A church network is a group of churches that operate with a shared set of relationship, values, ideas and ethos.  Different church networks share varying levels of closeness between their individual churches, ranging from a centralized model with satellite “campus” churches (see ECC church LifeChurch.tv) to more a loosely connected model of churches that perhaps only share a common name (see Bayside Covenant Church).

The mission of the Highrock Network is the same as all Highrock Churches, we seek to connect to God personally, connect to God’s people, and connect to God’s purposes.  Likewise the vision is the same as well, we want to see see God transforming every neighborhood and institution in Greater Boston through locally-focused congregations who live and love in such a compelling and Christ-like way that our neighbors are challenged to seriously consider the claims of Christ, be reconciled to God, engage in Christian community, and serve others in the unique ways God designed them to, so that Boston becomes a “city on a hill” that will be a blessing to the world.  The network simply exists as a vehicle to help deliver on the mission and vision that is shared across several like-minded churches in the Greater Boston area.

The goal of any church network is to leverage the closeness of relationship to advance mission.  As our ECC president Gary Walter has often said, we are “better together”.  The network idea exemplifies this spirit. The network allows churches to have teh relationships of a small church with the resources of a large church.   Within 10 years the Highrock Network has been able to launch 6 new churches, with 2 to 3 more coming in the next 2 years.  That’s about 8-9 more new churches than most established covenant churches have seeded since their inception.  We don’t need a church network, but we do need each other to expand God’s Kingdom, and networks are a great way to expedite that calling.  We are indeed better together.

The Highrock Network is an association of the East Coast Conference.  Other associations in the conference include the ministerial association and the Women’s Ministry association.  For The Highrock Network of Churches this relationship has involved a couple of things.  1) A start-up financial commitment from the conference.  The Conference has helped invest in the Highrock Network to further the planting of churches.  2) The Conference Superintendent is an ex-officio member of the Highrock Network Board.  Beyond these specific elements of our relationship, all Highrock Churches are members of the East Coast Conference as we partner together to advance God’s kingdom in Greater Boston and beyond.

As a network of churches we have multiple avenues to engage with one another.  We share pulpits with other Highrock Pastors; we gather annually for worship and celebration; we engage in political conversation and action together; this summer we will host together a World Vision 6k walk/run; etc.

Highrock Quincy and all other Highrock Churches give 5%  of our income to the Highrock Network.  An additional 10% of our income is split equally between the ECC denomination and the East Coast Conference.

The Highrock Network provides relationship and shared resources that help us to “fight above our weight class” if you will.  E.g. the addition of a new sophisticated website would have been impossible without our relationship with the Highrock Network.  Other additional benefits are a critical support including pulpit supply, ministry think tanks, leadership development, shared best practices, etc.

Highrock Quincy is an autonomous congregation with its own incorporation in the state of Massachusetts.  So the control that the Network has over Highrock Quincy is limited by those things shared in our constitution.  They are as follows.  1) Branding: The Highrock Network stewards the name “Highrock” and the logo associated with that name.  Thus, Highrock churches must distribute and use the name according to the wishes of the network.  2) Ethos: the vision, mission, and values of the Highrock Network are shared among it’s churches.  Revising these statements would constitute a breach of trust within the network.  3) Hiring of senior pastors: While the local churches are responsible for the search committees and general process of hiring a senior pastor, any candidates must be approved by the Highrock Network executive board.  This insures that the Network can maintain healthy collegiality within this family of churches.

No, three of our churches (Highrock Arlington, Highrock Cambridge and Highrock Metrowest) work with a much closer relationship.  For lack of a better term we call these “sister” churches (for now).  Despite being in different locations, these sister churches share the same budget, same staff, shared meeting times/space, etc.  Highrock Brookline, Highrock Acton, Highrock Quincy and Highrock North Shore share a relationship that is hinged primarily on relationship and shared mission (as stated above).  We call these “cousin” churches.  The Network model at Highrock is still in its infancy, so we are still trying to find out what model works the best.  The Highrock churches have the option to opt into or out of the depth of relationship, centrality, and shared resources of either model of relationship.

The East Coast Conference works in a region stretching from New Sweden, Maine to Southern Virginia.  Within the vastness of this region there are countless different church cultures, strategies and passions that guide the different church communities.  The East Coast Conference is able to meet some very specific needs of this vast region, e.g. licensing, review of ministerial standing, pastoral support, call process, crisis support, consulting, etc.  However, the East Coast Conference cannot focus its attention on a particular area like the Greater Boston Area the way that a network can.  Creating this extra layer of partnership allows the local church, the network, the conference, and the denomination compliment each other in ways that did not exist before.

No, each church is autonomous from the other.  If one of the churches chooses to opt into the deeper ‘sister church’ type of relationship, then that local church would have deeper accountable to the churches with whom it has entered that deeper relationship.  For Highrock Quincy in particular, our relationship remains completely autonomous though we maintain a deep sense of mutual submission for the sake of the greater kingdom good in Greater Boston.

Maybe, there is much to be gained by sharing centralized resources with a larger group of churches.  This currently doesn’t exist for us in our ‘cousin’ relationship.  If such a change were adopted there would be extensive discussion with the Highrock Quincy partners before voting up or down to combine budgets and staff.

The Network is lead by an executive board made up of senior pastors from each local church.  This board meets once every 12 weeks.  The full board includes a lay person from each of the member churches.  The full board meets once every 12 weeks.  The president of the Highrock Network is Pastor Dave Swaim.

Yes, the autonomy of each church makes it is possible for a Highrock church to leave the Highrock Network.  However, by essence of breaking this relationship, the Highrock church would no longer be a “highrock” church.  It would be required to change its name and other branding elements following the cessation of the network relationship.