Let's Build Some Community Here!

So, I was thinking we should compile a list of Burnside-friendly churches.

I don't mean people in that particular church read Burnside, or that they've got Blue Like Jazz on their reading list, or that they're properly emergent...I'm looking for a list of church communities we love.

There's a couple reasons for this: the first being that since I might have to move away from Portland soon, I'd like to get an idea of where I can find a strong community wherever I end up. The second is, it's a good way to link church folks across the country.

Of course, all of us have different values when we look for churches. Here are a few of mine:

1. Community-driven. Small groups are HUGELY important to me, because that's often where the quickest and most established connections happen. At Imago Dei Community, the home churches meet during the week, and are considered by the church elders to be more important than the Sunday services.

2. Outward Focused. Primarily toward the community around the physical location of the church building (or around the houses where the small groups meet). It doesn't mean there needs to be a ton of charity work being done, but the members should be integral parts of their community, not locked up in a fortress.

3. Open to Innovation. New ideas, or old forgotten ideas, are key. I want the Church to be a catalyst in culture, not reactionary. I want to hear church members coming up with novel ways of speaking Truth to the world around them. I want the status quo to be questioned, not to the point of indecision, but with the trust God will use the conflict we face to build us as believers. With that said...

4. Truth-Speaking. The church should be willing to call each other out, and to call sin sin. Think Corinthians here...there are times when being loving means being tough, even if it's cutting someone loose from the community if they're unrepentant.

5. Size Matters. There are some amazing big churches out there, particularly Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Imago Dei Community has grown big time, to the point where three Sunday services held in a high school auditorium pack out easily. But both Mars Hill and Imago Dei put the focus back on smaller groups. Your Sunday service may have a talented worship band or charismatic pastor, but what happens when those things are gone? Would the community live on? Smaller groups, where everyone is involved in each other's life, have an advantage.

These are just off the top of my head. What do you look for? Does your church have these qualities? If you think your church is Burnside-friendly, put it in the comments with a reason why. A church being young and hip is not a good reason.

We'll build a list of links on the right side of this page, along with the city where they're located. I'd like to be as stringent as we can...a crazy long list might defeat the purpose.