When the 2010s began, I had been blogging for seven months. While I planned to continue, I had no idea that I would blog for the entire decade (and beyond). During this decade, I continued to write about matters of faith that matter. Content included discussion of hundreds of new books, sharing of resources I created for use in worship (sermons, prayers, etc.), reflections on my lived experience, and exploration of new data focused on American religious belief, belonging and behavior. Over Read More …
future church
Postmodern Possibilities: Church 3.0 (#1347)
John C. Dorhauer, Conference Minister for the Southwest Conference of The United Church of Christ, is currently writing a book on innovation and something he terms "Church 3.0." Reflecting on his recent research efforts that included visits to multiple communities of faith, he suggests that the model of church we have known in recent years is dying and is being replaced by something that is radically different. The new form of church, Church 3.0., is an "entirely new way of Read More …
Mainline = Vintage? (#1230)
For as long as I have been in ministry, people have been talking about whether or not the historic term mainline should continue to be used. While earlier conversations about reform tended to offer options of old-line or sidelined in addition to retaining the longstanding mainline moniker, recent conversations have pushed for more updated titles with relevance to the contemporary situation. Last month I participated in Cathy Lynn Grossman's poll, which invited people to vote for a new Read More …
Future Church: Another Perspective (#1111)
Carey Nieuwhof, lead pastor of Connexus Community Church, recently shared his thoughts on how the church will evolve over the next decade. Nieuwhof identified 11 traits that he believes will be common among those congregations that have a significant impact over the next ten years: The ability to say no Outsider focus Quick decision making Flexibility A willingness to embrace smaller to become bigger A quicker, lighter footprint Valuing online relationships as real Read More …
Life After Seminary (#1100)
For generations, seminaries were primarily designed to train people for pastoral ministry. Today, less than half of all graduates of the typical seminary degree for pastors (master of divinity) plan to engage in full-time church ministry. According to the Association of Theological Schools the shift has taken place in just a few decades. At that time, over 90% of students planned to enter full-time church ministry. The percentage has declined ever since, reaching 52% by Read More …
Church Renewal – Join the Conversation (#0978)
A week ago today Chaplain Mike, one of the principal bloggers on the popular Evangelical/post-Evangelical Internet Monk site, shared his summary of my thoughts on the future of the church as expressed in a series of blog posts written last year. In addition to framing my series as a "perspective on the future of the American church from a younger leader in the mainline Protestant world," Chaplain Mike shared his take on how my thoughts relate to what others are saying now and Read More …
Most Popular Posts of 2012 (#0950)
In order, the five most popular posts made on sowhatfaith.com this year are Top Church Websites Review of Christianity After Religion The Future Church v.2020: 10 Shifts Football, Jesus, and Ninja Plate or Plate Free? So What? When I first started blogging, I paid a fair amount of attention to statistics related to readership. More recently, I have gone months at a time without looking at any numbers. If you are a regular reader, let me know if any of the posts on the Read More …
It’s Always Pentecost (#0766)
While Pentecost appears on the liturgical calendar just once a year, it is something we can (perhaps even must) experience daily. Watch my Pentecost sermon below and consider your experience of the Life-Giving Wind. So What? Wherever the Life-Giving Wind blows, the church is about unity not uniformity change not constancy renewal not repetition The Holy Spirit's activity is something worth pondering every day. Which of these is the most challenging for you? for your Read More …
A Way Forward for American Christianity (#0720)
New York Times columnist Ross Gregory Douthat was interviewed in the May 2012 edition of Christianity Today on the occasion of the release of his latest book: Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics (2012). He suggests that the United States has always been a "nation of heretics," but that this tendency was, until recently, always countered and overwhelmed by institutional Christianity. In response to the question "How can we begin to address a nation of heretics" Douthat proposes, Read More …