It was something of a shock to come to a church planting conference and hear so much talk about 'the denomination'.
But discussion about structures that support church planting was a standout theme of Thursday's afternoon session at the Church Planting Conference at Moore College.
No doubt the announcement that Bishop Al Stewart has been appointed to retask Evangelism Ministries as the Diocese's church planting engine room was the catalyst. But it was Nigel Fortescue from Naremburn-Cammeray that really stocked the boiler.
"The local church is responsible for growth not the denomination," he argued, claiming that denominational leaders are so busy focussing on the problems of existing churches that they have no time for anything but maintenance.
As a result, NIgel went on to quote Lyle Schaller: denominations should appoint one person with "tenacity" and "doggedness" who is entirely responsible for driving the birthing of new churches.
And so Al Stewart steps up for Sydney Anglicans. (For all those who malign the secular media there is a positive and accurate report in the Illawarra Mercury with an absolutely cracking photo well worth checking out!)
A fellowship of grace
Naremburn-Cammeray is a fascinating case study: it has become the church planting equivalent of a jiffy fire-lighter throwing up new congregations like tiny sparks around the neck of the lower north shore peninsula.
And yet it is a parish that defies some of the stereotypes about churches with planting in their DNA. This is a church that was re-potted a decade ago with the support of St Thomas', North Sydney, and its culture is a very recent development.
Significantly, the "re-potting" endeavour was marked with humility on all sides, says Nigel.
As Nigel put it: It began with one man seeing the need (by picking up the phone to ask a bigger church for help) and another man being willing to fulfil the need (by providing the resources).
Nigel used the Naremburn-Cammeray experience to illustrate how 'grace' should mark the relationship between the church plant and the wider fellowship of churches (the denomination).
"We need a culture of co-operation rather than protectionism," he said,
In the subsequent panel discussion the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, defended the role of the denomination pointing out that without a fellowship structure, church plants can struggle with succession.
"Recruiting and training the next generation of ministers is the most important thing a denomination can provide," Dean Jensen said.
After the session Nigel Fortescue told me that Bishop Al's appointment - while a great step - "could be no more than half the story"
"Local churches must not sit back and wait for the denomination to do it," he said.
