» Planting churches for different people II

Charles Chaney has identified four groups within each ethnic or social subculture. Here they are again.

1. Nuclear: those explicitly and self-consciously concerned about subculture identity.
2. Fellow traveler: those to whom the subculture is a relatively important part of self-conscious identification;
3. Marginal: those who occasionally think of themselves as belonging to the subculture; and
4. Assimilated: those who explicitly exclude themselves from their subculture background.

Here’s his advice on how to respond to each group:

1. Nuclear: Apart from glowing in the dark they need their own church with their own language, culture and leadership.
2. Fellow travelers: You need a bilingual or bicultural church to reach them. You could set up a new congregation within an existing church.
3. Marginal: Adapt your style to help them fit in. Set up new ministries and new groups to connect with them.
4. Assimilated: They fit right in. Keep doing what you’re doing well.

Chaney’s model explains why there are some Cambodian Chinese who you must never invite to visit a Chinese church and others who can only be reached if you do. Why there are some street kids in your city who desperately need their own expression of church and others who need their own small group in your youth group. Why your church could reach some Somalians if it set up a new congregation in the same facility. But also needs to think about planting churches and groups within the Somalian neighbourhood.

Finally, if your church is both ethically and culturally diverse great news for you. But don’t forget about the people your model of ministry will never reach.

“Church Planting at the End of the Twentieth Century” (Charles L. Chaney)