Last week I had a dream. A real, true blue, “while I was sleeping” dream. I welcome your interpretations.
The dream begins with me packing a bunch of stuff into a big back pack. Heavy stuff like books, boxes, I think there was even a candelabra that I had to fit in there. I didn’t like that all this stuff was being jammed into the back pack but I felt strongly that I had to fit it all in. I didn’t even like most of the stuff but I was moving from one place to another and I felt a great pressure to bring it all with me.
Once I had loaded the back pack I struggled to lift it onto my back. My legs quivered under the weight. Eventually I secured the big back pack to my body with several straps and such and put a few last things that I didn’t want getting squished into a smaller bag that I carried in my hands. I then began to walk.
After I had walked a bit I ran into somebody on the street. While we visited the weight of the pack was ever present on my mind and body. Finishing the conversation we parted ways. I walked a little farther only to realize that at some point during my conversation on the street I had put down my small bag of valuable goods . Still quivering under the weight of the heavy pack I retraced my steps and luckily found my small valuable bag where I had left it. Turning around again I marched towards my destination.
The same pattern repeats itself two more times (distraction, put down the important bag, realize later what I’ve done, retrace my steps, all the while struggling to support the weight of this big heavy back pack of books and candles).
The final part of my dream takes place on this epic stair case that I struggle to reach the top of…only to realize that I had forgotten that little bag again!
I woke up from the dream walking back down those stairs. I never did take that heavy back pack off.
So tell me, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
“Come to me you who are weary, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Jesus Christ)
We elect young, fun volunteers with tons of energy to run around with teens. Parents drive and prep the snacks. Youth takes place on a Wednesday or Friday or Saturday night. By Sunday morning the church is restored to its former glory (thanks to a volunteer or two). The pop cans are placed in the recycling box and someone has steam cleaned the carpet for hours to remove the mashed in spaghetti. In fact, it’s like the youth were never there at all.
But what if we did things differently? Picture this: We are a few hot dogs short since jr. high school students helping to prep for Hot Dog Sunday started a food fight. The Pastor motions for the offering plate to be brought forward three times because neither teen usher wants to make the first move towards the front of the sanctuary. The youth room is far too loud while Adult Bible Study is going on next door. There are paint drippings on the parking lot because 15 youth showed up to graffiti an old car the night before. Their plan is to fill the car with donations for the local shelter.
Teen nights are loud, messy, funny and creative. What if same thing happened on Sunday morning? Would it be welcomed with open arms?
Thanks to all those who have commented on this “What if…?” blog. There are many exciting conversations about renewal in the Lutheran church, so many people are passionate about the long term vibrancy and viability of the ELCIC at the national and local level. The contributors of this blog have challenged some conventions and have offered new ideas. Now it’s your turn…
Today I received the October/November issue of the Canada Lutheran. Thanks to the Editor for mentioning this blog and our efforts to inspire healthy renewal in the ELCIC. She wrote:
I was excited recently to hear about an initiative from the Synod of Alberta and the Territories that invites no-holds-barred dialogue. As part of the synod’s renewal efforts, Bishop Ron Mayan has asked a group of creative church members to contribute to a blog (www.abtrenewal.wordpress.com) entitled “What if….” The contributors, all committed to building up the ELCIC, offer creative critique and, ideally, practical solutions to problems facing the synod and the greater church. They are ready to challenge sacred cows for the purpose of moving the denomination forward in Christ. Readers, in turn, can post their comments and expand the discussion.
Growing denominations are denominations with a multiplication strategy. The Apostle Paul started churches with ordinary people in towns he visited throughout his missionary journeys. Is church multiplication about to stop with us?
Consider the efforts of the Assemblies of God church, they’ve passed some resolutions to put church multiplication front and centre. Here is an excerpt from a recent article:
“The number of AG churches that are using multi-site strategies to increase their ministry scope has grown dramatically over the past few years,” [Steve Pike] said, according to the denomination.
The jump coincides with the explosion of multi-site churches across all churches in the country. Researchers from the Leadership Network estimate there are currently 3,000 multi-sites, up from 300 in the year 2000.
Recognizing the success and potential of the multi-site methodology, the Assemblies of God has scheduled events and training beginning this month to educate members about the new strategy and equip them to become Parent Affiliated Churches.
“We already have plans for four boot camps designed specifically for PAC/multi-site churches for next year,” said Leo Crosby, marketing and communications director for the Church Multiplication Network.
The new multi-site push is part of the Assemblies of God’s effort to become a church planting and church multiplication movement. The Church Multiplication Network was formed in 2007 to encourage churches across the denomination to work together and plant as many churches as possible.
Learn more about Church Multiplication Network created by the Assemblies of God. The “Church Multiplication Network collaborates with church multipliers to effectively equip, strategically fund and innovatively network new faith communities.”
What if we created a department that championed a vision of growth and church multiplication?
Now you can subscribe to “What if…?” ABT Renewal Blog and get email updates with the very latest. Click on the link here, or to the right. Let’s keep asking the “What if…?” questions!
Is it possible that people outside of the ELCIC have good ideas to share with us? What if we invited in people with experience and education to help the ELCIC find its feet again? Could we ask new leaders to come and serve among us (perhaps even people from non-Lutheran corners of the Kingdom)? We need to open the doors for those who come from the outside – recognizing that we don’t have all the answers. Right now we have a KEEP OUT sign on the ELCIC when it comes to attracting new leaders. What if that was to change? Read the rest of this entry »
Most would agree that the UK is now very much a post-Christian nation. Christians in the UK are having to rebuild the Church from the ground up, and their desire for renewal is truly inspiring. Consider for a moment that The Alpha Course and Christianity Explored are two British innovations in Christian education, outreach and evangelism. Perhaps it would be worth a look at how believers in a post-Christian nation are rebuilding and even thriving in their changing cultural climate. We Canadians are not far behind – do we have a plan for rebuilding the church, or are we just holding on and hoping our out-dated strategies will carry us through the next decade. Below is a photo of an abandoned old church in Paris I stumbled across a couple years ago. A timely reminder that Christ-centered renewal and ministry innovation is essential. History reveals two options: deep change or slow death. Read the rest of this entry »
It has been fun blogging. Writing, reading and commenting. I am starting to wonder . . . what comes next. The intention that began a process that led to this blog was “How can we create a space for aconversation about renewal? How do we create a space where God’s renewing spirit can flow?” (or at least something along those lines).
So I am now wondering what next. How does the conversation grow? Perhaps a conversation that all are invited to at Pastor Study conference? Perhaps conversations over coffee? Perhaps an invitation to new writers? I don’t know.
For now I am drinking coffee waiting and watching for the spirit to blow. I swear I can feel a slight breeze on my neck. So I am just wondering which way the wind is blowing so we can set the sails.
It is no secret that seminary education in the mainline church is facing tremendous challenges. Fewer people enrolling, tighter budgets, and so on. Those challenges make us ask the big question, is Lutheran seminary education properly forming the leaders needed for today’s church?
I recently read a remarkably inspiring article by Leonard Sweet, written as the forward for a book by Carl Savage and William Presnell. It is called, “18 Rungs in The New Ladder of Learning.” You can find the article online here. In the article, Sweet offers 18 “transformations that are changing the nature of how we prepare leaders for the church.” Many of the ideas directly challenge how our seminaries currently operate – numbers 8, 9, and 14 seem particularly poignant. I found this article to be very cogent and concise – a helpful tool for examining norms in the ELCIC.
I would like to know, what do you think of Sweet’s offerings? Which point seemed particularly inspiring for you? Please post your comments below.
Why is it that we so often fear the change that may make things not only different, but better? I think that we really do not believe that change is possible. We know the power of habit and the comfort of the usual, but change could bring a whole new level of understanding, of cooperation, of happiness. All of our powers of thought, science, theology, passion, and grit have brought us to where we now find ourselves; might they not also be used to bring about a whole new world. We must believe in the possibility of change if we want change to be a possibility in our lives. If we feel we are powerless and hopeless and we cannot see a way out, we are most to be pitied. But if we cannot put up with the way things are now (decreasing membership, biblical illiteracy, conflict) what is to stop us from doing a major makeover of what we are as church. Only believing that change is really possible…
We're asking the big "What if...?" questions about the Synod of Alberta and the Territories in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. It's more than a conversation, we hope to be part of God's action!
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