Small Batch: Local, Organic, and Sustainable Church

by C. Andrew Doyle

Small Batch explores the emerging denominational movement into planting missional communities. As the church finds its way into the new millennium, it is faced with the need to think of its mission as an ancient future Christian community. Theology to practical guide, stories from the front and communities to discover, books to read, and small group study questions make Small Batch a handbook for individuals interested in the growing movement of planting new Christian communities. Through the movement of the spirit and shared common life and staying deeply rooted in the ancient practices of Christian community, the denominational church is being reborn in a new mission context. Small batch communities are popping up across the country with a new mission fervor. They are locally focused. They are organic and deeply rooted in the community and derive their strength from the care they give to local concerns. They are sustainable because they begin to find new economies that support the work. Bishop Doyle explores the sending churches that are planting greenfield ministries and multiplying churches who are spinning off new contextually oriented mission communities. What we discover in Small Batch is that the gospel will not be deterred by size or economic realities, and we are even now able to see the future shape of very diverse Christian mission.

166 pages, Hardcover

Published May 18, 2016

About the author

Charles Andrew Doyle (Andy) was elected bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Texas on May 24, 2008 and was consecrated on November 22, 2008 at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston. He was seated as the ninth Bishop of Texas on June 7, 2009 at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, following the retirement of the Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly.

Born in 1966 in Carbondale, Illinois, and raised in Houston, Bishop Doyle served five years as Canon to the Ordinary prior to his election. Bishop Doyle holds a bachelor of fine arts from the University of North Texas and served at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Austin before receiving an M Div from Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained deacon in 1995 and priest the following year. He served at Christ Church,Temple and St. Francis, College Station, Texas, prior to his appointment to the diocesan staff as Canon to the Ordinary in 2003.

Bishop Doyle is a gifted and experienced teacher and preacher, and has a particular interest in reaching younger generations in order to partner with older and experienced church members to share wisdom across generations, invigorating growth and membership. He has training and expertise in mediation as well as multicultural ministry. Bishop Doyle is bilingual and actively seeks to respond to an increasingly diverse population in the Diocese of Texas.

He believes reaching more and different audiences through electronic means will help build the body of Christ and regularly uses Twitter and FaceBook to have conversations with church members and those looking for a church home. He encourages innovative and grass roots efforts to plant new Episcopal communities.

A published author and accomplished painter, Doyle and his wife JoAnne have two daughters, Zoë, and Caisa.

Reviews

[Kyle Dupic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tremendously needed in the Episcopal Church. The first half was very good in pointing this out. For where the Episcopal Church is at, this is likely a great resource without pushing too hard.

However, 3 stars for a few reasons. 1) He created an unnecessary dichotomy between types of churches for the sake of organization of ideas. Most churches pulling this off in evangelical world have blended a lot of his dichotomies together. 2) I'm super concerned about his ideas of sending people away from the church who aren't more connected to the Sunday service/regular training (nowhere is training mentioned, basically it is "have an idea? Cool! Run with it!" There is an air of people reaching a point of maturity where they are good enough on their own without having to reconnect with oversights often enough in my estimation. 3) Biggest reason, the content wasn't super helpful for me except for a quote here or there. If you want to read about MCs, reading Community by Brad House or anything by Verge network, particularly Jeff Vanderstelt videos will not only help you with the biblical basis for it more, but will also with more practical tools on how to reach a specific context in different ways.

Again, hugely important for where the Episcopal church is currently at, but left me wanting with my background.