"Take-a-Clue" Mod Church Manifesto

1) Hyperlinks subvert hierarchy.

2) Networked conversations are enabling powerful new forms of social organization and knowledge exchange to emerge.

3) Churches do not speak the same language (or with the same voice) as the emerging church. Conventional churches sound hollow, flat, literally inhuman.

4) In just a few more years, the conventional-homogenized church "voice" will seem as archaic (even contrived) as old King James' 16th century version of the Bible.

5) When churches share the concerns of their communities they will become part of the community.

6) But first, they must belong to a community.

7) Churches must ask themselves where their culture ends.

8) If their culture ends before the community they're planted in begins, they have neglected Jesus' commission.

9) There are two conversations going on. While one goes on inside the conventional church--the other gathers beyond.

10) The conventional-traditional church and the emergent church would do well to begin talking and listening to each other.

11) Forward thinking (conventional) churches become 20/20 visionaries when they help the inevitable to happen sooner.

12) What’s emerging is relevant and better. In fact, the current conversation is creating it.

13) We'd like it if you got what's going on here. That'd be real nice. But it would be a big mistake to think we're holding our breath.

14) The boundaries that separate our conversations look a little like the Berlin Wall did twenty + years ago, but they're really just an annoyance. We know they're coming down. We're patient and willing to work from both sides to take them down.

15) To the conventional church, our networked conversations may appear disorganized and confused. But the conversation is gathering; movement will soon follow. We have the tools, more ideas, and no rules to slow us down.

adapted from The Cluetrain Manifesto