Session 5 - Transitioning Historic Churches and Birthing New Faith Communities

TRANSITIONING HISTORIC CHURCHES AND BIRTHING NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES

Identifying new initiatives among historic denominations, new

church networks, and communities engaged in

incarnational urban mission

2

Distinguish between “change” and “transition”

Change is what happens to us from the outside and over which we usually have no control.

Transition is our inner response to the change we are experiencing and over which we do have some control.

3

The Change Process

Identify the stories and images with which people connect

Connect these images with the biblical narrative

Cultivate dialogue to interpret and apply these images

4

Move from Church Member to Jesus Follower

Christian commitment measured primarily in terms of loyalty to the institutional church

Faith has become individualized and privatized

Reductionistic gospel that meets our personal needs without challenging our priorities

Church needs to re-evangelize itself

5

The Gospel and Culture

The gospel judges each culture according to how compatible it is with the focus, values and goals of the kingdom of God.

The gospel also reveals the extent to which the church itself has become acculturated by accommodating to cultural aspirations that are contrary to the reign of God, thereby denying its prior allegiance.

Gospel

CultureChurch

6

Five Megatrends

1. From Modernity to Postmodernity

2. From the Industrial Age to the Technological and Information Age

3. From The Christendom Era to The Post-Christendom Era

4. From Consumer Demand to Creative Participation

5. From Religious Identity to Spiritual Exploration

7

What’s God Up To?

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3: “Fresh Expressions”

4: The Megachurch Factor

5: Urban Engagement

6: Resurgent Monasticism

7. Expanding Networks

8. Alternative Worship

8

“Fresh Expressions

Church planting initiatives within traditional denominations

Bottom/Up rather than Top/Down Hierarchy response:

Permission giving Ownership and control



9

Critical self evaluation Who are they attracting? How are they impacting their lives? What is the extent of their influence?

Their strategic importance Visibility and influence Educational and equipping centers Birthing and nurturing new faith communities



The Megachurch Factor

10

Urban Engagement

Incarnational witness Long term commitment Raising up indigenous leadership Multicultural challenge Social engagement Forging coalitions

With city hall, schools, social services, law enforcement, etc.

With other churches, specialized ministries and non-profit organizations



11

What is a ‘Missional Community’?

Consists of followers of

Jesus who are seeking

together to be faithful in

their place and time

Ringwood, Melbourne

12

Resurgent Monasticism

Grassroots ecumenism and prophetic witness

Incarnational ministries among the poor Renewal and reconciliation Mission order inspired by the ancient

Celtic model



13

Expanding Networks

Independent church planting initiatives

Origins among the Jesus People and in the House Church Movement

Apostolic leadership Core groups of “tent-makers” with

bi-vocational leaders Multi-site churches Facilitating organizations



14

Alternative Worship

Listening with discernment to the broader culture

From passive consumption to creative participation

Embracing the whole of life Ideas and resources

Home grown Shared

“Third space” hospitality The universal call to worship



15

Worship in the Psalms

Embrace the whole of life Issue a universal call to worship

The Temple–a house of prayer for all nations

Worship is inseparably linked with witness

Worship separated from mission is in danger of lapsing into self-indulgence.



Session 5 - Transitioning Historic Churches and Birthing New Faith Communities

Spiritual

gospel culture church

new church networks

church member

witness worship

alternative worship

institutional church

priorities church needs

nations worship