Pub Planting 101
Inevitably, the question is asked, “Hey! How do you start one of these pub-plants anyway?” I have come to expect the question, and have often tried to think of some sort of scientific method on pub-planting that I could share. I have searched my soul for some deep, wise, ancient practice that is guaranteed to make a pub-plant successful. I have prayed and sought the Almighty for the answers, and I think I finally have them.
Ready?
Ok...here you go.
Step 1. Walk into a pub.
Step 2. Order some food and your favorite beverage. (I suggest Guinness, but if you want to drink something inferior, by all means, go ahead.)
Step 3. Be nice to your waitress.
Step 4. Tip well.
Step 5. Repeat the next week.
Step 6. After a few weeks, ask to see the manager and ask, “What would you think if I came in here once a month and brought a few friends? We would eat, drink and hang out for a while and then tip well before leaving?”
Step 7. After the manager says, “Sure.” Invite some friends the first Friday of the month to hang out, eat, drink, and enjoy some theological conversation. Go to pubplanters.com and check out the current topic and start talking together about it.
Step 8. Shoot me an email to say, “Wow…that was easy.”
So far, we haven’t been turned down by anyone, and I think the reason is this… People like to be around people who treat them nicely and tip well. There is something really right about tipping your waitress in the name of Christ instead of leaving her a tract and a few quarters.
So there you have it. The super-secret, pub-planting manifesto. It all boils down to loving God and loving others the way He loves them.
THINGS WE’VE LEARNED:
O.K…so you’ve planted your pub, and now you are looking for some quick guides to help things run smooth. Lucky for you, our highly trained team of ToT investigators have put together this handy guide for you. Here are a couple of quick things that we’ve learned regarding pub-plant maintenance.
1. Keep the group small
Even though it’s really awesome to say, “We had 50 people show up at ToT last night!” Large groups simply don’t make for very good, deep, discussion of the Theology topics. Some people simply don’t do well in large groups, and will sit and listen rather than participate, and that’s a shame, considering the fact that there are a whole lot of really wise, intelligent, shy people in the world. Our suggestion? When a group hits over ten people consistently, split. Better to have two groups of 5, where the discussion can be rich and stretching than to have people straining to hear one another. Never be afraid to split your group if it gets too big. Simply say, “Wow. We’re too big. Half of us should meet at another bar.” Then, go find another bar and replicate yourself. Soon, your city will be covered in pub-plants…which sounds creepy, but is actually a good thing when you think about the whole, “spreading the Gospel” thing.
2. Start around 7:00
Pubs and Bars typically don’t start really getting busy until 10:00 or later, so it’s nice to be there a bit early on a Friday night. This is good for you, because you can hear better, but it’s really good for your waitress, because she doesn’t have to worry about missing out on the great tips she’d make if she could turn your table quickly. We go from 7 till 9-ish, and it seems to make everyone happy.
3. Spend time on the message boards
The online message boards are the key to keeping the conversation going through the month. It also gets you connected to the greater Tot community. This means constantly reminding people to go to the website and hang out there. You would be amazed at how great the discussion can be if all the members of your ToT group have spent the past month, hashing through theological issues online. The conversation reaches a whole new level.
4. Meet together every few months as a large corporate group
Here in the Chattanooga area, we bring all of the area pub-plants together every three months to spend time together and listen to a special speaker who lectures on the topic. The reason for this is that it brings the community together and reminds us that our pub-plants are not isolated groups, but part of the ever growing community of The Church. (and yes, we mean Church with a big “C” as in THE CHURCH. The one Jesus established. The one that all who believe in Him are a part of.)
5. STAY ECUMENICAL!!!!!
The beauty of Theology On Tap is that it transcends denominational boundaries. It does you very little good to sit in a pub and discuss theology with 5 or 6 people who think exactly as you do. Spend time contacting other faith communities besides yours. This will make your ToT nice and healthy, because everyone will begin finding out that there are a lot of things that we all agree on, and that great conversation can occur over the things we don’t. Our group in Chattanooga consists of Anglicans, Baptists, Calvinists, Lutherans, Catholics, Pentecostals, Members of the Church of Christ, and several non-denominational types, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
