The Church Moving Forward Presented by Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Sept. 24, 2014

The Church Moving Forward

Presented by Rev. Dr. Christine ChakoianFirst Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest

Sept. 24, 2014

Here It Comes…

How to move a 100-year-old church

*National Geographic Channel, “Monster Moves” - 2007

http://youtu.be/tfXm2eJxXII

The Changing Landscape

It’s harder than it used to be for churches to move forward.A storm of culturalchange is alteringthe landscape ofAmerican life.

The Changing Landscape“The World is a Global Village”

*From May 18, 1960 CBC TV Exploration Program

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7WXagEHFFI

The Changing Landscape“nearly every aspect of life will change, from the minutiae of daily lives to more fundamental questions about identity, relationships and even our security.”

*The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business

The Changing Landscape1) Changes in day-to-day life…

The Changing LandscapeFast forward to today…

1910 2010

The Changing Landscape2a) Changes to institutions: retailers

The Changing Landscape2b) Changes to institutions: entertainment

The Changing Landscape2c) Changes to institutions: corporate

The Changing Landscape2d) Changes to institutions: governments & non-profits

The Changing Landscape3) Changes to the church



Let’s get on with it…

Cryptomnesiacrypto = hidden or secret+ mnesia = memory

When our brains trick us into thinking we’re encountering something new when in reality we’ve been there before.

The Early Christians’ Brave New World


Christianity spread thanks to the road-building efforts of the Greco-Roman Empire.


People were connected from the Pacific to the Atlantic Coasts.


“The sense of isolation, rootlessness and insecurity was … strong enough to set people looking for a rule of life which would give them a sense of inward security and stability.”

—Historian A.H. Armstrong

The Early Christians’ Brave New World Ostia, the harbor city

of Ancient Romein addition to houses,

offices, workshops and laundries, the city

boasted an astonishing array of religious buildings


Navigating the new complex terrain through:

2) Figuring out polity

3) Becoming savvy cultural interpreters

4) Honoring each other’s ministry

1) Careful theological sifting


Careful theological siftingdiscerning what was central and what was not from their inherited faith


Figuring out polity how to discern what to do and who had authority to decide— authority wasn’t always clear


Becoming savvy cultural interpreters i.e. Paul didn’t just debate in the synagogue, he also went into the city square

The Early Christians’ Brave New World Honoring each other’s ministry they didn’t compete against each other … they honored each other because the good news of the gospel was far more essential than their differences

Part II: Moving Forward

Instead of being “stuck,” early Christians moved forward:• From clinging to everything to sorting what matters;

• From being insular to reaching out to the world

• From hierarchal authority to shared authority in a “flattened world;”

• From perpetual conflict to honoring our differences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfXm2eJxXII


Sifting Our Inheritance: What to Keep and What to Let Go


Discussion:•Have you every inherited things from a grandparent or parent?•What did you do with them?•How did you decide what to keep, give away or throw away?•What was the experience like?


Our Generation Requires Discernment

Esse — essential vs Adiaphora —indifferent things


Small Group Discussion:Think of the earliest church you were part of—the first memories you have of church.•What people, experiences or places did you love and cherish?•What made them special to you?


Sorting Our Inheritance: The First ChristiansWhere They Worshipped


Sorting Our Inheritance: The First ChristiansHow They Worshipped


Sorting Our Inheritance: The First ChristiansWhat was kept?


Small Group Discussion:•What in worship for you is essential—that is, it wouldn’t be worship without it?•Twenty-five years from now, what would you hope that your children/grandchildren would cherish in worship?


Sorting Our Inheritance: Old vs New


Sorting Our Inheritance: esse to worship•Scripture and interpretation•Prayers•Communion•Baptism


Sorting Our Inheritance: adiaphora to worship•Music•Room design•Leaders’ garb•Worship guides


Small Group Discussion:•What of your worship experience is OK if it isn’t still here 25 years from now?

Get specific!


Sorting Our Inheritance: belief and behavior


Sorting Our Inheritance: belief and behavior


Small Group Discussion:•What’s one essential Christian belief or behavior for you?•Twenty-five years from now, what would you hope that your children/grandchildren would cherish in worship?


Sorting Our Inheritance: adiaphora among early believers

*Nonkosher *Food offered to idols


Sorting Our Inheritance: how early believers decided on food1. Revelation to Peter

2. Revelation discerned in community

3. Coming to shared conclusion

4. Ruling challenged

5. Ruling holds with concern for the weak

6. (Over time) Clear that food wasn’t essential


Small Group Discussion:•What area of not-terribly controversial Christian behavior or belief have you seen change through this kind of discernment over your lifetime?


Sorting Our Inheritance: how early believers decided on circumcision1. Revelation to Peter

2. Revelation discerned in community

3. Coming to shared conclusion


5. Ruling holds with concern for the weak

6. (Over time) Clear that circumcision wasn’t essential


Sorting Our Inheritance: true for early believers and us

1. Revelation

2. Discerned in community

3. Shared conclusion


5. Concern for the weak

6. Eventual Resolution

Part II: Moving ForwardWorship, Behavior and Belief: Sorting What’s Essential Today“We in the institutional church have loved many things more than we’ve loved God. We love our camps, our stained glass windows, our pipe organs, our Sunday School traditions, our buildings, our women’s groups, our pastors, and our hymnals more than we’ve loved God. This makes Jesus slap his hand to his head.”

—Jan Edmiston, associate executive presbyterPresbytery of Chicago

Part II: Moving ForwardSmall Group Discussion:

Think of a particular issue facing your church.•How might you apply this approach in your own context?•Who would be involved?•Who would throw up barriers? How might you overcome them?•What would this look like?

Part II: Moving ForwardThere will ALWAYS be things over which we disagree, yet we agree on so much that we received from our “mother church.”

Perhaps that should not surprise us.It is the tenacious love of God, the wondrous grace of Jesus Christ, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the building up of community … these are esse that shall endure forever.

Documents

The Church Moving Forward Presented by Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Sept. 24, 2014