Why would we use the phrase relationally connected and make that a value of Venture Church Network?

Over the years, we’ve seen that even though there’s often a nod given to relationships, we haven’t always been very good at practicing them. We tend to focus on the central office or denominational leadership becoming the core of the network. That’s common across many denominations, including our own background.

What we are actually trying to say is this: we don’t want leadership to be the core of the network. Leadership plays an important role, but we believe deeply in the importance of pastors connecting with pastors and churches connecting with churches.

Our baptistic background emphasizes autonomy, and autonomy matters. Every church has a responsibility for its own congregation, and elders and leaders are accountable for their people. That’s true. But when you look through Acts and throughout Scripture, you also see how critical relationship is.

Relationship is foundational in the Trinity. It’s foundational in the body of Christ.

We need pastors and churches who recognize that this isn’t about building their own kingdom. This is about Christ’s kingdom. And if it’s about Christ’s kingdom, then I recognize that I need to be part of a larger story engaging with other pastors, leaders, and churches, and helping one another fulfill what God has called all of us to do.

Together, we can give glory to Christ and honor Him for what He has done for us.

But that kind of connection takes relationship, and relationship isn’t always easy. It requires work. It requires commitment. It requires walking through hard things together.

We believe that level of commitment is important not because of history or tradition, but because it is the call of Christ. The body of Christ is meant to work together in this way.