In June I am helping to co-ordinate a Church Planting Conference, and already, a week before the brochures are produced, we have just about filled the conference. I have begun wondering why you can fill a conference on church planting when almost no one registers for conferences on church. Is it because there is something special about church planting?

Over the last week I have been examining the New Testament in order to begin to answer the question "what is the difference between church and church planting?" As far as I can see the Bible doesn't distinguish between church and church planting. That makes a lot of sense because as soon as you have two people in a church plant you have a church. But why is a there are difference in our perception and willingness to sign up for conferences?

At one level the answer to that question is easy - church planting is the flavour of the month, everyone is talking about it from the Archbishop, to the church minister , to theological college students to children; all of which is fantastic.

At a deeper level the attraction of church planting conferences is no different to other well attended conferences over the years. We all want to see our churches thrive, and Christ's name be honoured. So often our desire doesn't match the reality, and so we search for the magical solution to achieve our goals. In our day church planting is seen as that answer to all our hopes. We trust the "technology" of a method to bring about the change.

At another level, part of the desire to church plant is the liberation the planter feels in that they can just get on with evangelising and discipling without all the extra bits and restrictions that go along with parish responsibilities. There is such a sense of freedom in church planting.

A few comments by way of response.

Firstly, we must be careful not to despise the church. It is still the apple of God's eye and the body for whom Christ gave his life. The goal of church planting is the church. You can never separate the two.

Secondly, we can learn things from church planting conferences, especially practical, wise tips about how to bring the gospel to those who have never before listened to it, but in the end, the heart of church planting is evangelism not the task of planting a church. It is the same old hard work of proclaiming our saviour Jesus to a world that would prefer not to hear. If we go down the church planting route, don't think evangelism and growing is any easier.

Finally, our denominations need to examine what we can take from what we ask our churches and pastors to do that slows them down in evangelism and discipleship. Church Planters need to also understand that under God, church plants last longer than one generation, and so some of the additional things required help establish the church for a life beyond one generation.

I am keen to be involved in church planting. I think it is a wonderful way that God works in our day and has so many practical advantages, but I grieve that we don't have the same excited, dynamic way of thinking about church as it already exists and what can be done with them.