the underground network

Tomorrow several in the Underground Network will meet to discuss The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by Ori Braufman and Rod A. Beckstrom.  It isn’t necessary to have read the book to participate; the facilitator will present a summary, followed by group discussion.  Meet Saturday, 11am at the Mercury Cafe at (1505 W Chicago Ave).  See the event details and directions to our gathering here.

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What does Napster, Al Qaeda and the Apache Indians have in common?  They are all “starfish” organizations.  Categorically different than spider organizations, which rely on central command, clear cut membership, and hierarchical management, there is truly no one in charge of a starfish organization.  They are built around passion and ideology, rather than management and budgets.  Former CEOs become catalysts in a movement and quickly fade into the background as the fluid organization quickly takes over like Kudzu in a forest.

All this has profound implications for the Church in America.  For over 1,000 years, the Church has functioned like a spider, buts its earliest days (and most dynamic movements today) look more like starfish.  Our discussion Saturday will be on the Church in Chicago as a starfish organization, and how each of us can participate in the unstoppable movement where only Jesus Christ is a leader.

Hope you can join us!  A book summary will be posted on this article after the event is posted below for your reading enjoyment!

Starfish and Spider – Ori Brafman (Summary)

The Underground Network is in part a organic church network, but it is also in part a missions and leadership training resource.  Once a month, we have a Greenhouse Think Tank that offers insights and practical tools for navigating the issues of church planting, missions and evangelism, incarnational community, and authentic worship.

Tonight is our second Think Tank and we’ll be dreaming up what this revolutionary group may become.  If you’d like to participate in future Think Tanks, check out our calendar, or contact us for details.

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But why have a gathering like this?

It is meant to be a supportive/ validating environment.

It is meant to be a learning environment.

It is meant to be an environment of accountability.

It is a spiritual/missional discipline.

Important Questions we Ask:

• Did people walk away feeling empowered to the task and lifestyle of organic church planting?
• Does each person walk away with new insights in ministry, missions, and theology?
• Did we all have a chance to share what is happening since our last time together, and challenged to participate in God’s mission in tangible ways?
• Do we as a group understand the spiritual importance of meeting together for personal development as a disciple?

Each monthly session will include: (1) some worship and appreciation of the Lord (2) sharing (3) learning (4) discussion (5) some consideration of “next steps” (6) some reflection time and (7) some prayer. 

Tonight we’ll be getting to know each other and discussing group expectations.

I hope that these Think Tanks will become a regular rhythm in our network’s life together.  I will usually post the evening’s agenda here as I’ve done this month. Click on the link below for more!

GreenhouseGatheringsOrientation

Thanks to all who were a part of the Greenhouse Think Tank last week!  We’re planning on making this a monthly conversation.  There was a good turn out last time, and I’m inclined to make the third Wednesday of each month the time to get together with others around the city and explore the concepts of missional living and authentic faith community.

We will be going through the Greenhouse material, introduced last fall at Moody and based on the book Organic Church and Organic Leadership by Neil Cole.  If you’re a reader, check these books out!  If not – come to the conversation – we’ll be looking at practical ways to implement this info into our daily lives.

So!  Here’s the skinny on the next Think Tank:

What: Organic Church Greenhouse Think Tank.  An engaging conversation on living as missionaries in Chicago, and planting churches in homes, coffee shops, barber shops…wherever life happens.
Where: Mercury Cafe (1505 W Chicago Ave, Chicago IL)
When: Wed July 15th at 7pm.
Who:  Come and bring others.
How…much?: Its free.  But you can always buy my coffee!