8. Three possible futures:
Continuing pan-religious
contraction
- Shrinking numbers
- Wrinkling members
- Low retention
- Low evangelization
- Constrained leadership
- Institutional collapse
9. Three possible futures:
Conservative resurgence
- Nativism/Tribalism
- Immigration fears
- American domination
- Terrorism fears/revenge
- Historic replays/holy war
- New alliances (global,
ecumenical)
10. Three possible futures:
Death/Resurrection
- Theological reformation
- Liturgical reformulation
- Missional reorientation
- Post-national, post-partisan
identity/ethos
- Spiritual-social movement
(Peace, planet, poverty)
- New alliances (global,
ecumenical)
11. Which future(s) should you prepare
for?
Could all three coexist?
Which future seems most likely?
Which future(s) should you help
create/participate in?
What role is your denomination
playing?
13. What Denominations Do Well:
Embody Ethos: Brand name, virtues
Conserve Treasures: Wisdom, values,
memories
Support Relationships: Local, regional,
national, global
Protect Physical Assets: Buildings, colleges,
camps, properties, etc.
Protect Human Assets: Professional
development, insurance, pensions, etc.
See/Solve Problems: Financial, demographic,
etc.
Setting Policies: Ordination, discipline, etc., so
bad things don’t happen again.
14. What Denominations Can Do Better:
Evolve Ethos: Emerging identities around
mission and values
Enhance Treasures: Keep learning, adding
Expand Relationships: Age, race, culture, class
Leverage Physical Assets: For mission,
sometimes through liquidation
Develop Human Assets: Recruitment,
networking, training, support
See/Set New Goals: For mission,
transformation, formation
Creating New Policy Zones: So creative things
can start happening again.
15. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
We have an identity crisis ...
expressed in a branding failure.
Missional Faith Communities
Ecclesial Communities, Spiritual Growth
Communities
Proposal: A progressive Christian common
brand.
Not old conservative.
Not old liberal.
Something creative and new.
16. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and
creeds to support them
e.g. The Belhar Confession
Living Traditions keep doing what their heroes
did.
17. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and
creeds to support them
Expand Relationships: Recruit talent outside your
denomination, race, class, culture.
e.g. Cuban Methodists
Fresh Expression
What will happen to younger Evangelicals?
What about new leadership models?
18. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and creeds to
support them
Expand Relationships: Recruit talent outside your denomination,
race, class, culture
Leverage Physical Assets: Direct funds from
asset sales into new church development
You have more wealth than you need; it is just
frozen in the wrong places.
Legacy Churches/Legacy Funds
Sarah & Elizabeth Funds
“You can always get your way if you offer enough
ways.”
19. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and creeds to support them
Expand Relationships: Recruit talent outside your denomination, race, class,
culture
Leverage Physical Assets: Direct funds from asset sales into new church
development
Develop Human Assets: Give everyone an
annual 4-week learning sabbatical
1. Monastic Retreat/Spiritual Direction
2. Conference/Learning Community
3. Vision Visits/Field Trips
4. Work Among the Poor
... so that ministry isn’t an office job
20. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and creeds to support them
Expand Relationships: Recruit talent outside your denomination, race, class, culture
Leverage Physical Assets: Direct funds from asset sales into new church development
Develop Human Assets: Give everyone an annual 4-week learning sabbatical
See/Set New Goals: Focus on behaviors, not
results
Contacting inactives
Conducting Listening Dinners for Church
Dropouts
Joining non-church social groups
Pastoral Health Checklist/Plan
21. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and creeds to support them
Expand Relationships: Recruit talent outside your denomination, race, class, culture
Leverage Physical Assets: Direct funds from asset sales into new church development
Develop Human Assets: Give everyone an annual 4-week learning sabbatical
See/Set New Goals: Focus on behaviors, not results
Creating New Policy Zones: Create a future
denomination alongside/within the present one
What struggles to survive will destroy what
struggles to be born, unless ...
Knowing what you know, if you could start over,
what would you do?
22. Denominational Leaders Gone Wild:
Evolve Ethos: Change your name; add names
Enhance Treasures: Write new commitments and
creeds to support them
Expand Relationships: Recruit talent outside your
denomination, race, class, culture
Leverage Physical Assets: Direct funds from
asset sales into new church development
Develop Human Assets: Give everyone an
annual 4-week learning sabbatical
See/Set New Goals: Focus on behaviors, not
results
Creating New Policy Zones: Create a future
denomination alongside/within the present one
23. What’s missing today is a
high-quality discourse on
rethinking the design and
evolution of the entire
system from scratch.
24. What’s missing today is a
high-quality discourse on
rethinking the design and
evolution of the entire
system from scratch.
The quality of results produced by any
system depends on the quality of
awareness from which the people in the
system operate. (Otto Scharmer)
25.
26. The essence of struggle is neither endurance nor
denial. The essence of struggle is the decision to
become new rather than simply to become older. It
is the opportunity to grow either smaller or larger
in the process. There is, then, a gift hidden in the
travails of forced change. It is the gift of beginning
again: conversion.
- Sister Joan Chittister,
Scarred by Struggle,
Transformed by Hope, p. 22
27. Three possible futures:
Death/Resurrection
- Theological reformation
- Liturgical reformulation
- Missional reorientation
- Post-national, post-partisan
identity/ethos
- Spiritual-social movement
(Peace, planet, poverty)
- New alliances (global,
ecumenical)
33. Traditions
The shared stories, values,
practices, and beliefs from
which movements and
institutions draw inspiration,
direction, validation, and
motivation.
34. Both movements and
institutions...
Organize for their purpose
Need one another
Are frustrated with one
another
36. Some movements
successfully inject their
values into the institutions
they challenge
Other movements
create their own institutions,
or pass away
37. Vital movements
call people to passionate,
sacrificial personal
commitment
Sustainable institutions
create loyalty across
generations through
evocative rituals & traditions
38. What are the downsides of
institutions? What are the
signs of institutions gone
bad?
What are the downsides of
movements? What are the
signs of movements gone
wild?
39. What are the differences
between institution founders
and defenders/preservers?
What are the differences
between movement
founders and defenders/
preservers?
40. Did Jesus start a movement
or an institution or both?
What institutions did Jesus
challenge? How?
What was his goal in “I will
build my ecclesia?”
41. Did Paul lead a movement or
an institution or both?
What institutions did Paul
challenge? Create? How?
What was his goal in
constant travel?
42. Did St. Francis start a
movement or an institution
or both?
What institutions did Francis
challenge? Create? How?
Why did he celebrate “lady
poverty?”
43. Did Martin Luther start a
movement or an institution
or both?
What institutions did Luther
challenge? Create? How?
What was his goal in “Here I
stand?”
44. Did John Calvin start a
movement or an institution
or both?
What institutions did Calvin
challenge? Create? How?
What was his goal in
“Institutes ...”?
45. What is the status of our
Christian movements
today?
What is the status of our
Christian institutions?
Which should be our priority?
46. What kinds of personal
commitments do movements
invite? How do they solicit and
maintain commitment?
What kinds of personal
commitments do institutions
invite, and how do they solicit and
maintain them?
47. Catholic movements
Catholics as inclusive
Ecclesiolae en ecclesia
Protestants as protestors
Protestants as pro-testifiers
Protestant movements and
institutions
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54. Do not merely try to bring others to
where you are, as wonderful as that
place might be.
But do not leave them where they are
either.
Instead, go with them to a place
neither you nor they have ever been
before.
Fr. Vincent Donovan (adapted)
57. 1. Creating marginal
zones for far-reaching
experimentation.
Using your polity to support
missional ecclesiologies working
on new economic/training/
support/connection models.
58. your polity
missional ecclesiologies
new economic models
new training models
new support/connection models.
62. 5. Thinking in terms of
refounding, not
preserving, renewing,
or restoring.
Truly Protestant, truly
catholic
63. 6. Thinking differently
about denominational
identity and ethos:
Calvin’s creative example
Reformed as edgy (not stodgy)
Presbyterian as empowering (not
bureaucratic)
64. Liturgical Social Action
Evangelical Charismatic
77. Not
Strong Hostile Identity
Weak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...
But
Strong, theologically-rooted
benevolent spiritual identity as
neighbors, peacemakers
92. Do not merely try to bring others to
where you are, as wonderful as that
place might be.
But do not leave them where they are
either.
Instead, go with them to a place
neither you nor they have ever been
before.
Fr. Vincent Donovan (adapted)
93. Where do you see the
most momentum?
Where do you see the
biggest obstacles?
What do you “hear” in
your heart?
96. What is the question taking
The Human
shape inside the
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
“spiritual but not religious?”
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
97. “Can you accept me where I am
and gently, wisely lead me
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
to a better way of life
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
so I can play my part
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
in building a better world?”
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
98. spiritual emptiness corrupt leadership
poverty disease ignorance hunger
and malnutrition climate change
conflicts Financial Instability Water/
emergencies
Sanitation subsidies/trade barriers
population/ migration communicable
GLOBAL
diseases education governance/
corruption hunger education
FOUR
gender inequality child mortality
maternal health environmental
sustainability ethnic conflicts
terrorism weapons of mass
destruction organized crime networks
energy demands clean water
population growth authoritarian
regimes
99. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Framing Story
100. Compiling and integrating the
lists of global emergencies...
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
1. Planet
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
2. Poverty
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
3. Peace
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
4. Religion
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
101. How do Presbyterian followers
of Christ engage their
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
communities with each crisis?
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
1. Planet
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
2. Poverty
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
3. Peace
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
4. Religion
1
2
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
102. Planet ...
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
103. Poverty ...
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
104. Peace
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
105. Religion
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
106. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Framing Story
109. Neither [violent] revolution nor
[political] reformation can ultimately
change a society, rather you must tell
a new powerful tale, one so
persuasive that it sweeps away the
old myths and becomes the preferred
story …
110.
111. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
112. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
113. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,
philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)
126. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
127. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
128. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
DIY mission support
129. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
DIY mission support
Demonstration/civil disobedience
130. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
DIY mission support
Demonstration/civil disobedience
160. Conventional
Church-going
Christians
Spiritual Atheists
but not Agnostics
Religious
161. Typical Reaction
ATTACK! ATTACK!
Conventional
Church-going
Christians
Spiritual Atheists
but not Agnostics
Religious
162. Alternate Response
Listen/Learn Listen/Learn
? ?
Conventional
Church-going
Christians
Spiritual Atheists
but not Agnostics
Religious
163. “I don’t feel the need for
religion or spirituality.”
The New Atheists/Agnostics
164. I’m NOT ...
Interested in preserving
unprovable beliefs.
Interested in defending
religious violence.
165. I’m WORRIED ...
That strong religious identity
makes people vicious.
That no spiritual identity
makes people vulnerable to
persecution by the religious.
168. I’m NOT ...
I don’t believe organized
religion has all the answers.
I don’t believe science,
government, and
economics have all the
answers either.
169. I’m WORRIED ...
That strong religious identity
makes people vicious.
That no spiritual identity
makes people vacuous.
170. Religion:
How [our] religion provides
exclusive
religious goods and services
so human souls can
be saved
from God.
171. From what kind of God would
people need to be saved?
violent
unforgiving
cruel
capricious
tribal or racist
172. Religion:
How [our] brand provides exclusive
religious goods and services
so human souls can
be saved
from God.
173. Spirituality:
How God is saving
all creation from human
evil ... by grace, through
faith,
in the way of wisdom,
compassion, and love,
inviting our participation.
174. The Christian Religion:
Identity: Exclusive distributorship of saving
doctrines, rituals, or membership so souls
can be saved from God
Goal: Converts, believers, souls in heaven,
political power
Jesus: blessings for members, condemnation
for non-members
Clergy: Priests & pastors to and for members
Laity: Consumers, satisfied customers become
marketers
Focus: One hour per week
Social Cohesion: In-group vs. Out-group, us vs.
them
175. Christian spirituality:
Identity: A way of wisdom, compassion, and
love so creation can be saved from human
evil
Goal: A world healed and transformed
Jesus: Blessings for learners so they can bring
blessings to everyone
Leaders: Training fellow-learners to be priests
and pastors to all humanity
Learners: Being presence and agents of Christ,
inviting and including others
Focus: Way of life and goodness lived every
day
Social Cohesion: Come-on-in group, some of
us for all of us
176. Religion:
Other Religions: Shouldn’t exist, a mistake,
should be critiqued and eradicated
Other Religious Leaders: Should be rejected,
mocked, vilified, discredited
Other Religious Beliefs & Practices: Should be
feared and avoided as competition with and
contradiction to our own
People of other religions: Seek to avoid or
convert and assimilate. If they won’t convert,
ignore, shame, or inconvenience. If they
become a threat, defeat and “cleanse” them.
177. Spirituality:
Other Religions: Part of God’s world, should be
understood and valued, a mix of good and
evil in need of growth and maturity - just as
ours is
Other Religious Leaders: Should be respected,
honored, appreciated
Other Religious Beliefs & Practices: May have
much to teach us, similarities and differences
may help us appreciate our own
People of other religions: Receive the gifts they
offer, offer the gifts we have; seek mutual
understanding; collaborate for the common
good of all
Notas do Editor
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The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of a violent collision of two distant galaxies which triggered massive amounts of star formations in a spectacular fireworks show. \n\n(Accessed on November 15, 2004 from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/sg_images/hubble_pic_browse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/stargazing/stargazing_image.html&h=286&w=400&sz=13&tbnid=aS9vjMk1n4QJ:&tbnh=85&tbnw=118&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplanetary%2Bcollision%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D)\n\nLet’s draw a parallel. When 2 worlds collide in space, it creates a galactic fireworks show. When 2 worldviews collide, the effects are similar in the social, cultural, and spiritual realms. \n\nOn the lower left you see the leadership paradigm belonging to modernity. On the upper right you see the leadership paradigm belonging to postmodernity. Notice these are such distinct models that there is no overlap. \n\nModernity was characterized by organizations that were centralized, hierarchical, vertical, mechanistic, executive-oriented, bureaucratic, rigid and transactional. Postmodern organizations are decentralized, flattened, horizontal, team-based, organic, fluid, flexible and transformational. \n\nThe only connector is the fact that we are in transition from one to another. And it is this period of history, the transition, that we currently find ourselves in. And it’s bound to be a painful journey for leaders who care to make the trek. But as Ronald Heifitz of Howard University’s Leadership Education Project asserted, “There are lots of things in life that are worth the pain. Leadership is one of them.” That statement could never be more true than when applied to this most challenging period of worldview transition.\n
The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of a violent collision of two distant galaxies which triggered massive amounts of star formations in a spectacular fireworks show. \n\n(Accessed on November 15, 2004 from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/sg_images/hubble_pic_browse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/stargazing/stargazing_image.html&h=286&w=400&sz=13&tbnid=aS9vjMk1n4QJ:&tbnh=85&tbnw=118&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplanetary%2Bcollision%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D)\n\nLet’s draw a parallel. When 2 worlds collide in space, it creates a galactic fireworks show. When 2 worldviews collide, the effects are similar in the social, cultural, and spiritual realms. \n\nOn the lower left you see the leadership paradigm belonging to modernity. On the upper right you see the leadership paradigm belonging to postmodernity. Notice these are such distinct models that there is no overlap. \n\nModernity was characterized by organizations that were centralized, hierarchical, vertical, mechanistic, executive-oriented, bureaucratic, rigid and transactional. Postmodern organizations are decentralized, flattened, horizontal, team-based, organic, fluid, flexible and transformational. \n\nThe only connector is the fact that we are in transition from one to another. And it is this period of history, the transition, that we currently find ourselves in. And it’s bound to be a painful journey for leaders who care to make the trek. But as Ronald Heifitz of Howard University’s Leadership Education Project asserted, “There are lots of things in life that are worth the pain. Leadership is one of them.” That statement could never be more true than when applied to this most challenging period of worldview transition.\n
The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of a violent collision of two distant galaxies which triggered massive amounts of star formations in a spectacular fireworks show. \n\n(Accessed on November 15, 2004 from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/sg_images/hubble_pic_browse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/stargazing/stargazing_image.html&h=286&w=400&sz=13&tbnid=aS9vjMk1n4QJ:&tbnh=85&tbnw=118&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplanetary%2Bcollision%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D)\n\nLet’s draw a parallel. When 2 worlds collide in space, it creates a galactic fireworks show. When 2 worldviews collide, the effects are similar in the social, cultural, and spiritual realms. \n\nOn the lower left you see the leadership paradigm belonging to modernity. On the upper right you see the leadership paradigm belonging to postmodernity. Notice these are such distinct models that there is no overlap. \n\nModernity was characterized by organizations that were centralized, hierarchical, vertical, mechanistic, executive-oriented, bureaucratic, rigid and transactional. Postmodern organizations are decentralized, flattened, horizontal, team-based, organic, fluid, flexible and transformational. \n\nThe only connector is the fact that we are in transition from one to another. And it is this period of history, the transition, that we currently find ourselves in. And it’s bound to be a painful journey for leaders who care to make the trek. But as Ronald Heifitz of Howard University’s Leadership Education Project asserted, “There are lots of things in life that are worth the pain. Leadership is one of them.” That statement could never be more true than when applied to this most challenging period of worldview transition.\n
The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of a violent collision of two distant galaxies which triggered massive amounts of star formations in a spectacular fireworks show. \n\n(Accessed on November 15, 2004 from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/sg_images/hubble_pic_browse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/stars_galaxies/stargazing/stargazing_image.html&h=286&w=400&sz=13&tbnid=aS9vjMk1n4QJ:&tbnh=85&tbnw=118&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplanetary%2Bcollision%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D)\n\nLet’s draw a parallel. When 2 worlds collide in space, it creates a galactic fireworks show. When 2 worldviews collide, the effects are similar in the social, cultural, and spiritual realms. \n\nOn the lower left you see the leadership paradigm belonging to modernity. On the upper right you see the leadership paradigm belonging to postmodernity. Notice these are such distinct models that there is no overlap. \n\nModernity was characterized by organizations that were centralized, hierarchical, vertical, mechanistic, executive-oriented, bureaucratic, rigid and transactional. Postmodern organizations are decentralized, flattened, horizontal, team-based, organic, fluid, flexible and transformational. \n\nThe only connector is the fact that we are in transition from one to another. And it is this period of history, the transition, that we currently find ourselves in. And it’s bound to be a painful journey for leaders who care to make the trek. But as Ronald Heifitz of Howard University’s Leadership Education Project asserted, “There are lots of things in life that are worth the pain. Leadership is one of them.” That statement could never be more true than when applied to this most challenging period of worldview transition.\n