Hopefully the series isn\u2019t turning dark but maybe we need to be honest. In nature, parasitism is always a delicate matter. It\u2019s where one organism benefits at the expense of another, ticks on deer or fungus creeping over plants. It\u2019s messy and often damaging if left unchecked. In our churches, parasitism shows up when one community siphons off energy, resources, or leadership from another, without giving anything back.
\nIt\u2019s a quiet, often hidden relationship and at first glance, it may seem mutually beneficial, but over time, the imbalance saps the life from the system. When a fresh expression relies heavily on inherited church resources, be it finances, leadership, or space without sharing or investing in its own growth, it may drift into parasitism and kill the host. At the same time we need to remember that story of Christ is one of death and resurrection so some things need to die well, so there is a gospel tension here.<\/p>\n
Leadership must be attentive to boundaries. That\u2019s not about walls, it\u2019s about creating rhythms of renewal where all parts are healthy. Systems thinking teaches us that feedback loops are vital; if one part expends more energy than it reinvests, the entire system risks collapse. Leaders on all sides need to ask: \u2018Are we enabling life-giving relationships, or are some parts draining others?\u2019
\nShifting from parasitism to health involves honest conversations and clear boundaries around resource sharing and leadership roles. It also involves a culture of accountability, where both old and new expressions pay what they can, contribute their strengths, and recognise their limits.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood governance doesn\u2019t focus only on what to do \u2014 it emphasizes what not to do. Boundaries protect the system\u2019s integrity and promote resilience.\u201d \u2014 Adapted from Heifetz & Linsky, Leadership on the Line.
\nIn practical terms church plant that uses a traditional church\u2019s building for free, but then drains the church\u2019s hospitality team, without sharing in planning or resourcing, risks exhaustion. Leaders must gently reframe this, encouraging mutual investment rather than drain. Healthy mixed ecology churches grow in trust and respect, not dependence or exhaustion.
\nIn the end, parasitism teaches us that boundaries are not barriers but safeguards, protecting life, ensuring that each expression of church can flourish without becoming overly dependent or destructive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hopefully the series isn\u2019t turning dark but maybe we need to be honest. In nature, parasitism is always a delicate matter. It\u2019s where one organism benefits at the expense of another, ticks on deer or fungus creeping over plants. It\u2019s … Continue reading