I think Wesley’s view of the ministry in early North America was similar to what you are suggesting. The Wesleyan pastor wasn’t tied to place or building.
Did it work? The circuit rider pastor led to the most substantial period of the growth in Christianity in our history.
People were formed and nurtured by the class system. (Think social media etc) Shortly after the civil war the largest Methodist ruled that one could be a “member” of the denomination and not be in a class. Though large, the Methodist have been in decline ever since mostly sustaining their denominations through mergers. When the United Methodists were formed in the late 1950s it made the largest denomination in the US. They immediately began to decline.
Circuit Ryder - class system- community focused outreach became like the older denominations
I think Wesley’s view of the ministry in early North America was similar to what you are suggesting. The Wesleyan pastor wasn’t tied to place or building.
Did it work? The circuit rider pastor led to the most substantial period of the growth in Christianity in our history.
People were formed and nurtured by the class system. (Think social media etc) Shortly after the civil war the largest Methodist ruled that one could be a “member” of the denomination and not be in a class. Though large, the Methodist have been in decline ever since mostly sustaining their denominations through mergers. When the United Methodists were formed in the late 1950s it made the largest denomination in the US. They immediately began to decline.
Circuit Ryder - class system- community focused outreach became like the older denominations
Pastor-building-congregation-Sunday Schools-programs.
Keep preaching this sister 👍
If we always do what we have always done, we will always get what we have always gotten - decline! 😳
right! doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results ... does not work!
and thank you.
also, i like the circuit rider approach.
AND - what I imagine is much more than that.
It's not so clergy focused, but a network of spiritual support for lay ministry, bolstered by clergy.
and the riding is mostly virtual :)