C. Theologically, the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference in 2006 is a church of 74,431 persons worshiping each week in 907 locations linked through ten districts. The bishop is the pastor over the whole conference and the district superintendent is the pastor over the members of the district. If this seems unusual it indicates the degree to which the congregationalistic world view has come to dominate our thinking. The church is not the local church, but all of us united. The world’s largest church, Yoido Full Gospel Church with over 700,000 members, is also organized into geographic districts. It provides a model to be large without losing focus on making disciples. It is growing in numbers rather than declining.
QUOTE [1]
NOTE
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
[1] The quote is a selection from David O. Kueker’s Fuller Seminary Doctor of Ministry project submitted in September, 2007, entitled Diagnosis, Dialogue, and Decision: A Threefold Process of Revitalization For the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
It is shared here in recognition of its 12th Anniversary along with comments to update and provide perspective on the material. The original project was a Training Manual/Study Guide of three Seminars supported by three chapters of research and an Introduction. The material is available for download at www.disciplewalk.com/Resources.html. In 2009 it was provided for purchase as a softcover book entitled Designing Discipleship Systems: Christian Disciple Making For Any Size Church, Any Theology through CreateSpace.com.
[2][3] [4][5] [6][7] [8]
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.