take their time developing resources that the local community needs, things can happen on a grand scale.
If Churches would stop fighting and come together to effect the local community things can happen on a grand scale. We spend resources attracting people, mostly people from other churches - attracting them to our doctrines and individual programs. We compete for tithes and all the while we neglect the community around us.
Churches are to be beacons of hope and salvation among a community. I wrote in a poem that steeples are flag poles marking ground of individuality. They should in fact be marking places of rest of rejuvenation of safety for the oppressed, weary and heavy-laden. Alas they become autonomous, fairly ineffective buildings that some congregate to.
Now I know that most of this rant is pessimistic - like I said, I am heartbroken for the Church. Bruised by its callousness. But the aim is to get over myself and actively engage again, either by pushing CNI through or other means to get churches to be effective transforming agents. I am reminded to pray for the Church and I am reminded to view my doctrinally and politically diverse brother or sister as a partner in the kingdom.
Please join me in prayer for the Church.
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