Connections Organic Church Network

Living Simply So Others May Simply Live

Connecting a passionate love for God with a practical love for others

Questions and Answers

 What is an Organic Community? 

An Organic Community is a small group of people who gather together to share life together in Christ centered relationships.  Ministering together, learning together, loving together, recreating together, worshiping together, and encouraging one another in the midst of life.  Organic communities are generally small reproductive communities growing to approximately 15-20 adults along with their families and who have an apostolic mindset of starting new communities.

 Is this affiliated with a denomination?

Yes.  Connections is a part of the denomination of the church of the Nazarene.  However, we are not denominationalists.  The Church of the Nazarene is not the only group that will be found in heaven.  We believe we are part of a higher calling than the "denomination" and believe that partnering with others outside our denomination is essential as part of God's Church.  However, for purposes of accountability, leadership, doctrine and support, Connections has chosen to align itself with the Church of the Nazarene.  For more about the church of the Nazarene, its beliefs, history, and mission go to www.nazarene.org

How do you maintain doctrinal integrity?

DNA is passed on from generation to generation.  There must be high levels of trust both for the denomination and from the denomination.  This kind of trust is built through relationship.  If the relationship is weak the trust will be weak.  Therefore it is essential that apostolic leaders remain connected to the "Organic Church Network", its annual gathering of Organic church leaders and maintain a healthy working relationship with their local District Leadership.  We are not "islands unto ourselves" and must maintain healthy trust relationships at all levels.  We also believe that discipleship is more relational than academic.  Doctrinal integrity is passed on as we maintain healthy, accountable relationship with those we are ministering to and with.

How do you measure success? 

Success is measured against the mission.  We believe that success will be seen in everyday life as participants demonstrate a passionate love for God and a practical love for others everywhere they go.  Success will also mean that disciples are making disciples and all are participating in the mission and vision not just the leadership. 

Who leads Connections?

Connections is founded by Pastor Darrell MacLearn, an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene.  Darrell will give apostolic leadership to the network in accountable relationship to the Dallas District Church of the Nazarene.  Darrell is the National Director for the Organic Church Network for the Church of the Nazarene and is a Senior Coach for Organic Church Planting with New Church Specialties.

What do the communities study?

Each community will meet at least once per week for spiritual formation.  Each community will be committed to studying God’s word together on a regular basis.  The study might look different for each community.  However, we believe that the Word of God is the seed that must be planted into our lives for true transformation to take place.  Therefore a key element in the DNA of each community is the discussion of and group interaction with the word of God. 

Do I still attend a local church? 

Due to the flexibility of Connections participants could attend worship services at a local church if that is what they desired.  We simply ask that the accountability to and their priority be their community.  However, if there are special services, special events that one would like to attend we would welcome that and even encourage that.

What about my kids?

One of the most commonly asked questions is about children.  We believe that family matters and children and youth are a vital part of community life.  We believe that the best place for a child’s spiritual formation to develop is in their home with their parents.  Therefore, we see it as the responsibility of each community to equip parents to raise Godly children.  We also believe that children learn through what they observe others doing.  Therefore their involvement in community life and ministry is vital.  We also recommend and will provide for each community to have a special time with the children during their weekly gathering.  This is primarily an issue when we try to cram life into an hour "Bible Study".  There will be times when a community may want to do some things as adults and will individually or together make arrangements for child care and at other times the activities might revolve around the kids.  Each community will grow together as a family.

We encourage each community to allow enough time in their weekly gathering to minister to the entire family.  For more on this see article entitled, "Organic Children".

How often do you meet?

We encourage each group to meet at least weekly for a scheduled time together.  However, group participants may find themselves meeting more regularly as they begin to share life together.  At times all the men may gather or all the women may gather or a couple of men may share coffee together for individual accountability.  This is about sharing life not a day of the week. 

Do the participants tithe?

We believe that the stewardship of God’s resources is critical for the life of the believer and the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  Each participant is encouraged to invest in God’s kingdom.  We encourage tithing however, are more interested in participants being generous and sacrificial in their giving.  

Is giving tax deductible? 

Yes.  Connections is a 501c3 and is a non-profit organization that qualifies for charitable giving.

Where does the money go?

10% of all money raised will be given to the Church of the Nazarene for its compassionate ministries outreach.  After that each community will be responsible to be good stewards of the resources collected and find ways to maximize their resources for the work of the Kingdom.  Since we do not maintain buildings, salaries and other overhead expenses we can maximize monies in ministry instead of overhead costs.  It is our goal that we will never spend more than 20% of money raised on overhead or administrative costs.  We have found that the more involvement the community has in deciding where money is channeled in ministry the more free they are and excited they are about giving.  People today really do want to give and make a difference in their world.  We want to remove as many roadblocks to giving as possible and encourage people to "live simply so that others may simply live".

How do you maintain financial integrity?

A budget will be established and approved by all community members.  All community members will approve any unbudgeted items.  For accountability purposes a monthly financial report will be generated for each community and approved by all community members.  The handling of all monies will be done by a designated treasurer and counting teams to assure that monies are handled with the utmost integrity.  It is recommended that each community be a part of the Organic Church Networks "Common Purse" for the purposes of financial integrity and ease of money management.

What is the "Common Purse"?

The "Common Purse" is an "Organic Church Network" service to manage organic church finances in such a way that it lessens the stress on new church starters.  Each organic church can deposit their offerings into the "Common Purse" and our "Organic church Network" accountant will manage the network monies.  Each church that participates will receive a network credit card with a spending limit not to exceed what they have deposited.  Our accountant will build protections in for  this.  Nazarene Organic Churches will not be apportioned "District Budgets".  Instead 10% of everything that is deposited into the "Common Purse" will go to support Nazarene World missions and the work of Compassionate Ministries.  Therefore, the spending limit for each Organic Church participating in the Common Purse is 90% of their deposits.  Each community should have their own treasurer who keeps track of individual contributions and deposits made to the common purse and expenditures.

 What do you believe?

 See Articles of Faith

 What about evangelism?

 We believe that all believers should be a part of making new believers.  We believe that believers who are passionate about loving God and practical in their love for others will impact the world around them and others will be drawn to the Kingdom of God.   God never intended us to “build his church”.  He said he would do that.  What he has called us to do is go and make disciples.  As disciples go and make disciples He will grow his church.  One of the marks of a follower of Christ is one who goes and finds others who will follow Christ.  Unfortunately, in many cases, we have spent so much time getting people in church we have not invested in relational discipleship.  We are asking believers to win the world one disciple at a time by extending the love and grace of God that was extended to them to their families, friends, business associates, neighbors, and others that God brings across their paths in daily life.

 Are groups open or closed?

Each community is open and is welcoming to new participants.  We do not want to become holy clubs.  We encourage groups to reach out to those around them.  We don’t encourage rapid growth but discipleship growth.  Invite someone and spend time investing in their spiritual growth before inviting a crowd.  At the same time many people will want what you have found and it may be time to start another community.  Part of the DNA of each community should include the reproducing of itself.  We believe that the Kingdom of God is not a "holy club" that excludes but its very nature and purpose for existence is for those who are not yet a part of the community.

How are leaders selected?

Participants with gifts and abilities to lead will naturally rise up in an "organic fashion" and be identified by the leader and encouraged to start a new community.  New Communities should be stated in accountable relationship with the leader of the reproducing Community.  We believe that everyone in the community has something to offer and communities will, by their very "organic nature" be very participatory.  Communities should be developed around the principle of "simple and reproducible".  Simple does not mean simplistic.

How are leaders trained?

In "Simple an reproducible" communities training is primarily relational discipleship.  Therefore, basic training begins with good discipleship.  Beyond that each community leader should receive training through "Organic Church Network" events, Personal Coaching, classes, seminars, recommended readings, and other available training that is found in the journey.   Additional training and resources will be added as we grow and develop.  Apostolic leaders are encouraged to receive additional training in denominational mission, vision, and doctrines as well as in issues related to community life, relevant practical ministry, introductory counseling issues, and leadership skills.

When and how do communities split?

 It is not our desire to become little holy clubs but to grow and expand around the world.  One of the difficulties with group life is how to launch new groups.  As communities grow there will come a time when size will be restrictive.  Groups will not be forced to divide but we will be raising up leaders within each group with the mindset of impacting our world by starting like minded groups.  With this mindset and DNA in the group some of the participants may join together to start the new community.  It is our vision to plant a community within walking distance of everyone in a city.  The most effective reproduction is when a community is started in the residence of a new believer and his or her extended family and friends are invited.  It should be a natural part of the DNA of every community to start new communities.

Can I participate and not join?

 Yes.  However, we believe that it is important to be committed to one another understanding that we function as a body.  Therefore it would be difficult to maintain sideline participation over a long period of time.

What about credentials and ordination?

Organic pastors will be ordained using existing district structures for licensing.  The district superintendent is key to recognizing organic communities as an official assignment.  However, ordination is not a requirement to lead an Organic Community.

Do Organic Pastors receive a wage?

We are seeing many different blends of support for Organic Leaders.  Some receive a wage from a network of churches that partner together to help support the "apostolic leader", others simply are bi-vocational and receive nothing from their personal Organic Church Network.  Some work with a district in other capacities with some support from them.  One of the keys is to remember the importance of simple and reproducibility.  The most reproducible model is bi-vocational.