Successful and Innovative City Church Models

First, a pop Quiz: York Street Anglican is in the picture below. What are the colours of the two buildings that crowd the church in? Kudos to you if you can get the answer.

Second, for your prayers: York Street Anglican are having a Vision and Planning Day on Saturday. Just a small group of people interested in asking how we will speak with, for and to the city of Sydney in the next 20 years.

Third, for your discussion: For about 45 minutes, we are going to put our mind to 'Successful and Innovative City Church Models'.

I've chosen three churches, or groups of churches -- one in New York and the other two in London. I could have chosen more, and differently. But I chose these three because they represent three different models and ideas that York Street could put their mind to. I've decided not to critique them, although that would be a helpful thing to do. I'm not agreeing with their models, just recognising that they have found a voice that appears to be working.

I've just listed what I think their key aspects are, and tried to be positive about them:

Key Aspects of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC

(Megachurch Presbyterian on Manhattan. They are in the city, on the upper East and West Side, but not downtown. They are theologically reformed.)

• Psyche, holistic thinking, and vocational living mark their language. They 'go deep' and they exegete the city.
  
• They are deeply positive about the city.
• They have insightful preaching (unrepeatable, really). Tim Keller ‘hits the sweet spot’.
• Tim Keller is positive, insightful, and a good example of the new apologetic.
• They speak always as though new people and not-yet-Christians are present.
• They have an captivating vision (although worth examining): Renew the city spiritually, culturally, and socially.
• They have a desire to be ‘Missional’: the whole church facing the whole city in mission (gospel, community, and life)
• They are positive to other denominations.
• They have adapted to the new reality: It is a post-Christendom world.
• They have clearly identified, and articulated the needs of the city, and they speak to those needs.
• They have clearly identified, and articulated certain ‘defeater beliefs’.
• They have something to say about being a professional, and the value of work

Key Aspects of Co-mission initiative, London

(Mostly Anglican Congregations in City of London. They are classically reformed and Evangelical.)

• The words of the Gospel mark their language.
• They appear free to plant churches well before the most churches would plant.
• They have about 10 relatively small congregations that appear to plant assertively.
• They have strong, clear, unafraid and unambiguous leadership.
• They are strongly Evangelistic in the classic sense of the word. They are outward focused.
• They may not seen as Anglican ‘kosher’. They capture a young and confident crowd?
• They work hard to connect with young people (workers in the city).
• They are great at staffing.

Key Aspects of Holy Trinity Brompton, London (Nicky Gumbel)

(Large Anglican Church in the City of London. Charismatic Evangelical.)

• The Holy Spirit and change mark their language
• Long term leadership from Sandy Miller and then Nicky Gumbel.
• Exciting vibrant meeting (music and ‘worship’ is a big part of the ministry).
• Found one thing that has made their name known in world: Alpha.
• Positive, positive, positive.
  
• Positive to other churches. They are very warm and accommodating (too accommodating?)
• Simple and clear messages that touch the heart.

(We could discuss other churches, but that would be for another thread.)

Have I got anything wrong? Have I missed anything?

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