the once and future church

westminster presbyterian churchminneapolis, mn 30 november 2014

part one

what do you think? what could it be? (write on one side)

what do you fear it will be? (write on the other side)

stats, two assertions and a challenge

• trends observed in religious practices

• shape of religious practice amidst digital cultures

• church is more than an institution, but requires institutions

• larger contexts waking up to institutional pressures

• where will your faith take you?

8 trends

• declining number of Christians and growing number of people with no religious affiliation

• increasing number of people identifying as more “spiritual” and less “religious”

• declining participation in Christian churches

• increasing diversity and pluralism in US society

• increasing influence of individualism on Christian identity and community life

• changing patterns in marriage and family life

• declining family religious socialization

• increasing impact of new media

first assertion: church is more than an institution, but requires institutions

what are institutions looking like today?

networked religion

• a networked community

• storied identities

• shifting authority

• convergent practice

• a multisite reality

Anglican cathedral in Second Life, Humble Walk in St. Paul, Taizé

shifts in authority, authenticity, agency

for instance, Ferguson…

or last year, marriage equality…

second assertion: church needs to share stories that name experiences which we don’t otherwise have language for

joy, mercy, forgiveness

sin, sorrow, repentance

hope

a promise

“where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am”

Matthew 18:20

what is the once and future church? what will you make it?

Q & A

image and photo credits

church of the future (http://www.cartoonchurch.com/how-you-can-use-the-cartoons/) john roberto faith20/20 (http://www.faithformation2020.net/ff-2020-overview--presentations.html) david hayward (http://nakedpastor.com/) (http://www.cartoonchurch.com/) second life (http://slangcath.wordpress.com/) humble walk (http://humblewalkchurch.org/) taizé (http://www.taize.fr/) ferguson, mo clergy (christopher hazou) don’t shoot (youth radio) peace ferguson (PC) marriage quality photos (fibonacci blue) race picture (joe bielawa) joy (diana robinson) forgiveness (len matthews) may my soul note rest (eperales) repentance (vince42) hope tree (hartwig hkd) peace dove (stuart williams) all other photos by mary hess

part two (7 December 2014)

brief review

• characteristics of networked religion: (1) networked community, (2) storied identities, (3) shifting authority, (4) convergent practice, (5) a multi-site reality

• these are characteristic of the “once” church — and of the “future” church

• statistics led to two assertions: (1) church is more than an institution, but requires institutions; and (2) church needs to provide room, and a catalyst, for naming experiences for which we do not have other language — theology matters!

difficult challenges and potent opportunities

• challenges stem from societal pressures to form “like-minded communities” and conform to “time famine” and “consumer agency”

• opportunities come from claiming the resiliency of the living in the “tragic gap” and allowing our hearts to be broken open

hope emerges for me in that even some of our most commercial entities recognize these challenges and the potential opportunities…

five practices for living in the tragic gap

• an understanding that we are all in this together

• an appreciation of the value of otherness

• an ability to hold tension in life-giving ways

• a sense of personal voice and agency

• a capacity to create community

believe

createshare

storying faith

• keep in mind the mystery of the Trinity

• allow stories to emerge

• work on creating pieces to share

• reach out to learn, to hear stories that are not your typical stories

some examples to evoke your imagination and wonder!

projects done by local churches…

• MN Episcopal Story Project

• Bethlehem Lutheran

• StoryingFaith.org

and one final one from New Zealand…

Q & A

video credits

Apple commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhwhnEe7CjE) woman at the well (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49BbfgJbto) poetry slam quarter finals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv00xjClbx0) dear matafele peinem (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJuRjy9k7GA) dear american youth pastor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBW4R8vjA1Q) an unexpected Christmas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1XusYVqNY)

more info: mary hess http://meh.religioused.org/web/Home.html

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