Http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/. How to bring change, when change is hard.
Http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/. My story Welcome to the future.
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Transcript of Http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/. My story Welcome to the future.
‘‘The reality is that mainstream The reality is that mainstream culture no longer brings people culture no longer brings people to the church door. We can no to the church door. We can no
longer longer assume that we can assume that we can
automatically automatically reproduce ourselves, because reproduce ourselves, because the pool of people who regard the pool of people who regard
church aschurch asrelevant or important is relevant or important is
decreasing decreasing with every generation’with every generation’
Mission shaped church report p11Mission shaped church report p11
“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust
Acts 10 Peter and CorneliusActs 10 Peter and Cornelius
“ we understood mission oneway and organised life to accomplish it. We have awakened to find out the mission moved on us. To keep focusing on mission, wehave to turn the furniturearound and face a differentdirection. We may even have to move into another room.”
Loren Mead. The Once and Future Church
Six basic principlesSix basic principles
““From Safety netsFrom Safety netstoto
Fishing nets”Fishing nets”
There is no return addressThere is no return addressor we will not be going back….or we will not be going back….
1
‘ ‘ The defining aspect of this change of epoch The defining aspect of this change of epoch is that things are no longer in their place……is that things are no longer in their place……
we cannot simply wait for what we are we cannot simply wait for what we are experiencing to pass under the illusion experiencing to pass under the illusion
that things will return that things will return to being how they were before.’to being how they were before.’
Pope Francis.Pope Francis.
In working with young people . . . do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place might seem to you.
You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before.
Christianity Rediscovered: An Epistle from the Masai (1978)
The ends of the earth
Samaria
The eccentric effects…
Judea
The centre and the Acts story shift Samaria is not a return ticketstory moves from a focus on Peter to Paulthe Church goes west church is done differently among Gentiles
Public worship services probably Public worship services probably are not the best starting pointare not the best starting point
2
The church is Gods gift to the world.The church is Gods gift to the world.
Why are we here ?Why are we here ?
‘ ‘ the church is missionary the church is missionary by it’s very nature…….by it’s very nature…….
the church does not havethe church does not have a mission a mission
but the mission has but the mission has a church.’a church.’
Prophetic Dialogue. Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and ScroederBevans and Scroeder
Church as a place where Church as a place where certain things take placecertain things take place
toto
a body of people sent on a missiona body of people sent on a mission
‘ ‘ Either we are defined by mission , or we reduce the Either we are defined by mission , or we reduce the scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church.’ scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church.’ p6
DisciplesDisciplesof Jesusof Jesus
rather than rather than ‘‘discipleship’discipleship’or attendees or attendees
at church at church
4
‘ ‘ We would intend to make disciples We would intend to make disciples and let converts happen rather than and let converts happen rather than
intending to make converts intending to make converts and let disciples happen.’and let disciples happen.’
The Divine Conspiracy, p334.The Divine Conspiracy, p334.
•How we see God
•How we see ourselves and others
•How we see our community
•How we see creation and society
1. What kind of people are we called to beas disciples of Jesus ?
2. What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?
The two key questionsThe two key questions
“ “ the theological doctrine of the church the theological doctrine of the church cannot be simply expressed in abstract termscannot be simply expressed in abstract terms
about the churches timeless nature. It willabout the churches timeless nature. It willhave to provide points of departure for have to provide points of departure for
reforming the church, for giving it a more reforming the church, for giving it a more authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh
start are not antitheses in start are not antitheses in the history of the Spirit.”the history of the Spirit.”
Jurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the SpiritJurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit
Church as four sets of relationships.Church as four sets of relationships.
Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.
ofofupup
inin
outout
‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’
Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church
‘ ‘ If you want to preserve traditionIf you want to preserve traditiondon’t wear your grandfathers hat,don’t wear your grandfathers hat,
have grandchildren.’ have grandchildren.’
Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso
Dying to liveDying to live
“ “ I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatI tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatfalls to the ground and dies, it remains onlyfalls to the ground and dies, it remains only
a single seed. But if it dies, it producesa single seed. But if it dies, it producesmany seeds.”many seeds.”
John 12; 23-6John 12; 23-6
You can’t predict the outcome anymore
Control to chaosControl to chaos
Answers to questionsAnswers to questions
Certainty to riskCertainty to risk
What might this mean for the structuresWhat might this mean for the structuresand shape of your church?and shape of your church?