This is a presentation from the Episcopal Church

1. the episcopal
moment: faith
and our future

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

4. New
Paradigm/
it ion Model
s
Tran
L ate
it ion
ra ns
Old yT
rl
Ea
Paradigm/
Model

5. New
Paradigm/
it ion Model
s
Tran
L ate
it ion
ra ns
Old yT
rl
Ea
Paradigm/
Model

6. ?
New
Paradigm/
it ion
s
Tran Model
L ate
it ion
ra ns
Old yT
rl
Ea
Paradigm/
Model

7. What will the
church of the
future look like?
?

8. ?
What will it look
like?
What will we create,
with God’s help?

11. As Episcopalians, you have unique
disadvantages
and
advantages
in this moment

12. Advantages
1. A Via Media Mindset:
Many Anglicans never fully surrendered to modern
rationalism: openness to mysticism, experience
2. A Celtic Mindset:
Vestiges of non-Roman Christianity
3. A Diverse Mindset:
Space to differ
4. A Liturgical Mindset:
Space to experience God, bonding to
meaning, beauty of worship, participatory

13. Disadvantages
1. An Upper-Class Mindset:
Elitist, “civilized,” uniform, one-size fits all,
propriety
2. An Institutional Mindset:
Centralized, controlled, change-resistant, risk
averse, bureaucratic - averse to charismatic
leadership
3. A Christendom Mindset:
Parish/geography, people ought to come to us
4. A Bi-polar Mindset:
Cold-war: Liberal-conservative

14. Advantages Disadvantages
1. A Via Media 1. An Upper-Class
Mindset: Mindset:
2. A Celtic 2. An Institutional
Mindset:
Mindset:
3. A Christendom
3. A Diverse Mindset:
Mindset:
4. A Bi-polar
4. A Liturgical Mindset:
Mindset:

15. Needed:
1. A “bring them in” spirit (not merely
welcoming within a caste): Diversity,
innovation
Welcoming all seekers …
Inviting friends, relatives, associates,
neighbors …
What would it take for you to be
excited about inviting your
friends to church? What
embarrasses or concerns you?

16. Needed:
2. A “let’s experiment” spirit (not institutional):
Entrepreneurial, self-organizing, evolutionary,
experimental
-- Adding experiments (for 4-8 weeks)
-- Adding new services
-- Planting new congregations (inside existing?)
-- Adding new models or examples (Fresh
Expressions, Anglimergent)
Who says “no” to new ideas? Who can
say “yes?” Who can bring new ideas?

17. Needed:
3. A “we’re beginning again” spirit (renewing,
not conserving, a history):
Rummage sale … “total makeover” … “clean
house”
Would you rather be motivated by desperate
necessity … or surging creativity?
What would your church look like if it could
seize the possibility of a total makeover?

18. Needed:
4. A “transcend and include” spirit: (above
liberal or conservative)
Where is the via media?
A C B

19. Needed:
4. An “transcend and include” spirit: (above
liberal or conservative)
Where is the via media?
X
A C B

20. Needed:
4. An “transcend and include” spirit: (above
liberal or conservative)
Where is the via media?
X
A C B

21. Needed:
4. An “transcend and include” spirit: (above
liberal or conservative)
Which future do you prefer?
X
A C B

22. Do not merely try to bring others to
where you are, as wonderful as that
is.
But do not leave them where they are
either.
Instead, go with them to a place
neither of you have never been.
Fr. Vincent Donovan (adapted)

23. Needed:
1. A “bring them in” spirit (not merely
welcoming within a caste): Diversity,
innovation
2. A “let’s experiment” spirit (not institutional):
Entrepreneurial, self-organizing,
evolutionary, experimental
3. A “we’re beginning again” spirit (renewing,
not conserving, a history): Demography,
adaptive, agile
4. A “transcend and include” spirit: (above
liberal or conservative) … PLUS …

24. Needed:
5. The Holy Spirit!

25. Needed:
5. The Holy Spirit!
People aren’t seeking religion - they’re
seeking spirituality.
You can’t give what you don’t have. (you
have to smoke what you’re selling)
People need to experience - God, worship,
transformation, calling, belonging,
participation in God’s creative and healing
mission in our world …
Are you eager to become a “sample” of what
God wants to do in the lives of others?

26. Needed:
1. A bring-them in spirit:
2. A let’s experiment spirit:
3. A we’re beginning again spirit:
4. A transcend and include spirit:
5. The Holy Spirit …
OK … but how?

28. This isn’t about a program.
It’s not just something to add to your
budget.
What if it were as simple as the passion
and the commitment to set an
example?

29. What if this all came down to …
your
example?

38. There are many reasons to
compare our churches to an
old male tortoise …

39. There are many reasons to
compare our churches to an old
male tortoise …
Slow-moving … isolated …
Ancient-looking
withdrawn in its shell … won’t stick
its neck out

40. There are
many
reasons to
compare the
changes in
our world to a
tsunami …

41. There are many reasons to
compare the emerging global
culture to an orphaned hippo …
Orphaned by modern
religion …
modern science … modern
government …
mdoern economy … technology
… consumerism… “progress”…

43. 1. What emotion do you feel in response
to these presentations?
2. What one idea do you most want to
take away and consider with others in
your congregation?
3. How would you complete this
sentence: I have faith that in our future,
with God’s help, our church can ...