Spence Network

The mission of Spence Network is to feed networks of congregational leaders to advance Kingdom initiatives. We will do this with services include creating, affirming, and funding ministry forums for church leaders, as well as providing venture capital and networking for “best ministry practices” that connect churches and leaders.  Quite simply we are “Connecting congregational leaders to advance the Kingdom.”

The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership (“Spence Network”) is a router for networks that helps to connect churches and church leaders with each other and with best ministry practices in order to impact the world with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Spence Network is designed to facilitate connections between individual leaders, networks, and congregations, enabling fruitful exchange of innovative ideas and best ministry practices.

Spence Network was started in partnership with Virginia Baptists and will serve them, but will also strive to impact the North American evangelical Protestant church by connecting them with “helping networks” from the national and world evangelical family.

Our conviction is that there is a frustrating isolation in North American congregational life, and that leaders and churches are hungry to be connected with other leaders and churches around shared ministry affinities and initiatives. 

Moreover, we believe that classic denominational structures are waning in their ability to connect individuals and congregations in this way, and that Spence Network can be more agile and mobile in enabling a kind of networking that will feed Kingdom leaders and churches.

Our networking services capitalize on the following “assets”:

• Values: We uphold and spread Kingdom values of connecting peer-to-peer and leader-to-learner networks in order to maximize the impact of receptive leaders and congregations.
• Relationships: We offer an expanding network of connections whereby interested leaders and congregations can collaborate with others on initiatives and work toward mutual development of key ministry skills.
• Venture Capital: We offer venture capital to fuel innovative ministries for the connectional church.

Spence Network receives support from Virginia Baptists, user fees, and gifts from individual donors.

For more information, open the Spence Network website,
or contact John Chandler with additional questions or requests.