An Idea Whose Time Has Arrived

Church Within a Church is an initiative modeled on an organization of the same name in the United Methodist Church. The Methodist group was founded by credible, dedicated, committed ministers and lay people who believe that United Methodism’s tumult over homosexuality will result in winners and losers, depending on who has the most money and influence, to the detriment of the larger church.

This is not a separatist movement, but rather a group that wishes to “leaven” Methodism by starting new churches that will avoid this divisive debate. This group now has an Executive Director and a steering committee of 11 people. They’ve held two conferences, in addition to hosting seminars on how to plant new churches using this concept.

Homosexuality is not a driving issue in our movement, but the time is right for a Church Within a Church movement in Unitarian Universalism.

The concept

Church Within a Church is a way for Unitarian Universalism to gain greater breadth and depth in the larger society. It is a grassroots movement, very similar to the Partner Church initiative.

We are at a period in American religious history in which “house” churches and “storefront” churches are thriving, and Church Within a Church can capitalize on this momentum. This is an opportunity for grassroots evangelism and a way for our faith to reach those who might never find it otherwise.

The idea is to encourage ministers, seminary students, and lay people of all ages to go out and start new churches on the model of Martin Luther King Senior, who felt a call to preach and just started a church. It is estimated that over 20,000 such churches have been founded in the past twenty years.

The new churches will not replicate the current model of UU congregations. Rather, new churches will be based on the founder’s call to ministry. The message will be, “This is the journey we are on. Would you like to join us?” The founding minister sets the vision.

Absent in this model is an emphasis on freedom of the individual, attempting to accommodate everyone’s theological views, attempting to please everyone, mission/vision committees, and other institutional forms that create a lowest common denominator environment. Most likely, these will be higher expectation, progressive churches.

To ensure clarity

Church Within a Church is not about authoritarian leaders, but rather congregations that develop a clear “vocation,” along with a sense of followership that allows church members to make informed decisions while at the same time giving themselves over to a larger cause.

This model offers the potential of starting dozens of new churches in all areas of the country. There is also a book just waiting to be written about liberal, higher-demand churches and their role in contemporary American religion.

The next step

Church Within a Church is seeking working capital in order to provide grants to adventurous souls who wish to plant new churches. Also, working capital is needed to promote the concept, arrange for speakers to articulate the idea, a website, and for modest stipends to CWAC organizers.

CWAC would like to provide four grants of $25,000 each year to potential church “planters,” those people who have an entrepreneurial spirit, a fire in their bellies in regard to spreading the faith, and the sheer will power necessary to stay the course.

Please direct inquiries to Michael Durall, 303-442-3114, or mdurall@earthlink.net