Satellite Churches-Two Thumbs Down

It is official. I have decided the concept of the satellite church is simply a bad one. Every possible benefit I can come up with for a satellite situation could be fulfilled in a healthy “mothering” situation in which the mother church freely and generously gives of itself to the plated church. All that can be done in a planting scenario-without the egotism.

Let me go through some of the possible benefits of the satellite situation beginning with the concept of a small and young church benefiting from the resources and ministry of the mega-church.

In a typical satellite scenario, the mega-church has either hired or acquired volunteer workers to fill each needed position. A mega-church could do that for a plant just as easily. For instance, most satellite churches have live worship most if not all weekends, and what is stopping the mega-church from blessing a church plant with the same thing?

A satellite is able to partake in any large events promoted and sponsored by the mega-church. The same thing could happen if the mothering church is willing to keep a healthy and involved relationship with the church plant. What is there to stop cooperation between churches?

Most satellite campuses hire a pastor or a handful of pastors to oversee the local church community. So why not bless a new church with the immeasurable blessing of a staff? Many senior pastors may be concerned that if they set up a senior pastor in a new church they will not be good speakers. Why not either groom a protégé or take a chance on God’s calling in someone else’s life?

Pastors of mega-churches may be concerned that the DNA of their church will not be translated properly into another community if they relinquish control. Why not let a community and its pastors shape the personality of the church plant with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

By the way, the answer to each paragraph’s concluding question is the same: EGO.