Jennifer Kay Smith
in love with creativity & its sourceArchive for ginghamsburg
Brian McLaren at the Change the World Conference
Brian McLaren
He had a group of pastors make a list of their big concerns. They listed people disagreeing over worship styles and conflicts in the church. Then he had a list of teens & young adults list their big concerns. After he pushed them beyond zits and dating, they said poverty, healthcare and peace. How do we get pastors to care more about that?
Four Global Crises
1. Our prosperity system can’t stop growing beyond environmental limits, resulting in multi-faceted environmental crisis. (government can’t get us out…will require a change in human behavior)
2. Our equity system can’t keep pace with the growing gap between the rich minority and the poor majority, resulting in suffering and fear.
3. Our security arms rich and poor with more catastrophic weapons, resulting in vicious cycles of crime, migration, terrorism and anti-terrorism.
4. Our World’s Religions are failing to provide a framing story capable of healing the societal machine.
The middle class in the US today lives better than the richest king in the world 300 years ago.
We consume more prosperity than we produce.
A baby in Dayton, Ohio goes home this week and is given 35 extra years. A baby in Honduras goes home and has 35 years taken away.
Bono: Where you live shouldn’t determine if you live.
Immigration issues look different when you’re holding your baby and crossing the border to give them a longer life.
We each live in some kind of narrative.
1. Domination Narrative: in a dangerous world, we’re not safe unless we’re in control
2. Revolution Narrative: we’re not safe as long as they’re in control
3. Scapegoat Narrative: everything would be fine if it weren’t for them
4. Isolation Narrative: those three are going to destroy everything, we’re the hope, we’ll go off by ourselves & create our own world
5. Victimization Narrative: there’s no hope unless we get everyone to feel sorry for us so they’ll stop treating us badly
6. Accumulation Narrative: the only way to be safe is to have a lot of money and possessions
The Roman Empire was tolerant of other religions, but not of new kingdoms. Jesus proposed a new kingdom.
Heaven is supposed to come down and we’re writing books about how to go up.
Equity, security & prosperity come through a sacrificial people who embody reconciliation and bring peace through justice and love.
Adam Hamilton at the Change the World Conference
Adam Hamilton, Church of the Resurrection
There have been three major movements in the US:
1. Social Revolution in the 70s swung too far to the left
2. The Counter Revolution in the 80s (Dobson, Falwell, Reagan) swung too far to the right
3. New Synthesis happening now - both sides have part of the truth
Sometimes our theology isn’t adequate for our reality.
God gives us a brain and expects us to use it. God gives us a heart and expects us to feel.
God is not offended by our questions.
People from the left are yearning for a more personal faith but don’t want to give up progressive ideas. People from the right are yearning for something more corporate – this has to be bigger than me.
The emergent movement is people from the right moving towards the center. “Wow…we can sing songs that were written more than 5 years ago…” The left is moving towards the center and realizing parts of contemporary worship can help us relate to God in a new way.
Young adults aren’t hearing the middle way talked about in our churches. An entire generation is being turned away because of the Counter Revolution.
Hyper-Calvinism/Determinism: everything happens for a reason. That works for a while but it becomes a problem when our friends die for no reason. A lot of things happen that aren’t God’s will. But we may find hope and healing in God.
David Kinnamon: Christianity is no longer what Jesus intended.
We must recognize the complexity in life.
The more mature you become, the more you realize you don’t know.
Is your church wrestling with the issues people are really thinking about?
Our job is to help followers become more authentically human. To help people clarify what matters most to God. We’re to help people close the gap between God and themselves.
START WITH MISSIONS. After someone serves, they start to get it.
Adam had 800 people leave in a short span because of sermon series they did. Have courage. One of the most important characteristics of leadership is courage.
It’s easy to irritate people. But our goal is to take people on a journey where they are stretched to see God in new ways.
Day 5
Sue Nilson Kibbey (Executive Pastor) teaching
Building a Missional Team – Sue
- People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. The church MUST be giving that opportunity.
- It’s not our job to tell members what God wants them to do. It’s our job to set the stage so God can speak to them.
- 20% of the people are usually busy doing 80% of the work so the 20% become more annoyed that the 80% aren’t helping them.
- The problem is that the 20% are doing 5-10 core things (committees, worship, singing in the choir, folding bulletins, etc)
- How do we break the 20/80 barrier? We must understand that the 80% people want their life to count bu they’re not called to the 5-10 core things the 20% are doing.
- Our church families want us to show them the picture of what God has for them.
- Will you minister to a few or ignite a movement?
Crippling Mindsets
- I don’t want to impose on people (most want their lives to make a difference)
- I’m not good at convincing people to serve (we’re not convincing, we’re inviting people to serve in their giftedness, everyone wins)
- We don’t think the job is engaging (they might because it’s their gift)
- As a church leader, could you help me out? (they’re helping the kingdom, not doing you a favor)
Other Thoughts
- People want a calling, not just a job
- Invite people to dream bigger dreams
- Revamp how you invite people to serve
- Too many people name the task, not the vision
- Staff must equip, not takeaway
Kim Smith – Missional Marketing
- We should be producers, not consumers
- Marketing can be classy but cheap
- If you have a big enough sized God vision, just watch who starts flocking to the movement
Kim had a great presentation on how they’ve presented the Sudan Project. Incredible movement of God.
John Jung – New Creation Counseling Center
- Lay members can be empowered to do pastoral care
- Many pastors are challenged to do it and unwilling to let go
- You’ll be uncomfortable at Ginghamsburg if you’re not willing to serve
- Ephesians 4:11-12 – everyone has a gift, why do we keep trying to do everyone else’s job?
- For pastors that have a difficult time letting lay people do pastoral care, ask who’s needs are being met here? Is it the pastor’s ego?
Kim Miller – Creating Welcoming Spaces
- Realized things can be changed around every week – it speaks of God’s character
- Traditional churches have bolted down pews – it says “we are committed to never changing, week after week”
- Any room in the church can look different from week to week
- Find your encouraging voices and lose the negative ones
- Physical environment is how we exist on earth
- Don’t just decorate the altar for a series, decorate the walls, lobby & hallways
- It makes people feel like they’re inside the message
- What do we want this space to say?
- Less is more; beauty on a budget
A huge thank you to Mike Slaughter, Penny Gooch, senior mgmt. team and all the staff who made our class feel incredibly welcomed. We couldn’t believe they cared enough about us as students & leaders to give us a week of their valuable time. Our group was floored by the hearts of all your servants we met. They had an answer immediately for where they are gifted and why they love serving.
Thank you to United Theological Seminary for caring enough about the decline of the mainline church to begin to rethink theological education. Each generation must continue to rethink how we work with the people of God so that we’re relevant and effective. Thank you for investing in issues that matter to us. (Save the pool!)
This week was a turning point in my ministry life. The way that I think about ministry shifted. The way I spend time with God changed. I now have a vision for the kind of leader God is calling me to be.
I entered this class seriously doubting I was designed for ordained ministry.
Now…
