We had some good discussion last week on my post on Measuring Converts in Simple / House / Missional Churches, and a late comment by Joe slipped in today:
Having stumbled onto this website, could I ask you for some help? I am new to world of simple/organic church, and remember fondly my early days as a Christian, when I held an after church meeting in my home, it was everything a traditional church is not, anyway could you recommend any books, websites, or authors that would help me to flesh out my understanding of simple/organic church life.
I thought I would highlight it as a good question… many of the resources I’m thinking of are books I’ve not actually read. The latest Frank Viola book is controversial but is more of a defense of organic church than a how-to. So what practical blogs or books are out there for home / simple / organic churches?
Well, I would think that one of the first places to start would be with Neil Cole’s book “Organic Church” and his CMA (Church Multiplication Associates) Resources group over at http://www.cmaresources.org. That site should be able to connect you to Tony and Felicity Dale and their House2House group. And then Wolfgang Simpson, in Europe (well, all over the world!).
By the way, Neil and Wolfgang are teaming up with Alan Hirsh on a new book…and they’re all together for the Organic Church Movement Conference 2008 next month in Ontario, California.
There are a number of important books in the CMA Resources Resources section, good thoughts in the Features & Articles section, and an amazing list of groups in their Network section.
That’s my two cents…from the American neck of the woods, that is.
Myers is great.. don’t forget Frost “Exiles.” Too bad E O’Connors books are out of print, but used copies can sometimes be found. I”m thinking of “The New Community” and “Call to Commitment,” and of course there is Bonhoeffer, “Life Together.” Oh.. and Jim Wallis, “The Call to Conversion.”
Ditto all of Len’s recommendations too. Church of the Savior’s stuff is all fanastic, even if the language is a bit dated. it’s not ‘how-to’ so much as ‘how we did it’, their story.
Here’s a great web site dedicated to those who are interested in organic church. It contains
books, articles, audios, links to other similiar sites, and more.
http://www.housechurchresource.org