The Church and churches today.
Over the last 20 years two trends have occurred simultaneously. While there has been a decline in denominational loyalty there has been a rise in global church planting. This is good news for some because church planting does more to reach the non-churched and non-Christian than almost any other method. However, the global growth in church planting also brings with it some unique challenges. As pastors are seeking to be less connected to the accountability of denominations and more independent through church planting they are becoming more and more isolated from any support or accountability greatly increasing the chance of discouragement, moral failure, and theological error. So although the movement towards global church planting is good, there should also be a movement toward great local church partnerships which strengthen both the leaders and the congregations as they work together in kingdom work. There is an increasing need for local churches to both unite together.
What does the name 3Strand mean?
In Chapter 4, verses 9-12, Solomon explains the wisdom and value of relational cooperation between persons, or in this case, groups of people:
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Simply stated, there is strength in numbers. Working together as people makes us all more productive, more effective, and more secure. By uniting as local churches, we can be stronger than we are as any single local church.
What 3Strand is.
3Strand is a group of independent, but like-minded churches, who formally covenant together to live out the Great Commandment and fullfill the Great Commission more effectively. These independent church families function, both formally and informally, as a larger church on mission together in a particular geographic area. 3Strand strives to avoid the rigidity of a denominational structure and the impotence of a network through a careful balance of autonomy and unity.
What 3 Strand is not.
- 3Strand not a denomination. A denomination is a formalized relationship between churches. Usually there is one specific type of church sharing a name, creed, and tradition. While there is often a number of available resources and support, there is often a rigid accountability and a shared financial structure to accompany them. 3Strand allows for some diversity and can be cross-denominational in nature. Churches willing to live under the 3Strand covenant and doctrinal statement may be a part of 3Strand.
- 3Strand is not a church planting network. A network, unlike a denomination, is a loose affiliation of churches with a specialized mission such as church planting. These networks typically collect like-minded individuals committed to the same mission, but not necessarily committed to one another. Networks provide a sense of shared identity, but they offer little in terms of accountability, community, and much needed pastoral support. The diversity of methods within these affiliations can limit their cooperation network identification. 3Strand members can come from different networks and associations.
- 3Strand is not a reaction, a rebellion, or a replacement. The idea for 3Strand was not birthed out of some negative shared experience either with denominations or networks. Moreover, the leaders of 3Strand do not intend, by the formation of this organization, to dismiss or otherwise reject all other organizations. Nor do we intend to reproduce what these organizations already do so well. Truly, we value all of the relationships we’ve had, and will continue to have, with these different groups. 3Strand is not a new effort to copy, challenge, or compete; rather, 3Strand is intended to complement what already exists.
