11 Traits of Churches That Will Impact the Future | careynieuwhof.com.
A quick, well thought out reflection on the need for change in congregations. For those of us who serve in established congregations, this really is must reading for leaders and the led.
The Rules Have Changed, Pastor… (Be sure you know the rules!) • ToddRhoades.com | ToddRhoades.com.
While this article really doesn’t say anything new about the state of the North American Church, it does say it well. We are struggling to come to grips that things have changed and what many of were trained to do no longer makes for effective ministry for growing congregations or disciples. Its not that a chaplaincy model is/was wrong. It worked for a time in the congregational setting. But a pastor confined to a chaplaincy role in a congregation today is doing hospice care if he/she remains as the focus of all relationships and permission giving in a congregation. Check it out.
RIP, Rob Bell – Michael Kimpan – Red Letter Christians.
A thoughtful look at what may yet come out of the obvious cultural changes regarding homosexual relationships, the meaning of marriage, and the implications for the church.
Greg Carey: Rob Bell Comes Out for Marriage Equality.
Well, this has been the big buzz on twitter and elsewhere among the socially networked religious types. My guess? Evangelicals – we told you so, heretic. Rob Bell fans – we told you so, Christians eat their young/condemn their best and brightest. It will be interesting to watch, listen, and eventually find my own time to weigh in. Let the games begin.
Sacred mystery: Blockbuster ratings for ‘The Bible’ confound Hollywood – Washington Times.
Its seems Hollywood and pop culture are confounded when people respond positively to matters of faith, particularly when it is presented respectfully. Like The Passion of the Christ, The Bible seems to have touched a nerve for hope and something deeper than just religion. I am thinking, at this early date, Pope Francis may add to this. We will have to wait and see.
Transfiguration: My Ordination Anniversary | One Cannot Have Too Large a Party.
This is a great reflection on the meaning of ordination that led me to a new BBC series – Rev. It hasn’t been aired here in the US but it can be viewed on hulu. I watched the episode referenced in this post, the last from season one and if you are a pastor, you have got to watch it. Its one of the most honest portrayals of a pastor and ministry today. I’m going to start at the beginning and go from there.
If you want to learn more about Rev., check it out here.
Lutheran Pastor Apologizes for Being a Decent Human Being.
Well, its seems it takes something going nuts in the blogosphere to get me back on track with Wired Jesus. Seems this moment of church discipline has turned into an absolute nightmare for the 2.3 million member Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, who is now having a very difficult conveying that having the pastor of your slain child praying with other religious leaders mourning a school massacre is not something Jesus would do.
Equally sad, it makes Lutherans like me, who are a different denomination (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which does not have problem praying with other people) look closed minded and hypocritical because most folks don’t know all our tribal differences. But it makes Christians as a whole look bad and become an embarassment to Jesus. So now Lutherans get lumped in with Westboro Baptist, hating Jews and Muslims as pagans we should shun.
Now I’m having to answer questions from members of my congregations who are confused and relieved that its not our “brand” of Lutheran but then what in the world in the Bible can justify such aloofness, as if you are the only real Christians in the world. And, of course, there are the people who drive by, see the name Lutheran, and now think, oh, yeah, the people who don’t pray or care about people who aren’t like them.
Hemant Mehta has it right here. I can’t believe I’m defending a pastor here, but who are these people “confused” by the interfaith vigil?! Who watched the event and thought, “Oh shit! That’s my pastor! He’s sharing the stage with a Muslim! WHY DOES MY PASTOR HATE JESUS?!”
No wonder more and more people want Jesus but nothing to do with those who call themselves “church.” Just another reminder that it seems in many denominations and congregations, Jesus, like Elvis, has left the building.
Yep, podcast coming this week.
I haven’t been to a church in over a year. | Tony Steward.
Behold the future of the church. Megachurches degenerate into business and politics. Mainliners try and relive the 1960s social Gospel as aging hippies that hipsters can’t stand being around. Evangelicals trend toward being doctrine police isolating the faithful into a Christian cocoon. And people with eyes walk away or never walk in, just wanting authentic relationships with real people who want to live like Jesus and give you the freedom to discover that as well.
Lessons to be learned. Podcast to be made.
This is my first podcast in six months and the first since repairing the damage done by the hack attack in October. My plan still is a reworking of the blog and podcast feed at the end of the month but the events of last Friday have had me thinking, much like the rest of you. I’m to the point I’m reluctant to even tweet or look at facebook, let alone watch the news, as there is little else to be heard. It almost makes the petty bickering of Democrats and Republicans over the fiscal cliff welcome… almost.
In the last few days I have been asked about where is God in all this and what should we be saying as people of faith, people who know doubt as much as anyone else when confronted by a scene that should come out of hell itself. I have podcast my sermon from this past Sunday along with some other comments but a second podcast will be coming soon that will be more informed by the conversations I have been having with our youth, members of our congregation, and a radio interview I will be part of tomorrow. In this second podcast I’ll be addressing the one aspect of this that few people seem to be willing to address – the reality of evil that is beyond any human control or comprehension.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
