Chapter 16: every tradition · Christianity
Acts 29
A member church of Acts 29, the global church-planting network founded in 1998: Reformed in its view of salvation, complementarian, and led by a plurality of elders, the office of elder and pastor being for qualified men. The network is not a denomination. The church owns its building, calls its own pastors, and keeps its own membership covenant and discipline; what binds it to the network is a covenant its elders sign and renew every year, agreeing with the network's five distinctives and the Lausanne Covenant and committing a tenth of the general offerings to church planting, of which 2% goes to Acts 29 itself in the United States (regions set their own share). Its lead pastor was assessed, with his wife, before the church was received, and the network coaches and helps fund the churches it plants; it cannot direct a church, only end its membership, as it did with Mars Hill in 2014. Worship is casual and band-led around long expository preaching, often with the Lord's Supper weekly (an estimate: practice is each church's). Most churches baptize believers by immersion; some baptize infants. Nearly 650 churches in more than 50 countries, by the network's count.
All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it; How people feel, what every factor is.
At a glance
| Faith | Christianity |
|---|---|
| Its words | church, church, auditorium; the lead pastor leads the service; the sermon; Sunday; the Bible |
| Worship | word focus, responsive, minimal formality (0.00 of 1); seated on chairs |
| Music | organ discouraged; gospel organ discouraged; choir discouraged; band expected; brass discouraged; handbells discouraged; chant discouraged; recorded discouraged |
| The room's sound | likes a dry room (the band) |
| Its year | western; major observance; fasts none |
| Leans | conservative on moral questions, neutral on economic ones |
| Polity | independent; leaders come by call; property local |
| Leaders | plural leader, full time, trained by apprenticeship; marriage expected |
| Belonging | high commitment, formal discipline, admitted by board |
| Giving | tithing taught; collected by online, boxes |
| Way of life | alcohol moderation, dress casual, sabbath relaxed |
The week's services
| Day | Time | Service | Led by | People look for it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 9:30 am | Preaching service | the lead pastor | expected |
| Sunday | 11:15 am | Preaching service | the lead pastor | optional |
- Leader: a lead pastor. With none (a vacancy, or no one hired), the church holds a Lay-led service in place of its own, led by the laity, which costs everyone at it 0.04; on sabbatical a supply lead pastor stands in ($800 a month).
- Communion (every week), served at stations: it needs an altar, communion table, rail, or communion station with clear floor in front of it, or communion can't be given that week. People receive from age 7; anyone younger who comes forward is blessed instead.
- Baptism: needs a baptistry or an immersion font, built and installed; until there is one, those wanting baptism wait.
Rites
- Child Dedication (per birth, +0.02 to those there): Parents bring their baby to the front, promise to raise the child in the faith, and the lead pastor prays a blessing over the family while the congregation promises to support them.
- Baptism Celebration (quarterly, +0.03 to those there): A service built around baptisms: one after another, people share their stories and are baptized before the cheering congregation.
- Installation of Officebearers (yearly, +0.015 to those there): Newly elected elders and deacons are ordained and installed before the congregation using the church's prescribed form.
- Sending a Church Plant (on request, +0.02 to those there): The church sends out a planter, often one of its own residents, with his family and a core team of members to start a new church. The elders lay hands on them and pray, and the congregation commits to pray for and give to the new church.
Baptism, confirmation, and joining
- Baptized elsewhere: it recognizes a believer's baptism in the name of the Trinity (not one given as a baby). Someone so baptized is received at a service after about 6 weeks (a week from another of its churches).
- Not baptized (or baptized where it doesn't recognize it): a candidate who prepares for 1 months (only months its class can meet count), then is baptized and received at the same service.
- Joining age: 16.
- The church's children are baptized as believers at about 9, most within a year or two of it.
- Kinds of belonging: covenant members (votes, may hold office); regular attenders; received by its board.
- What it means: being baptized, confirmed, or received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home each Christmas Eve and Easter for ten years.
Giving, and what goes up
How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.
- How it's given: the giving, by giving online, and boxes. With no plate passed, members give a tenth less at the boxes than they would into one, and visitors give nothing at the service. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
- Fundraisers: only the modest ones (below).
- Owed above: Share to Acts 29, 2% of what it takes in, to the Acts 29; not kept, it costs the wider body's regard.
- Owed above: Church planting, 8% of what it takes in, to the Region (voluntary).
The lead pastor, the staff, and who decides
- How the lead pastor comes: advertised and called: the elders votes, then the members must consent.
- Paid: full time.
- Candidates: three apply; trained by apprenticeship (less skilled; they ask 85%); men; nearly all married; the spouse has a recognized part (+0.01 to everyone after each service).
- Tenure: settled for about 12 years, then may be called elsewhere; the associate succeeds at once.
- Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Lay leader (unpaid; from the members; cares for 60)
- Bivocational lead pastor ($22,000–$38,000; cares for 75)
- Lead pastor ($55,000–$85,000 + $18,000 benefits, full time; cares for 150)
- Associate lead pastor ($42,000–$62,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; cares for 100 more)
- Deacon (up to $6,000; from the members; cares for 30 more)
- Choir director / organist / pianist ($15,000–$35,000; leads the music (up to +0.06))
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Church secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Its boards: the elders (deciding, over everything).
- Renovations: The elders votes.
- New construction: The elders votes, then the members must consent.
- Calling a leader: The elders votes, then the members must consent.
- Who votes: covenant members, 16 and over.
Life together
What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.
- Ministries of its own: Choir.
- Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
- Fundraisers of its own: Soup supper.
- Shared fundraisers it may hold (only the modest ones): Bake sale, Car wash, Raffle, Rummage sale.
- Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, A twelve-step group, Another congregation, Dance classes, Parties and receptions, Polling place and forums.
- Outreach: planting a new church, invitation Sunday, a home Bible study (Community → Evangelism).
- Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A petition for cushions, The bells, again.
- Dilemmas its code of life brings: A candidates' forum, A matter of discipline, A raffle for the roof, A recruiter asks for the hall, Champagne at the reception.
What the building needs
- required BaptistryBeliever's baptism by immersion needs a baptistry: a tank large enough for an adult, with plumbing to fill and drain it.
- required Communion tableThe Lord's Supper is served from a communion table, recalling the table of the Last Supper.
- required PulpitPreaching is the center of worship, so the pulpit stands at the center of the platform.
- expected Drum kitWorship is led by a band.
- expected Sound systemA band needs a sound system to be heard.
- discouraged Brass band standsBrass doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
- discouraged Choir stallsThis tradition's worship has no choir.
- discouraged CrucifixThis tradition uses an empty cross, proclaiming the risen Christ, rather than a crucifix.
- discouraged Flag of the churchThis tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
- discouraged Flaming chaliceThe flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
- discouraged Hammond organA gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
- discouraged IconIcons are not part of this tradition's worship.
- discouraged Painting of ChristPictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space.
- discouraged Pipe organAn organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
- discouraged StatueStatues are not part of this tradition's worship space.
What people here feel
- Architectural style: Colonial brick +0.012; Modern synagogue -0.006; Gurdwara -0.012; Japanese temple -0.024; Islamic -0.03; Shinto shrine -0.03; Chinese temple -0.036; Dravidian temple -0.042; Nagara temple -0.042; Thai temple -0.042; Jain marble -0.048; Gothic -0.054.
- Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
- Acoustics: it wants a dry room, about 0.9 seconds of reverberation: carpet, padded seats, a low ceiling. Up to ±0.05.
- Seasonal decor: it keeps the church year: paraments and the season's decor are worth up to ±0.000.
- The sermon lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the lead pastor's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.
- Communion: each communion service runs longer; a slow one costs 0.05 for every 10 minutes the service runs over (0.2 at most).
How each sermon lands
The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.
- Fire & Brimstone+0.08
- Marriage as God Designed+0.06
- Sanctity of Life+0.06
- The Last Days+0.06
- Faith & Family+0.04
- Faith of Our Fathers+0.04
- Obedience & Discipline+0.04
- Personal Holiness+0.04
- Resisting Temptation+0.04
- Spiritual Warfare+0.04
- The Authority of Scripture+0.04
- The Great Commission+0.04
- Biblical Stories+0.015
- Blessed Are the Peacemakers+0.015
- Called by Name+0.015
- Doubt & Faith+0.015
- Eternal Life & Resurrection+0.015
- Grace & Forgiveness+0.015
- Gratitude+0.015
- Hope & Comfort+0.015
- Joy in All Things+0.015
- Love One Another+0.015
- Sabbath Rest+0.015
- Saints & Witnesses+0.015
- Servant Leadership+0.015
- Songs of the Psalms+0.015
- Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
- The Church Year+0.015
- The Life of Prayer+0.015
- The Parables of Jesus+0.015
- Care for Creation-0.02
- Healing for All-0.02
- Wealth & Poverty-0.02
- Welcome the Stranger-0.02
- Social Justice Call-0.03
- Interfaith Understanding-0.05
- Reading Scripture in Context-0.05
- Swords into Ploughshares-0.05
- The Prophets' Call-0.05
- Women Who Led-0.05
- Racial Justice & Reconciliation-0.075
- Radical Inclusion-0.075
Every item, for this tradition
Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.
| Item | Fit | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | ||
| Box pew | -1 | |
| Choir stalls | -1 | discouraged This tradition's worship has no choir. |
| Meeting bench | no fit | |
| Oak pew | no fit | |
| Row of chairs | +1 | |
| Liturgical furniture | ||
| Altar | -1 | |
| Baptismal font | -1 | |
| Baptistry | no fit | required Believer's baptism by immersion needs a baptistry: a tank large enough for an adult, with plumbing to fill and drain it. |
| Bishop's chair | -1 | |
| Brass eagle lectern | -1 | |
| Columbarium niches | -1 | |
| Communion rail | -1 | |
| Communion station | no fit | |
| Communion table | no fit | required The Lord's Supper is served from a communion table, recalling the table of the Last Supper. |
| Communion trays | no fit | |
| Confessional screen | no fit | |
| Coptic cross | 0 | |
| Epitaphios | -1 | |
| Flaming chalice | -1 | discouraged The flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol. |
| Foot-washing basins | no fit | |
| Haikal screen | -1 | |
| Iconostasis | -1 | |
| Immersion font | -1 | |
| Lectern | no fit | |
| Litany desk | -1 | |
| Mercy seat | no fit | |
| Octagonal stone font | -1 | |
| Paraments | no fit | |
| Pulpit | no fit | required Preaching is the center of worship, so the pulpit stands at the center of the platform. |
| Readers' desks | no fit | |
| Rood screen | -1 | |
| Sanctuary lamp | -1 | |
| Tabernacle | -1 | |
| Three-bar cross | 0 | |
| Thurible and stand | no fit | |
| Music | ||
| Brass band stands | -1 | discouraged Brass doesn't suit this tradition's worship. |
| Chanter's stand | -1 | |
| Drum kit | +1 | expected Worship is led by a band. |
| Electronic organ | -1 | |
| Grand piano | 0 | |
| Hammond organ | -1 | discouraged A gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship. |
| Handbell table | -1 | |
| Pipe organ | -1 | discouraged An organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship. |
| Sound system | +1 | expected A band needs a sound system to be heard. |
| Upright piano | 0 | |
| Decor | ||
| Advent wreath | no fit | |
| Banner | 0 | |
| Christmas Eve candles | no fit | |
| Cross | 0 | |
| Crucifix | -1 | discouraged This tradition uses an empty cross, proclaiming the risen Christ, rather than a crucifix. |
| Easter lilies | no fit | |
| Eternal flame | no fit | |
| Flag of the church | -1 | discouraged This tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship. |
| Great dome | -1 | |
| Icon | -1 | discouraged Icons are not part of this tradition's worship. |
| Memorial plaque | no fit | |
| National flag | 0 | |
| Painting of Christ | -1 | discouraged Pictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space. |
| Paschal candle | no fit | |
| Plain spire | no fit | |
| Small dome | no fit | |
| Stained glass window | -1 | |
| Statue | -1 | discouraged Statues are not part of this tradition's worship space. |
| Steeple and bells | -1 | |
| Votive candle stand | no fit | |
| Furnishings | ||
| Alms box | no fit | |
| Coffee pot | no fit | |
| Commercial coffee pot | no fit | |
| Computer | no fit | |
| Crib | no fit | |
| Desk | no fit | |
| Desk chair | no fit | |
| Folding table | no fit | |
| Full-length mirror | no fit | |
| Pillar | -1 | |
| Prie-dieu | -1 | |
| Projection screen | +1 | |
| Vestment cabinet | -1 | |
| Wooden table | no fit | |
| Utility | ||
| A/V rack | no fit | |
| Camera | no fit | |
| Cast-iron boiler | no fit | |
| Central air conditioner | no fit | |
| Commercial HVAC plant | no fit | |
| Commercial stove | no fit | |
| Congregation van | no fit | |
| Ductless heat pump | no fit | |
| Electric wall heater | no fit | |
| Gas furnace | no fit | |
| Hearing loop | no fit | |
| Lift | no fit | |
| Packaged heat pump | no fit | |
| Plumbing stack | no fit | |
| Ramp | no fit | |
| Shuttle bus | no fit | |
| Sink | no fit | |
| Solar panels | no fit | |
| Stairs | no fit | |
| Toilet | no fit | |
| Used school bus | no fit | |
| Wall camera | no fit | |
| Window air conditioner | no fit | |
| Grounds | ||
| Evergreen tree | no fit | |
| Flower bed | no fit | |
| Fountain | no fit | |
| Garden bench | no fit | |
| Hedge | no fit | |
| Lychgate | -1 | |
| Playground | no fit | |
| Shade tree | no fit | |
| Standing cross | no fit | |
Variants
Chosen when you found the church:
- Infant baptism: its own sacraments (and so its own font or baptistry)
Sources
- Acts 29, Theological Distinctives (link)
- Acts 29, Covenant (link)
- Acts 29, Assessment Conferences and Church Planting Pipeline (link)
- Baptist News Global, Acts 29 leader explains who they are (2022) (link)
- Baptist News Global, Acts 29 offers church planters $50,000 (2022) (link)
- The Gospel Coalition, How Acts 29 survived and thrived after the collapse of Mars Hill (2017) (link)
- Christianity Today, Matt Chandler apologizes for Village Church's discipline (2015) (link)
- Wikipedia, Acts 29 Network (link)