F. Household of Faith Presentation Part 1.

The Household of Faith is a new approach to church growth based on the Early Church model of the extended Christian household. It is intended to be an extension of the local church that trains and nourishes Christians and is mandated to divide and double its membership every two years. It is a model of relational evangelism.

Home Based Parish Evangelism

Ron Meacock, chair of the development group for the Diocese's evangelism project, introduced himself and fellow committee member Andrew Graham and distributed sets of documentation relating to the Households of Faith, the group's proposal for home-based parish evangelism. In April The Anglican will carry an article describing the project. The development group is preparing a manual that will be used as a guide for parishes who choose to participate in the project.

Better Equip Parishes for Evangelism

Ron outlined the history of the project and its philosophical underpinnings. Some of the original impetus came simply from the felt need to better equip parishes for evangelism. Consideration of the possible consequences of residential schools litigation to traditional church life in some dioceses, particularly the Diocese of Caribou, lent a sense of urgency in developing contingency plans for the provision of "church" without buildings.

Ancient Model of Christian Practice

The development group has derived energy and inspiration from its perception of the central role of the household to worship and community in the New Testament and the Early Church. Household worship is an ancient and largely neglected model of Christian practice.

Households Role

Beyond the theological rationales, the development committee feels that the implementation of the Households of Faith model could play an important role in three different circumstances in particular:

As a growth model in which each Household of Faith connected to and supported by a congregation covenants to start new Households of Faith after two years. If successful the model points to exponential growth.
As a worship vehicle that could be ministered by clergy when maintenance of a building and staff are not feasible.
As a worship vehicle for dioceses that lose their buildings and staff to litigation.

"You are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." Ephesians 2.19

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