Yesterday was the ‘Future Church’ forum run by the Church of Christ youth crew here in WA. Scott, who ran the day describes it like this:
1. The Future of Youth / Kids Ministry
2. Discipleship the Jesus way
3. Incarnational versus Attractional Model
4. (in case we had time which we didn’t) Success and how it’s measured.
Also on the vote board were –
Leadership and it’s various expressions
Finance Stewardship and use of resources
What is Church?
Overall I enjoyed the day and reckon it was a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation between different parts of the church. But I left puzzled and maybe a little concerned at the lack of real future thinking we were able to do, as well as the absence of serious debate. We seemed to get bogged on much of the same stuff that often gets knocked around on days like these.
I actually expected that my own paper would launch a few hand grenades into the crowd and catalyse some more fiesty discussion, but it didn’t transpire that way either. I intentionally wrote some fairly polarising things to try and evoke a response and create the debate that we seem reluctant to have.
As I reflected later I can see several reasons why this may not have happened. So here are a few thoughts:
– People are less open in big groups. In fact it can be scary to speak in big groups. Simple social dynamics. Next time it’d be good to break into smaller groups.
– When someone speaks with a bit of passion you may feel a bit wary of pushing back because it could get you engaged in more than you bargained for. One thing I learnt personally is that the best way to generate discussion is probably not to ‘pick a fight’. Most people don’t want a fight and shy from conflict – and we Christians more than most! I would write a different paper next time round – more questioning and less direct.
– I am now an ‘older guy’ with a fair bit of experience and I can handle myself fairly well in a large group. I remember being at youth forums like this when older guys spoke and I was reluctant to ever speak against them or question them, because I lacked confidence. Good on ya James for throwing your two bobs worth in.
– Some people wouldn’t feel at all confident speaking to these issues either from a knowledge base, or because they would not be able to see them from where they stand. I am completely amazed at how I see church and mission these days now that I am no longer leading a church of three or four hundred people. Where you stand determines what you see. Obviously that applies to me as much as to anyone else.
– Most of us aren’t wired that well to think futuristically. We are beings of the now and its hard to think outside of worlds as we know them.
Of the day itself, Scott said:
No one seemed to go there, too scary? Maybe we just don’t care? Maybe the comment about future planning is at ‘0’. Meaning we don’t plan further ahead than tomorrow as it all changes too quick.
Ob1 said:
I’d be interested to hear some other points of view.
As I reflect on the ‘incarnational / attractional’ question reality is that you could look at communities that embrace either ideal and see flaws. You can find weaknesses in an attractional scheme and you can find nonsense happening in an incarnational group.
There are things a large church can do that a small group can’t. There are things a small group can do that a large group can’t. Blah blah blah…
However I do think we need to come back to some questions of why we do what we do and the theology that undergirds it.
