1. If churches would become 24/7 community centers in every neighborhood–that would be a really powerful witness.

2. If parking lots could become gardens where intensive gardening techniques are used, and a community garden set up, much of people’s food needs would be met. They would also be getting real food, and thus be able to think more clearly about truth.

3. If every church started a “Time Bank”, a kind of non-taxable bartering system that encourages everyone to use their gifts and get compensated and builds community–they could more easily have volunteers as well as participants from non-members http://www.timebanks.org

4. Every church could be a part of a city wide “Kindness Alliance” . Other organizations which benefit the community can belong as well–and there can be more cooperation among all these organizations to serve the greater good. I am still conceptualizing this but you can find out more at http://www.kindnessalliance.org

5. Do lots of research about such community building things as co-housing, neighborhood development, urban homesteading, urban self-sufficiency and so forth. I have done a ton of research on these topics and if you contact me I can give you resources. By connecting with people’s real needs–they can see that you are truly being salt and light.

6. Host community gatherings every week where people can learn about what is happening at the church, in the neighborhood, with the time bank etc. I have also been conceptualizing this idea for years http://www.communitygatherings.wordpress.com

As you can see you have hit a chord in my heart but I had not really thought about just trying to figure out how to get a church in every neighborhood. That is the question. I imagine community facilitators in every city who find others who want to plant churches in every neighborhood and inspire the churches to become more local.

Good contribution.

I would point out one other thought… I wouldn’t be waving to my ‘lost’ neighbor as I drove out of the subdivision toward the distant building that we gather in to have corporate worship… instead, I may be having more opportunities to engage and invite him because he lives across the street or next door.

[...]Matt Cleaver has a great post today which he has titled “A Theology of Geography: Locality and Proximity,” which, I must say, sounds a lot more like the title of a book than a blog post. Matt’s reflecti[...]…