Multisite Church Models and Governance: Evaluating the Expansion of the Local Church Across Multiple Locations

Summary of the Argument

Overview of Key Arguments and Scholarly Positions

The multisite church movement — in which a single church operates worship services and ministries at multiple physical locations — has become one of the most significant developments in American ecclesiology over the past two decades. According to the Leadership Network, over 8,000 churches in the United States now operate as multisite congregations, and the number continues to grow. Proponents argue that the multisite model enables churches to extend their reach, multiply their impact, and steward their resources more effectively than traditional single-site congregations. Critics raise concerns about ecclesiological integrity, pastoral accountability, the cult of personality, and the commodification of worship.

This review examines the major contributions to the multisite church literature, evaluating the theological arguments, organizational models, and governance structures that characterize this movement. The central question is whether the multisite model represents a faithful innovation in church structure or a departure from the New Testament vision of the local church as a self-governing, elder-led community of believers gathered in one place.

The scholarly literature on Multisite Church Models Governance presents a range of perspectives that reflect both methodological diversity and substantive disagreement. This review examines the most significant contributions to the field, identifying areas of consensus and ongoing debate that shape current understanding of the subject.

The scholarly literature on Multisite Church Models Governance presents a range of perspectives that reflect both methodological diversity and substantive disagreement. This review examines the most significant contributions to the field, identifying areas of consensus and ongoing debate that shape current understanding of the subject.

Ministry sustainability requires intentional attention to the pastors own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Pastors who neglect self-care not only harm themselves but also diminish their capacity to serve their congregations with the energy, creativity, and compassion that effective ministry demands.

The central argument advanced in this literature is that Multisite Church Models Governance represents a significant development in Christian thought and practice that deserves sustained scholarly attention. The evidence marshaled in support of this claim draws upon historical, theological, and empirical sources.

The pastoral vocation demands a capacity for sustained presence with people in their most vulnerable moments. Whether in hospital rooms, counseling offices, or congregational meetings, the pastor embodies the care of Christ through attentive listening, compassionate response, and faithful prayer.

A comprehensive assessment of the literature reveals both the strengths and limitations of current scholarship on this topic. While significant progress has been made in understanding the historical and theological dimensions of the subject, important questions remain that warrant further investigation.

Research on congregational health consistently identifies pastoral leadership as the single most significant factor in church vitality. Pastors who invest in their own spiritual formation, maintain healthy boundaries, and cultivate collaborative leadership cultures create the conditions for congregational flourishing.

The methodological approaches employed in the literature range from historical-critical analysis to systematic theological reflection to empirical social science research. This methodological diversity reflects the multifaceted nature of the subject and the need for interdisciplinary engagement.

The scholarly literature on Multisite Church Models presents a rich and varied landscape of interpretation that reflects both the complexity of the subject matter and the diversity of methodological approaches employed by researchers. This review examines the most significant contributions to the field, identifying areas of emerging consensus, persistent disagreement, and promising avenues for future investigation. The breadth and depth of the existing scholarship testifies to the enduring importance of this subject for pastoral studies and Christian theology.

A comprehensive assessment of the literature reveals that scholars have made significant progress in understanding the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of this subject, while important questions remain that warrant further investigation. The methodological diversity of the existing scholarship, which ranges from historical-critical analysis to narrative theology to social-scientific approaches, reflects the multifaceted nature of the subject and the need for continued interdisciplinary engagement.

The scholarly literature on Multisite Church Models presents a rich and varied landscape of interpretation that reflects both the complexity of the subject matter and the diversity of methodological approaches employed by researchers. This review examines the most significant contributions to the field, identifying areas of emerging consensus, persistent disagreement, and promising avenues for future investigation. The breadth and depth of the existing scholarship testifies to the enduring importance of this subject for pastoral studies and Christian theology.

Critical Evaluation

Assessment of Strengths and Limitations

Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird's The Multi-Site Church Revolution provides the most comprehensive overview of the movement, documenting the rapid growth of multisite churches and cataloging the various models in use. The authors identify several common models: the video venue model (where the senior pastor's sermon is broadcast to satellite locations), the teaching team model (where different pastors preach at different locations), the franchise model (where each campus operates with significant autonomy under a shared brand), and the partnership model (where existing churches affiliate with a larger church while maintaining some independence).

The theological critique of multisite churches centers on the question of what constitutes a "local church." Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman, writing from a 9Marks perspective, argue that the New Testament envisions the local church as a single assembly (ekklēsia) of believers who gather together in one place under the oversight of a plurality of elders. On this view, a church that meets in multiple locations is not one church but several churches sharing a brand — a distinction with significant implications for pastoral accountability, church discipline, and congregational governance.

Gregg Allison's Sojourners and Strangers offers a more nuanced ecclesiology that acknowledges the legitimacy of multisite structures while insisting on certain non-negotiables: each campus must have its own pastoral leadership, practice the ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper), exercise church discipline, and function as a genuine community rather than a mere audience for a video feed. Allison's framework provides a middle ground between uncritical embrace and wholesale rejection of the multisite model.

The governance challenges of multisite churches are significant. How does a single elder board provide meaningful oversight of multiple campuses? How are decisions made when campuses have different needs and priorities? How is the senior pastor held accountable when their influence extends across multiple locations? The literature reveals that multisite churches that thrive over the long term are those that develop robust governance structures, empower campus-level leadership, and maintain genuine relational connection across locations.

A critical assessment of the scholarly literature on Multisite Church Models Governance reveals both significant achievements and notable gaps. The strengths of the existing scholarship include rigorous historical analysis, careful theological reasoning, and attention to primary sources. However, several areas warrant further investigation and more nuanced treatment.

Ministry sustainability requires intentional attention to the pastors own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Pastors who neglect self-care not only harm themselves but also diminish their capacity to serve their congregations with the energy, creativity, and compassion that effective ministry demands.

The methodological assumptions underlying much of the scholarship on this topic deserve careful scrutiny. Different methodological commitments lead to different conclusions, and a responsible evaluation must attend to the ways in which presuppositions shape the interpretation of evidence.

The pastoral vocation demands a capacity for sustained presence with people in their most vulnerable moments. Whether in hospital rooms, counseling offices, or congregational meetings, the pastor embodies the care of Christ through attentive listening, compassionate response, and faithful prayer.

One of the most significant contributions of recent scholarship has been the recovery of perspectives that were marginalized in earlier treatments of this subject. These recovered voices enrich the conversation and challenge established interpretive frameworks in productive ways.

Research on congregational health consistently identifies pastoral leadership as the single most significant factor in church vitality. Pastors who invest in their own spiritual formation, maintain healthy boundaries, and cultivate collaborative leadership cultures create the conditions for congregational flourishing.

The relationship between historical reconstruction and theological evaluation remains a contested methodological question in the study of Multisite Church Models Governance. Scholars who prioritize historical accuracy sometimes arrive at different conclusions than those who emphasize theological coherence.

A critical assessment of the scholarly literature on Multisite Church Models reveals both significant achievements and notable limitations that must be acknowledged. The strengths of the existing scholarship include rigorous engagement with primary sources, sophisticated methodological frameworks, and attention to the historical and cultural contexts in which these theological developments occurred. However, several areas warrant further investigation, including the reception history of these texts in non-Western contexts and the implications of recent archaeological discoveries for established interpretive frameworks.

Relevance to Modern Church

Contemporary Applications and Ministry Implications

The multisite model continues to evolve in response to changing cultural and technological conditions. The pandemic accelerated the development of "online campuses" — digital extensions of multisite churches that raise even more complex ecclesiological questions. Some multisite churches are moving toward a "network" model that grants increasing autonomy to individual campuses, effectively becoming church-planting movements rather than single churches with multiple locations.

For pastors and church leaders considering the multisite model, the literature suggests several key considerations: clarity about the theological rationale for expansion, investment in campus-level pastoral leadership, development of governance structures that balance central coordination with local autonomy, and ongoing evaluation of whether the multisite structure is serving the church's mission or merely feeding institutional growth.

The multisite conversation also intersects with broader questions about church size, pastoral celebrity, and the relationship between efficiency and faithfulness. The most thoughtful contributions to this literature resist both the uncritical enthusiasm of church growth advocates and the reflexive suspicion of those who equate faithfulness with smallness, seeking instead a principled evaluation of whether and how the multisite model serves the church's calling to make disciples of all nations.

The contemporary relevance of Multisite Church Models Governance extends far beyond academic interest to address pressing concerns in the life of the church today. Congregations that engage seriously with these themes are better equipped to navigate the challenges of ministry in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

Ministry sustainability requires intentional attention to the pastors own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Pastors who neglect self-care not only harm themselves but also diminish their capacity to serve their congregations with the energy, creativity, and compassion that effective ministry demands.

The practical applications of this research for pastoral ministry are substantial. Pastors who understand the historical and theological dimensions of this subject can draw upon a rich tradition of Christian reflection to inform their preaching, teaching, counseling, and leadership.

The pastoral vocation demands a capacity for sustained presence with people in their most vulnerable moments. Whether in hospital rooms, counseling offices, or congregational meetings, the pastor embodies the care of Christ through attentive listening, compassionate response, and faithful prayer.

The ecumenical significance of Multisite Church Models Governance deserves particular attention. This subject has been a point of both convergence and divergence among Christian traditions, and a deeper understanding of its historical development can contribute to more productive ecumenical dialogue.

Research on congregational health consistently identifies pastoral leadership as the single most significant factor in church vitality. Pastors who invest in their own spiritual formation, maintain healthy boundaries, and cultivate collaborative leadership cultures create the conditions for congregational flourishing.

In an era of increasing cultural complexity and religious pluralism, the theological resources examined in this article provide essential guidance for faithful Christian witness. The church that is grounded in its own tradition is better equipped to engage constructively with the challenges of the contemporary world.

The contemporary relevance of Multisite Church Models extends far beyond the boundaries of academic discourse to address pressing concerns in the life of the church today. Congregations that engage seriously with these biblical and theological themes discover resources for worship, discipleship, mission, and social engagement that are both deeply rooted in the Christian tradition and responsive to the challenges of the contemporary cultural landscape. The bridge between ancient text and modern context is built by interpreters who take both seriously.

Implications for Ministry and Credentialing

The multisite church model raises fundamental questions about ecclesiology, governance, and pastoral leadership that every church leader must engage. Whether a pastor leads a multisite church, considers launching additional campuses, or simply seeks to understand this significant movement, theological and practical literacy in multisite ministry is increasingly essential.

For pastors seeking to formalize their church leadership expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers credentialing that recognizes the organizational and pastoral skills developed through years of faithful ministry leadership in complex church structures.

For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.