In Mark Driscoll’s final main address at the Together on a Mission conference he spoke about ‘Movements’ (or networks of churches, like New Frontiers). In introduction he took us to Acts 1:1-11 to the beginning of the movement, with Jesus as the head and the Spirit at work. He spoke about Paul’s church planting strategy of establishing churches in cities and commented on the strategic significance of cities - they have more people, and culture flows from a city.

Driscoll talked a little about some historic movements and described them by 6 marks of movements:

1. Young people, young leaders
2. Conversions
3. Church Planting
4. Unaware of extending influence
5. Supporting organisations (production of resources)
6. New Technology

Mark then went on to discuss the rather depressing cycle of a movement:

1. Simple Organisation
2. Growth (becomes a movement)
3. Institution - founders and friends are the leaders (young leaders leave), guarding previous innovation, stop listening to outsiders (need humility and discernment)
4. Museum

Driscoll then went on to talk about ‘going off course’, 7 ways that movements can turn into institutions, he credited these points to Larry Osbourne:

1. Theologically off course - either too tight (fundamentalist) or too loose (liberal - used Vineyard as an example)
2. Relationships become too close to accommodate new leaders and members
3. Organisationally not adjusted for growth
4. Pride - “not invented here syndrome”, a willingness to listen to others with humility and discernment is needed
5. Pursuing potential over calling - prayerfully consider what to do
6. Lack Resourcing
7. Honouring the founder and the future

Points 2, 3, 5 and 7 were specifically aimed at the New Frontiers movement, point 7 in particular. Driscoll basically said that soon Terry Virgo will have to hand over New Frontiers to a new leader (he is quite old after all!) and that new leaders need to respect Terry and the founding vision, but also respect the future and new opporunities that open. I understand that people in New Frontiers love and respect Terry, while Driscoll saw this as a great thing I think he also saw it as a danger for growth, changing structure and a clear vision for the future. Mark was very gracious to what is clearly a delicate and emotional subject.

In conclusion, Mark gave 6 phases of renewal (from Rick Warrren):

1. Personal - Spirit enabled passion for Jesus
2. Relational - love and compassion
3. Missional - overflow of relational love into sharing faith and church planting
4. Cultural - church culture infects the city
5. Structural - more systems, more policies, more churches
6. Institutional - breathe life into dead churches

Afterwards Mark received a standing ovation for his time with us, his honesty and his ability to clearly speak into the New Frontiers situation. Terry Virgo came up briefly afterwards to speak about momentous times at the Brighton Conference (this being one), and to give an emotional thanks to Mark. Exciting times for New Frontiers, for a vision of 1000 churches.