June 12, 2000

Innovative church conference
highlights four working models
___By Dan Martin
___Texas Baptist Communications
___GLORIETA, N.M.--Four distinctive worship styles aimed at reaching unchurched people were demonstrated and discussed during the National Innovative Church Leadership Conference at Glorieta Baptist Conference Center.
___The 350 participants from 27 states and Canada experienced:
___ The Next Level Church in Denver, aimed at reaching unchurched GenXers.

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___ University Baptist Church of Coral Gables, Fla., which uses a multisensory, multicultural style to reach the transitional community of modern Miami.
___ Lake Pointe Baptist Church of Rockwell, which has a blended worship style to reach boomers and busters in the Dallas suburb.
___ Willow Creek Community Church of Barrington, Ill.--one of the original innovative churches--showcased its recent efforts to reach junior high and high school young people.
___Participants--which included a number of older adults--stood, clapped, sang, swayed and even danced a little as they experienced the worship styles that are attracting new and often untouched and unchurched generations.
___"We asked each church to bring a worship team and to present a worship service which exemplifies their primary worship style," said Bob Cavin, director of the Texas Baptist Leadership Center, one of four co-sponsors of the event.
___Participants also were given the opportunity to take part in breakout sessions discussing the philosophy, vision, strategies and organizational design of the congregations.
___"Our aim was that the senior pastor and staff members of each of the four churches very honestly discuss their roles with participants," Cavin said. "We asked them to discuss form (mission, vision, values and philosophy) function (structures, strategies and organizational principles and design) and family (assimilation, strategies, team building and lay leadership development)" he added.
___All the churches use a team approach for leadership, and each employs some modification of small group structure, whether it is called Bible study or something else.


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