Evolution not Dissolution of the Parachurch 1

Though much of my twenty years in vocational ministry has been connected to the local church, I have also been significantly involved in parachurch (i.e., alongside of, not in competition with the local church) ministries. Even extending back to my college days, campus ministry was a major part of my leadership development process. Seminaries, mission agencies, and other parachurch organizations have always been near to my heart. Much Kingdom good may be found with such ministries.

However, my concern with such ministries, both when I was immersed in them vocationally as well as now, is that we were never evolving. We saw a need related to the local church, developed a system to meet that need, and never worked with the local church to build her up in this area. We never worked with her to receive the baton. We taught the local church to think differently, created new definitions, set forth new directions, and created an unhealthy dependency in the process. We did this for centuries. She liked the new ethos; we liked it, too. Everyone agreed to keep it that way.

(Interesting note: For 200 years paternalism was a norm throughout the Majority World, and I can’t help but see variations on this theme showing up in church/parachurch relationships in the West as well. But that’s a post for another time.)

Such ministries are good but always need to be evolving, working themselves out of one role and into another. In an attempt to be more ecclesio-centric, evolution does provide a way forward. However, change is uncomfortable. This is especially true when institutions have become too dependent on their own rigid organizations and structures. This is a great irony. Most schools, agencies, and other ministries often began with a great deal of flexibility; they had little trouble evolving in their early years.

The dissolution of the parachurch is not the answer. However, if a structural and leadership evolution does not occur by proactive leaders seeking the best for local churches, something else will come along with something new and will lead the way forward. History has a way of repeating itself–and this includes parachurch history. Evidence of new paradigms occurring may be heard in my recent conversation with Steve Moore.