META-CHURCH GROWTH PROGRAMS

A Statement from The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America

In our Synod, the concept of "Meta-Church" has begun to be studied and in some cases used. Understandably, there are a variety of reactions to these ideas and practices. I would like to discuss with you some of the positive aspects of Meta-Church. I would also like to discuss areas of concern and caution which I hear in regard to Meta-Church.

What is "Meta-Church"? The expression means, literally, "changing church." The emphasis of Meta-Church is on helping the lay people of the church seek ways to bring friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, etc., into the church through participation in small groups. These small groups are known by a variety of names: cell groups, tender loving care groups, small groups, discipleship circles, etc. Let's take a look at some of the positive aspects of Meta-Church.

Many see the idea of developing smaller groups of caring, loving Christian friends in a congregation as a way of combatting the tendency toward individualism that we notice more and more in our society, and in our church. Meta-Church emphasizes the development of close Christian friendships within the context of a small group. We Lutherans have always talked about the "consolation and conversation of the brethren" as a very important aspect of our Christian life, so here we can see the potential value of this idea.

Another positive aspect of Meta-Church is that it encourages lay persons to grow beyond a basic knowledge of the Faith. In this way, we recognize the catechetical potential for these small groups. What is learned in the setting of a smaller group equips the laity to be witnesses to their faith in their various vocations. This focus is a refreshing change from the tendency that sometimes develops in a parish on simply maintaining the physical facilities and of forming committees to do nothing but the "business" of the church. It is very important that the business of the congregation be handled responsibly, but the primary "business" of the congregation must revolve around the Gospel received in Word and Sacrament. The smaller groups that develop in a parish can be excellent ways of drawing people's attention toward the next Sunday's Divine Service of Word and Sacrament.

Meta-Church is also one possible way of starting new congregations. Again, rather than simply focussing on building a building, the principles of the small group formation in a parish would be used to bring non-Christians and non-Lutherans into the congregation. Being made a part of a smaller group of Lutheran Christians, the newcomer is made to feel welcome, and would perhaps find this route into the life of a congregation more easy and less intimidating than if he had to be the one to reach out for friendships in the parish. With these genuinely positive aspects of Meta-Church in mind, we now can discuss some of the concerns one hears about Meta-Church.

The most fundamental concern I hear being expressed about Meta-Church is that it is founded upon theological points of view which are not faithful to the Scriptures and Confessions. Many would feel that it is difficult to use this method with Lutheran presuppositions. A pastor in Korea is often credited with developing many of the concepts and techniques of Meta-Church. He is a charismatic, Pentecostal Christian. It would be very harmful if this sort of theology would influence our use of some Meta-Church principles. We must also be extremely concerned to affirm proper Scriptural understandings of key doctrines such as Justification, Sanctification, the Means of Grace, the Church, the Ministry, the distinction between Law and Gospel, etc. Many would feel that Meta-Church tends to teach that the Bible reveals an organizational structure for the church. Many point out that when we begin to attempt to identify a divine "structure" for the church, this tends to turn the Scripture into merely a prescriptive rule-book, rather than as Luther said, "The place where Christ is taught most purely by Christ." We recognize that there is freedom in the Gospel to create any structure which serves the Gospel at a particular place and time.

Another concern which is being expressed by many is a concern about the small group itself. We would not wish to encourage the formation of a "church within the church" sort of mentality. In other words, it would not be healthy to imply that the folks who are involved in a small group are somehow "better" Christians than those who "just" attend Sunday morning worship. We would be concerned here that the small group not be viewed as a "substitute" for the Divine Service on Sunday morning or the ministry of the called and ordained servant of the Word, whose primary task is always to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments, not simply to manage small groups in a parish. Working in very close cooperation with the pastor, a small group may enhance the pastor's ministry. Here too we would see a potential positive of some Meta-Church principles.

The small group would need to use very solid Lutheran curriculum materials which are founded upon a proper understanding of the Scripture and are faithful to the Lutheran Confessions. If, for example, the small groups were to use materials that are not soundly Lutheran and Confessional (for instance materials that are from a Reformed or Evangelical background) we would develop small groups with Reformed tendencies rather than solid Lutheran groups. This too we would want to avoid. The LifeLight Bible study program would be an excellent curriculum for small groups since it is designed for smaller groups.

As you can see, there are positive aspects to some of the ideas of Meta-Church. There are also serious concerns we need to keep in mind. One way of recognizing the concerns while retaining positive aspects of Meta-Church is to free ourselves from the terminology of the Meta-Church method. As we sort through these issues in a theologically responsible way, we surely will be able to arrive at our own distinct Lutheran understandings of some Meta-Church principles. These understandings will be reflected in terminology that can be used to free us from the terminology of much Meta-Church literature which we find today. I appreciate efforts which have been made to do this, and I know our Synod will appreciate this as well.

From: The President's Newsletter, July 1993, pp. 5-6