This document discusses three possible futures for Christian congregations and denominations: continuing contraction, conservative resurgence, and death and resurrection. It then examines the roles of denominations, what they do well and could improve, and scenarios of denominational leaders pushing boundaries. The document considers the relationships between traditions, movements, and institutions, and questions about how Jesus and Paul balanced these.

2. Christian futures:
Congregations and
Denominations

5. Christian futures:
Three scenarios

6. Three possible futures:
Increasing pan-religious
contraction
Conservative religious
resurgence
Death and Resurrection

7. Three possible futures:
Secularization
De-secularization
Emergence

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?

12. Denominations

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)

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)

28. Christian futures:
Congregations and
Denominations

29. Christian futures:
movements and
institutions

30. we need a theology of
institutions & movements

31. Institutions:
Organizations which
conserve the gains made
by past social movements.

32. Social Movements
Organizations which call
current institutions to make
progress towards new
gains.

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

35. Without movements ...
Institutions stagnate ...
Without institutions ...
Movements evaporate ...

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

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)

56. What is being done?

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.

59. 2. Sequestering funds for
these new lines of
ministry.

60. 3. Attracting new people
in new ways to the new
zone.
“Bring in a new day with new
people.”
New leaders, new members

61. 4. Thinking garden, not
tree.

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

65. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

66. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Emerging
Ethos?
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

67. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Emerging
Ethos?
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

68. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Emerging
Ethos?
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

70. this
convergence
creates
emergence

71. a new
spiritual
identity

72. Not
Militant Religious Right
Institutional Religious Left

73. Not
Militant Religious Right
Institutional Religious Left
But
Evangelical passion mixed with
progressive social vision of
common good, “beloved
community”

74. Not
Conservative anti-science bias
Old Liberal anti-spiritual bias

75. Not
Conservative anti-science bias
Old Liberal anti-spiritual bias
But
Both pro-learning and pro-
spirituality

76. Not
Strong Hostile Identity
Weak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...

77. Not
Strong Hostile Identity
Weak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...
But
Strong, theologically-rooted
benevolent spiritual identity as
neighbors, peacemakers

78. Not
Jesus as weapon
Jesus as embarrassment

79. Not
Jesus as weapon
Jesus as embarrassment
But
Jesus as bringer of good news of
the kingdom of God

80. A lot depends on the emergence
Liturgical Social Action
of
Evangelical this Charismatic
new identity.

81. 6. Thinking differently
about denominational
identity and ethos:
Think bigger than
Presbyterian/Reformed
to Mainstream
Protestant;

82. 6. Think bigger than
Mainstream Protestant,
to (???) Christian;

83. 6. Think bigger than
Christian, to disciples of
Jesus.

84. 6. Think bigger than
disciples of Jesus, to
Kingdom of God/New
Creation.

85. 7. Trust and move with
the Holy Spirit.

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?

95. Christian futures:
Mission and Social
Justice

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

107. Ivan Illich (Austrian
former priest,
philosopher, social
critic, 1926-2002)

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 …

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)

115. What are our shared

116. What are our shared
values/beliefs

117. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits

118. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives

119. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives
trainings/reinforcements

120. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives
trainings/reinforcements
that send us out and keep us engaged?

121. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives
trainings/reinforcements
that send us out and keep us engaged?

123. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...

124. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?

125. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment

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

131. Christian futures:
A hopeful
movement

132. What’s
emerging?

133. a conversation
becoming
a movement

134. Some ways to think of the church that is
emerging -
As center a…
a fringe
a stage
a n d a r a n g e.

135. a stage

136. Consider that we live in at least three
worlds.
Emerging world
NOW
Modern world
Pre-modern world
Non-modern world

137. ion
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

138. ion
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

139. New
Paradigm/
ion Model
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

140. New
Paradigm/
ion Model
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

141. The Churches
of Tomorrow
The Churches
that are
emerging
The Churches
We Know

142. The Churches We Love and
Respect
The Churches
of Tomorrow
The Churches
that are
emerging
The Churches
We Know

143. As center

144. Liturgical Social Action
Evangelical Charismatic

145. a fringe

146. Is this “the
emerging
church?”
pentecostal
A new “slice
Anglican of the pie?”
catholic
baptist

147. Or are these
the churches
that are
emerging?
pentecostal
reformed
A new ring on
catholic
the tree…
baptist

148. All must deal
with the
realities of
today’s world
pentecostal
reformed
catholic
baptist PLANET
POVERTY
PEACE
RELIGION

149. emergence and
convergence

150. Conservative
way
Modern
Crisis
Medieval
church
Liberal way
from Nancey Murphy, “Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism”

151. “evangelical”
Modern
Crisis
Medieval
church “mainline”
from Nancey Murphy, “Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism”

152. Increasing Polarization
Conservative way
Medieval church
Modern
Crisis
Liberal way

153. Increasing Polarization
Conservative way
Medieval church
Modern
Crisis
Liberal way

154. The Post-Liberal, Post-Evangelical
Convergence
Conservative way
Medieval church
Modern Postmodern
Crisis Interruption
Liberal way

155. Conservative way
A Generous
Orthodoxy?
Modern
Crisis
A Missional
Liberal way Church?

156. Conservative way
Modern
Crisis
Liberal way

157. At hea! -
a "eological movement seeking to
transform ex#ting in$itutions
ar%nd Jesus’ messa' of "e
kingdom of God

158. Christian futures
and Denominations

159. Christian futures:
A critical choice

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.

166. I’m CONFIDENT ...
Religion is the problem.
Reason is the answer.

167. “I’m not religious, but I’m
spiritual.”
The SNR/Nones ...

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