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toward a new
christian identity
the problem(s) of
christian identity
in a
multi-faith world
what can progressives learn from conservatives?
what can conservatives learn from progressives?
Can we agree:
we all have a lot to learn?
what can progressives learn from conservatives?
1. Conservatives have had a robust and unflagging sense of mission, characterized by
Urgency
Fervency
Flexibility
Saving souls from a sinking ship.
(Titanic as the dominant image)
Planting Churches everywhere.
(More, better, faster, easier)
Developing bold, young, entrepreneurial leaders.
(And setting them free)
Mastering mass(ive) communication.
(Building a mass movement)
[Saving souls from a sinking ship.]
Don’t progressives see apocalyptic scenarios?
Climate change/ecological catastrophe
Growing gap between rich & poor/Triumph of 1 %
Weapons of mass destruction/all against all violence
Recruiting people to save the planet.
[Planting Churches everywhere.]
The Mixed-Economy Denomination
Multiple forms of church
An ecosystem, not a franchise
Transferring assets to “Church Futures Fund”
Enhancing a thriving church ecosystem characterized by fertility, diversity, and
harmony.
[Developing bold, young, entrepreneurial leaders.]
Not cautious, political bureaucrats!
Motivated by results, not security.
Eager to disseminate power, not accumulate it.
Creating leadership paths, not an elite class.
Developing bold, young, entrepreneurial leaders - and supporting them with lifelong learning.
[Mastering mass(ive) communication.]
Multiple networks, media, audiences.
Building hubs of influence, not silos of control.
Creating networks for mutual benefit.
Creating a broad group identity.
Seizing fresh opportunities.
Mastering mass(ive) communication - with a strong-benevolent ethos.
1. Conservatives have had a robust and unflagging sense of mission, characterized by
Urgency
Fervency
Flexibility
2. Conservatives emphasize spiritual experience.
Personal
Initial
Ongoing
Dramatic
Progressives have ranged from intolerant to uncomfortable in the realm of spiritual experience.
The revivalist tradition - or - the contemplative/mystical tradition?
The only options are not hyped or ignored! There is also cultivated, encouraged, expected.
Beware of the “checklist mentality.”
Liturgy is a set of group spiritual practices ...
2. Conservatives emphasize spiritual experience.
Personal
Initial
Ongoing
Dramatic
3. Conservatives practice storytelling.
Testimony
Small Group
Stories of mission in action ...
Stories of spiritual experience ...
3. Conservatives practice storytelling.
Testimony
Small Group
4. Conservatives lift up heroes.
You may not like them, but at least
you know them.
“Conservatives constantly criticize
liberals.”
“So do liberals.”
“Conservatives fear liberal
leaders.”
“So do liberals.”
“Conservatives are obsessed with
conservative leaders.”
“So are liberals.”
4. Conservatives lift up heroes.
5. Conservatives focus on youth.
Youth work is the “gateway drug” to ministry.
Yesterday’s youth workers are today’s conservative
leaders.
Youth ministry must bepersonal
clearcompellingexperiential
relevantcontagious
fun
Youth Ministrypersonalclearcompellingexperientialrelevantcontagiousfun
Senior Ministry:institutionalunoffensive
familiarautomatictraditional
acquired tastesedate
5. Conservatives focus on youth.
mission
spiritual experience
storytelling
heroes
youth
How about it, progressives?
what can conservatives learn from progressives?
1. Progressives know the power of beauty.
Words
Buildings
Art
Music
Action
an Islamic scholar:
“Fundamentalism has succeeded in making Islam ugly.”
Mean isn’t beautiful.
But neither is boring.
Tacky innovation isn’t beautiful.
But neither is tacky tradition.
Hype isn’t beautiful.
But neither is lethargy.
Faddish isn’t beautiful.
But neither is outdated.
Holiness is beautiful.
Reverence is beautiful.
Joy is beautiful.
Honesty is beautiful.
Life is beautiful.
Mystery is beautiful.
Humility is beautiful.
God is beautiful.
1. Progressives know the power of beauty.
Words
Buildings
Art
Music
Action
2. Progressives value tradition.
Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. Tradition lives in conversation with the past, while remembering where we are and when we are and that it is we who have to decide. Traditionalism supposes that nothing should ever be done for the first time, so all that is needed to solve any problem is to arrive at the supposedly unanimous testimony of this homogenized tradition.
–Jaroslav Pelikan, interview with U.S. News & World Report, July 26, 1989 (the interview focused on his book
The Vindication of Tradition)
Dead tradition:Giving our history a veto.
Living tradition:Giving our history a vote.
Two types of tradition:
Repeating what founders said ...
Imitating what founders did ...(including bold innovation!)
Wise tradition is the memory of how our ancestors adapted,
innovated, preserved, reformed, erred, failed, recovered, learned,
and endured.
Our history is a story of change.
Wise tradition is the memory of how our ancestors adapted,
innovated, preserved, reformed, erred, failed, recovered, learned,
and endured.
The best tradition is a failed (i.e. humbled) tradition.
VALUING INNOVATION
VALUING
TRADITION
ANTI-TRADITION
ANTI-INNOVATION
PRO-INNOVATION
ANTI-TRADITION
PRO-TRADITION
PRO-INNOVATION
PRO-TRADITION
ANTI-INNOVATION
2. Progressives value tradition.
3. Progressives aren’t afraid of intellect.
1. Simplicity: dualistic thinking2. Complexity: pragmatic thinking
3. Perplexity: critical & relativistic thinking
1. Simplicity: dualistic thinking2. Complexity: pragmatic thinking
3. Perplexity: critical and relativistic thinking
4. Harmony: integral thinking
0. Egocentricity: narcissistic thinking
1. Simplicity: dualistic thinking2. Complexity: pragmatic thinking
3. Perplexity: critical and relativistic thinking
4. Harmony: integral thinking
3. Progressives aren’t afraid of intellect.
4. Progressives seek justice.
Mercy gives slaves an extra crust of bread.Justice abolishes
slavery.Mercy opens a soup kitchen.
Justice works for opportunity & fair wages.
Mercy speaks for the voiceless.Justice helps all get
a fair hearing for themselves.
Abolition of slaveryEnding racial segregation
Promoting affirmative actionEqual rights for womenOpposing elective wars
Defending scientific inquiryPromoting environmental responsibility
Defending safety net for poorPromoting interfaith understanding
Seeking equality for LGBTQ people
4. Progressives seek justice.
5. Progressives seek the common good.
State churches felt a responsibility for everyone.
Sectarian/immigrant churches cared for their own.
State churches, as majority, protected minorities.
Sectarian/immigrant churches were minorities.
Beware an aggrieved majority.
And beware a majority that thinks it is a minority.
Rediscovering the common good ...
Loving neighbor as self.Including outcast, outsider, immigrant, refugee, and enemy among neighbors.
Seeking reconciliation, not mere victory.Refusing to demonize or scapegoat
anyone.
5. Progressives seek the common good.
beauty
tradition
intellect
justice
common good
How about it, conservatives?
how can conservatives and progressives
better understand each other?
justice compassion
traditionloyaltypurity
justice compassion
traditionloyaltypurity
justice compassion
traditionloyaltypurity