“Schizophrenic” is a term we’ve been using a lot in meetings I’ve been a part of lately. In our context, it simply means we see both sides of the discussion very clearly and, depending on the day or the mood, we could “defend” either position passionately. It’s another way of saying we consciously live in the tension of middle ground – with the extremes having both good and bad, we strive for the win/win, the both/and, rather than the either/or, the win/lose. It’s the harder place to live, but it’s where we, as a church, have consistently chosen to claim our ground.

We’ve even taken this mindset into the way we work organizationally. Richwoods is a “multi-site” church.

Our East Campus is not a church plant – a group of people blessed by the originating church left to sink or swim on their own in all areas: mission/vision, leadership, finances, etc. It’s also not a satellite – a portion of the “main” church that just happens to meet in a different location on Sunday but is expected to be a part of everything the “main” church does: classes, picnics, programs, finances, leadership, etc…

Multi-site (in my humble, personal opinion – for there is no single definition) works to strike a middle ground – bringing the best of both worlds while working to minimize the negatives of the two extremes. It allows our two sites – East Campus and Knoxville Campus – to work independently to meet the needs of their particular faith communities under the umbrella of a consistent mission/vision, senior leadership, and a limited set of “constants” that define who we are as a broader church community.

Living in the extremes is easier. It makes whole categories of questions easier to answer – often with a blanket “yes” or “no”. Living in the middle brings scary words like “nuance” and “it depends” and responding to questions with more questions. It means living by guiding philosophy rather than dogma. It means interpretation. Unfortunately, it is also a breeding ground for misunderstanding, especially in light of our busy, hectic lives where we don’t take – or have – the time to understand the complexities of it all. Simple extremes are much more…well…simple.

East Campus exists to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to its surrounding communities, and we do so as Richwoods Christian Church. The Knoxville Campus does the same for the communities it serves. We are under the same umbrella – we are one church – but we are also unique. We may each do it a little bit differently based on the players available and the community context we are working within. And that’s OK. Our impact will ultimately be greater if we allow ourselves to disperse and be an active part of the communities we live in.

As a church new to multi-site this year, we have been living in this tension for more than 8 months. And as our two-campus model continues to take shape, it’s likely not exactly as any of us thought it would be when we started. Hopefully that’s not a big surprise. Hopefully that means we’re allowing God to have a hand in where we are going rather than forcing our own personal visions to take shape.

As we transition to a better understanding of what multi-site means at Richwoods, I am learning and growing in so many areas personally: as a leader, a follower, a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and a friend. I’m stubbing my toes now and then, speaking out of turn once in awhile, and dropping fragile balls on occasion. I’ve come to expect that in the growth process.

Through it all, I believe God is working in me and through me. He’s also working in us and through us as a church. It’s hard, but from my perspective, life could not be better.