Introduction
All three of these models are based on the church being a warm, attractive and vibrant community which clearly articulates a message of good news and lives it out. Information from other pages might help with this.
Attractional
This model depends on people who are outside the church coming into church buildings and church-based events. They would visit regular Sunday services and festival services, they might connect with the church through occasional offices.
Benefits of this model – we are confident on ‘home ground’, we have competence in this area, the whole church is represented, we are familiar with this approach.
Limitations of this model – it takes some level of bravery to cross our threshold, our visitors may be nervous in our space, people need to already have a high level of interest in the church.
Go and Come
This model depends on people in the church engaging with the local community in activities that they might find interesting and helpful. The church members might set up parent and toddler groups or groups for particular ages or interest groups. They might join existing local groups themselves.
Benefits of this model – Meeting people on more neutral ground allows trust to be built and ordinary relationships to develop. This allows us more easily to invite people to enquirers courses or church services.
Limitations of this model – The entry point into our worshipping community is still the building we are used to, and the style of worship that suits us, at a time of our choosing. This means the barrier to entry is still relatively high.
Go and Stay
This model depends on people in the church being willing to establish new Christian communities that are separate from the usual Sunday morning service. It is a development of ‘Go and Come’ where the activity or group which is engaged with gradually develops its own spiritual depth and becomes a worshipping community in its own right, but remains under the direction of the Oversight Minister. This is effectively a New Congregation.
Benefits of this model – The style, place and time of worship can be suited to the new community. The new community will have a higher chance of seeing new opportunities and multiplying themselves.
Limitations of this model- The new community and the home church will have to work hard to build good relationships between themselves. They will both have to work hard to recognise the new community as ‘real church’.