Emerging Churches in the 21 st century

If the current rate of decline is not arrested the Methodist Church will have zero membership by 2037. Philip Richter & Leslie Francis: Gone but not Forgotten (London: DLT, 1998) If it continues to shrink at the present rate, the Church of Scotland will close its last congregation in 2033. Callum Brown: The Death of Christian Britain (London: Routledge, 2001) Unless something happens to reverse the decline it is experiencing, the Church in Wales will be unsustainable by 2020 Heather Wraight: ‘Strategic Thinking from a Christian Perspective’ (London: Christian Research Association, 2002) Melt down :

A very short history of social changes in the 20 th century The rise of consumerism The end of colonialism The sexual revolution The emergence of youth culture The rise of pop-music The explosion of information technology

The rise of consumerism

The end of colonialism

The sexual revolution

The emergence of youth culture

The rise of pop-music

The explosion of information technology

The Postmodern Psyche 'EPIC' Leonard Sweet, Post-Modern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21 st Century world (Broadman and Holman, 2000) pg11 E xperiential P articipatory I mage-driven C onnected

'EPIC'

Leonard Sweet, Post-Modern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21 st Century world (Broadman and Holman, 2000) pg11

E xperiential A psyche that does not so much want to have God explained as to experience God; it is more amenable to mystery than to definition.

A psyche that does not so much want to have God explained as to experience God; it is more amenable to mystery than to definition.

P articipatory Young people growing up in such a learning culture are less likely to accept the traditional passive sermonic format for conveying truth.

Young people growing up in such a learning culture are less likely to accept the traditional passive sermonic format for conveying truth.

I mage-driven After forfeiting to the media the role of storyteller, the church now enters a world where story and metaphor are at the heart of spirituality.

After forfeiting to the media the role of storyteller, the church now enters a world where story and metaphor are at the heart of spirituality.

C onnected The boundaries of friendship are no longer geographical but technical.

The boundaries of friendship are no longer geographical but technical.

What is "Emerging church" broad term, with many bedfellows it is church from below desire to express church in the culture of the group involved. it is church shaped by the context, not by "This is how we have always done it.“ Starts not with an invitation, "You come to us on our terms", but offer instead, "We'll come to you. we'll help you to be church at a time that suits you, in a place that is convenient to you and in your style, not ours.“ Key words : contextual customised diverse flexible experimental.

broad term, with many bedfellows

it is church from below

desire to express church in the culture of the group involved.

it is church shaped by the context, not by "This is how we have always done it.“

Starts not with an invitation, "You come to us on our terms", but offer instead, "We'll come to you. we'll help you to be church at a time that suits you, in a place that is convenient to you and in your style, not ours.“

Key words :

contextual

customised

diverse

flexible

experimental.