What's at Stake: Autonomy or Unity? (My Multi-Site Journey)

When I speak with others about multi-site ministry, the issue of autonomy usually surfaces.

And rightly so - this is a crucial issue since every Church is autonomous. (I’m restricting my comments here to Baptist Churches because I pastor a Baptist Church.) “Autonomy” basically refers to a congregation’s freedom to follow Christ’s leadership according to Scripture.

Of course, the reason why some folks are concerned about autonomy in light of a multi-site approach to ministry is because they view the different campuses of a multi-site Church as separate “Churches”. But this is simply a misunderstanding of the multi-site strategy. A multi-site Church is ONE Church meeting in more than one location. Therefore, this ONE Church is autonomous, and its campuses function within its autonomy.

The above point applies to Churches with a traditional ministry structure as well. For example, even the ministries of a traditional Church (children’s ministry, student ministry, collegiate ministry, etc.) function under the umbrella of this Church’s autonomy. No one thinks a traditional Church’s autonomy is violated because all its ministries operate within its autonomy as ONE Church.

So autonomy isn’t really the issue at stake in a multi-site Church, but unity could be. Yet, unity is the issue at stake in any approach to ministry. But as long as the ministries of a traditional Church or the campuses of a multi-site Church maintain a focus on the Church's mission to make disciples of all nations, the autonomy and unity of the Church are both preserved.

Blessings…