Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART I: D EVELOPING U RBAN C ONGREGATIONS • 77

Constitute the Church

The phrase “constitute the church” means to make Celebration a spiritually and legally independent church.

Leadership Transition The church becomes spiritually independent when the church planters formally withdraw by transferring leadership to indigenous leaders approved by the church. The service of constitution is the point at which the people who have been meeting together in worship, study, and planning groups officially become a church. It is at this point that they say to the community, `We are now a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ who have established a social institution for the purpose of worship, prayer, nurture, and service. Everyone who will may come.’ 157 This transition is seen in Acts 14:23 which says, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.” Paul withdrew from newly planted churches with confidence, saying, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Christians who undertake urban ministries are often far more concerned about gaining access to people than they are about leaving when the right time comes. Nevertheless, access by itself is not sufficient for discipleship. If discipleship is to progress, those who have come in the power of the Word must also retire so that faith can be directed to Christ and not to the message bearer. Retirement may be as crucial for Christian growth as access, because without retirement faith may be diverted to ministers with special skills, plans, or abilities. Access with retirement helps new believers to place their faith where it truly belongs – in the power of the Holy Spirit. 158 In commenting on this perspective, Philip Amerson reminds us that:

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157 Jones, p. 127

158 Philip Amerson, “Ministry on the Urban Frontier: Access and Retirement,” Signs of the Kingdom in the Secular City , p. 87