The purpose of the Local Church Experiment (LCX) was to provide churches with tools to reform congregations from an “individual-needs” focus to addressing the needs of the world, strengthening the practice of “loving thy neighbor as thyself.” The intent was to renew the human spirit in the socio-religious context of the local church. The three-fold mission of the historical church would be the basis of the experiment:
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- to bear witness to the Word that heals the human spirit;
- to be a catalytic power to see that justice is imparted to all people; and
- to live as a sign of hope in a style that demonstrates possibility.
The LCX was launched at the Global Research Assembly in 1970 as a six-year experiment with the purpose of taking churches on a journey towards their own renewal through a theological renewal based on putting the Christian scriptures into action. This section provides the history of this work and stories of churches who participated in the LCX.
Joseph Mathews reflections on the Local Church Experiment:
In the “Church of Our Times” he said the church needs a new “social gospel”… in mission to humanity.
In the Summer ’72 Opening Plenary, he proclaimed church renewal was already done and the renewal of the globe was next. He called for a New Social Vehicle, a spirituality of care, that requires a practical vision, tactical system, operational design, and spirit training.
In 1977, Mathews he shared his vision of the church with Monsignor Egan:
” We tried to get the established Church to see that it’s about awakening people into life and significant engagement in the historical process to truly experience the glory of life through intensification of consciousness and engagement. The hope that is God ‘s hope belongs to humanity. The joy that is unspeakable is of the Lord. The peace that passeth understanding is yours – on loan from God, of course. I hope the Church breaks through defending its doctrine into concern for all humanity which will save the Church and purify it.”
- Lawson, George, “What is This?”, written for the 2025 Year of Storytelling
- The Book of Years: 1951-1982
- Clark, Don, Metro Cadre, Gloal Research Assembly, July 16, 1975
- Spencer, Raymond, Metro Cadre, Global Priors Council, July 31, 1975
- Morrill, Justin, Ten Trends in the LCX, February 22, 1974;
The State of the LCX, Global Priors Council, August 1974,
Toward the New Form of the Church, Global Priors Council, August 27, 1974;
The New Church, November 27, 1974,
The Local Church, Social Methods School, December 12, 1974 - Grow, Nan, The New Church, November 27, 1974
- Tomlinson, Gary, Tactical Thinking, Social Methods School, December 14, 1974
- Walters, George, The Turn of the Church, Chicago Presidium Plenary Address, December 15, 1973
- Local Church Consult VIII, Spring 1973
- Local Church Triangle Functions Problem Solving Unit, 1973
- Mathews, Bishop James, Beyond Church Renewal, Global Research Assembly, Opening Plenary, 1973
- Ward, Larry, Direct Tactics, Global Research Assembly, July 5,1973
- Poole, Mark, Statement on the LCX, North American Presidium, March 1, 1972
- Cramer, Don, The LCX in the Light of Summer’72, Global Research Assembly, July 27, 1972
- Buss, Sarah, Local Church Report, Global Order Council, August 2, 1972
- Slicker, Joseph, Tactical Systems: The Direct and Indirect Approaches, Order Council, August 22, 1972
- Lush, Tim, Local Church Experiment, Order Council, August 29, 1972
- Cramer, Don, LCX Report, December 6, 1972
- The Priorities of the Tactical System, January 1971
- Local Church Focus in Asia, i.e., January/February 1971
- Bengel, John. State of the Local Church Experiment, LCX Training School (Chicago), December 1971
- Cramer, Don, The Tactical System as Radical Incarnation, LCX Training School, December 8, 1971
- Mathews, Joseph, Local Church Problem Solving Unit, December 1971
- Steinle, Don, State of the Movement: Called to Walk in the Way, Presidium, December 1971
- Mathews, Joseph, Four Principles of Local Church Strategy, Global Research Assembly, June 1970
- Moffett, Mary Warren, Cadre, 1970
- The Prologue: A Comprehensive Experiment in the reconstruction of the Local Church, 1970
- Marshall, Gene, Tactics and
Parish Tactics, Global Research Assembly 1970 - LCX Galaxy Operations Manual, Quarter Two, 1970
- “The Future of the Church: Parish, Congreation, Cadre“, i.e., November/December 1970
- Inclusive Design of the 6-Year Local Church Experiment, December 1970
- Deines, Rick, On Being the Movement as the Local Church, North American Presidium, December 11, 1970
- Working Papers on the Local Church, Council IV, August 1969
- McClesky, David, Model of the Ecumenical Parish, Summer 1967
- Mathews, Joseph, Together magazine interview, 1966
- A Pilot Project Experimenting with the Structures and Dynamics of the Local Congregation, The E.I., Fall of 1963
- The Local Church Experiment: A comprehensive experiment to challenge church renewal