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Our continued explorations about the shape of church in the present and into the future must lead us to ask fresh questions about theological themes: ecclesiology and christology are but two key challenges. Frost and Hirsch's book bearing this name raises questions we dare not ignore, but fails to address key questions of ecclesiology. Dare I suggest that it echoes a new form of christendom - rather than the demise of christendom - inasmuch as it suggests that there is one future shape, rather than many?
It may well be that trying to reshape the church by imposing different structures is akin to grabbing a dog by its tail. The shape of community flows out of the people gathered in community, and the purpose they share in common. We build structures around these things to keep the important aspects strong.
It really doesn't matter if you have a powerpoint, meet in a cafe, light candles, or sing hymns. There are other things more important, more fundamental about the cultures we create in our faith communities. Let me suggest a few discussion-starters...
The future shape of the church needs take into account (amongst other things):
People's increased levels of education and insight: Whereas historically the minister was the most educated (both theologically and otherwise) member of the church, it may not be true now.
People's desire to have greater input into the shaping of their futures: Empowerment in the context of community is important - not by force, but through giving people freedom and opportunity to contribute.
Time pressures: To expect people to 'be there' every Sunday at a certain time is unrealistic in this time-fluid culture.
The church's traditional focus on Sunday: Christianity in particular and spirituality in general has never been about what people do in a building for an hour or so on a Sunday. Jesus' focus was on the whole of life.
We continue to wrestle with this, both in the reality of what we do as a community, and in the ways we evaluate what we do. It is still tempting to run the ruler over Sunday as the only measure...
Posted by gary at February 24, 2005 01:26 PM
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