Church Distributed

 If you have ever heard of a little Church called Northland, you might know it is one of America's most innovative Churches. I have a lot of respect for the vision of Dr. Joel Hunter, but its not unqualified praise.

Hunter, Joel C. Church Distributed: How the Church Can Thrive in the Coming Era of Connection, 2007, Distributed Church Press, 179 pages

What would the church of Jesus Christ look like if it looked more like God? Dr. Joel Hunter, Pastor of Northland, a Church Distributed, a 12,000 + member church, believes he knows and tells us in this work which sets forth his vision. This line, a nice summary of the whole, is found on page 163.

Someday soon, because we are the children of the infinitely patient and precise God, who for centuries has been crafting us to be more like Him….churches will be integrated in their activities, not inhibited by their hierarchy.

Dr. Hunter believes the church must look like God who is both one and plural. Putting this conviction into practice, Northland Church gathers at one location in Longwood, Florida; but this Church is then distributed via the internet to several locations in central Florida and to over 1000 sites worldwide. Why be distributed? Nobody would think of driving down to the Coca-Cola bottling company to buy a Coke, but one would simply stop off at the nearest coke machine -- because this product has been distributed. So must the Church be distributed, like the God who went out to where the people are.

Dr. Hunter integrates some of the leading contemporary thought in management science with the shape and purpose of the Church. He inspires church leaders to join forces with local non-profits, to work for the common good, and to fulfill the second Great Commandment. And he shows the way to accomplish the de-centralization of the Community Church through internet technology and a recasting of the roles of members of the Church moving all away from the center towards where the people are and are in such need of the Church of Christ.

What I found most useful here was the book’s helpful setting forth a way of working with others outside of one’s own faith community. God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and this necessarily involves us in working with others and serving others who are not like ourselves. But it can be difficult to know how to do this. So, it’s helpful to remember that there are three complimentary relationships; folks with whom we have: 1) same mission and same methods; 2) same mission and different methods; 3) different mission and different methods. Though we are nourished through contacts in the first relationship type, we can and should come together with folks in the third type for the specific purpose of serving others, etc..

The thing I found least workable though, was the suggestion that the Distributed Church ought not to have trained clergy. Throughout the book he says that the laity are the clergy. In the Distributed Church, folks gather not because of doctrinal or denominational bonds, but in their common service of others, which seems fine, noble even. But who shall guard the flock against false teachers? After beautifully making the case throughout the book that the structure of the Church ought to reflect the nature of God (i.e., one and plural), in one ironic passage, Dr. Hunter seems to teach that God was at one time Christ, but then at a later time, became the Holy Spirit. On page 83, Dr. Hunter said:

"Ultimately, when you keep going out to the people whom you serve, you want to be near them on a permanent basis. That’s the way it was with Jesus when He transitioned from a physical servant to the Holy Spirit. And that’s the way it is with His church when it transitions from a building-centered local church to a field-based church." (emphasis added)

But this line seems to indicate a Modalistic or Tritheistic, rather than Trinitarian understanding of God. If a statement like this were made in a sermon that were broadcast into the home of a distributed site, one mighty in the Scriptures and sound doctrine should be on hand to explain and obviate any misunderstanding. But Dr. Hunter seems not to have any requirement for such folks in the Distributed Church (he rests in the observation that ‘theological watch-dogs’ naturally appear in the formation of distributed groups).

I commend Dr. Hunter on a vision that so wonderfully redeems the most modern technology, keeps an eye on what God’s common grace has taught secular business leaders, warmly engages the heart of a united Church of Christ to cross denominational boundaries to work together as true brothers in Christ, and is so responsive to the Second Greatest Commandment, even through the calling of the Church to work with non-Christians for the purpose of loving the neighbor. But his "leaving to chance" the teaching and maintaining of sound doctrine is troubling.