Franchising Church, pt. 1

In late 2004 I predicted that the next big thing in the American church would be setting up satellite campuses in other states. We have already witnessed the acceptance of the multiple campus concept. The next step, naturally, is to go national. Why limit the target audience of your church to the size of your city? After all, we are a video society. Instead of planting churches and sending out pastors, why not just send out a DVD or satellite image of our pastor? It will save money and allow others to experience the power of sitting under our uniquely gifted teacher.

Without judging the motives of Andy Stanley and the elders, Northpoint Community Church has (to my knowledge they are the first), pioneered this next, inevitable step in the depersonalization of the American church. Now with campuses in Athens, GA and Dothan, AL, Northpoint has expanded beyond the Atlanta metro area. They are not called campuses or satellites, they are “strategic partnerships.” My guess is that they are legally separate entities from Northpoint. But you can bet your bottom dollar that if the “partner” to Northpoint doesn’t do things the way Alpharetta says to do it, bye-bye satellite link-up. There will be a “pastor” on location, but the teaching pastor of these “partners” will be Andy Stanley.

Yes, the pastor on location may manage the ministry and day-to-day operations of the, say, Dothan church, but the primarily influencer, and thus, leader, will be Mr. Stanley. According to Alexander Strauch, in an elder led church, the teaching pastor is the first among equals because of the incredible impact of the pulpit ministry. So, although Wiregrass Church of Dothan will be guarded by the elders (meaning the elders of Wiregrass, not the elders of Northpoint), guided by the Staff (of Wiregrass), and gifted by the congregation (of Wiregrass), Andy Stanley will be the primary influencer of Wiregrass, and therefore, for all practical purposes, the real Senior Pastor.

What we have here, in essence, is franchising almost to the degree restaurants do it. Some would probably say this is good for the American church. After all, few of us have the speaking skills of one like Andy Stanley. So, more people will be exposed to superior teaching. Also, 20 years from now you will be able to find a Northpoint in your neighborhood, along with a Saddleback, a Crystal Cathedral, a Willow Creek, a Lakeside Church, and a Bellevue. And if you relocate to another city in the US, you can pick up right where your pastor left off in his series, without missing a beat. Of course, your chances of knowing your pastor personally will be very slim, unless you can afford to go on one of his “Bible teaching” cruises (which I’m all for if anyone wants to send us on one!).

In "Franchising Church, pt. 2", I will list the inherit dangers of franchising church.