multi-site redux

A whole new wave of conversations abuzz about the multi-site churches, and from our vantage point here, amazing to see how the book Multi-Site Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations is being played out in more and more churches. Dave Ferguson declares that Multi-Site Church Moves From Innovators To Early Adopters.

Mark Driscoll shares personally about his health concerns due to Mars Hill becoming a very fast-growing multi-site church:

So, I have been conserving energy for my family and church, but some Sundays are brutal. I find myself nodding off on the side of the stage before one of the four services I preach live. ... One thing I am certain of following my recent travels is that the multiple-site church phenomenon and video services are here to stay. Dead churches will be revitalized more and more by larger churches establishing services in them through the use of video. An entirely new form of church planting seems to be emerging that, along with traditional church planting, will help to add healthy new churches.

Internet Monk's interview with Noel Heikkinen is particularly insightful on his reaction to Mark Driscoll's "confessional". Noel is one of five pastors at Riverview Church, led by a pastoral team, in contrast to many churches that have one solo senior pastor.

Plus, John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist Church is going to video venues too, to the chagrin of those over at Boar's Head Tavern, while PaleoEvangelical has a more measured reaction:

To some readers, this whole concept of pre-recorded messages piped to daughter churches from the mother ship probably sounds like the stuff of squishy evangelicalism. Even Joel Osteen hasn't gone this far yet! Some might even argue that the multiple-site approach John Piper's Bethlehem Baptist Church has developed is similarly unhealthy. But before we start throwing stones, maybe we should ask what is qualitatively different between multiple sites and multiple services.

And, the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) denomination hosted its own multi-site church conference, and Drew Goodmanson summarizes:

The conference looked at why do multi-site, different models of multi-site and specifically the Redeemer NY (multi-site) and the Harbor Presbyterian (multi-congregational & multi-site) models. (No video venues) ... Launching a second site only increases a church costs 35-45% (with a pastor preaching these two locations each Sunday). ... If you are going to launch a second service you must provide an equal level of excellence in these four areas or people may return to the first site: worship, preaching, fellowship, children. ... To go multi-site you must have a movement leader...

Drew also provides a great list of 6 key questions to discuss about going multi-site (or not).

[update] News flash: Church of Christ is launching their first multi-site, by merging two Texas area congregations, Highland Oaks church and Pitman Creek church.

So, what do you think? I'm finding that churches of all sizes are running into facility issues, and while multi-site is a viable solution, there may be others that work too. Is your church considering multi-site or some other method?