The Church of 2020...

No, this isn’t the name of our new church…hmmm.

Rather, it was a “blessing” if you will, an encouraging word, from an encouraging e-mail that I received from Pastor Jim Walters of Bear Valley Church.

(yes, THAT Bear Valley Church)

His email was in response to one I sent him. I won’t put the whole email here, but he did take quite a bit of time and effort in his reply to my question.

He spoke about the church of the future – the Church of 2020.

In this church:

“a) NO audience at all. People will gather in the round, likely in groups of under 20, and each person will bring a word, song, prayer, idea, teaching, something.

b) attending will be an "active experience of participation," not a "passive attendance at some event". People will hear something (a message, a song, scripture, prayer) but also see something, DO something, SAY something, touch something (another person, or an object that's used as a prop, or modeling clay, or paintbrush, food, Lord's Supper elements) but you get the idea: come to church 2020 and DO things: talk, touch, eat, paint, sing, model clay, cook, clean, teach, play... don't just sit.
c) this new church may gather one Fri nite a month, at some retreat place, and stay til Sunday noon. They may only meet once a month other than in small groups.

d) this new thing won't need a bldg, or a budget, or a big paid staff. They will give most of the offerings to the poor, or to missions, or to a member in need.

e) likely won't even be incorporated. Might be incorporated as a non profit. (By the way, if you do write some by laws and some articles of faith, and file them w/ sec of state in your state, you'll be a non profit. You do not have to file with IRS to get non profit/ tax exempt status, churches have it automatically"

In short, what the church of 2020 will be, is a Fellowship…a true Fellowship.