Ancient Wisdom—Anglican Futures an emerging conversation at Trinity June 4-6, 2009

To all my anglican buds.

here is a conference hosted by Jason Clark

and for Anglicans, reimagining the church, for an emergent and younger generation.. There was a great host of teachers, including my very own Dr. Sumner from Wycliffe.

They set up a blog for the event here check it out to see what was said.
http://ancientwisdomanglicanfutures.blogspot.com/

cheers

Middle Age

People tell me that 30 is the new 2o and that middle age is 65. Let me push back and say, ' who wants to chase kids around the playground at 5o?'- DAD or GRANDPA?- neither. There is a time of life for everything, and not all things in life can be done anytime. I have always been one who both is amazed at how much I have done in life AND how much I have missed. I am too old for the olympics, for climbing everest, for travelling without kids.....(maybe someday lord).

I know people who struggle to have kids because they have found that 40 is too old. Seniors who feel as lively as when they were 20, but can't walk or run because of health problems......

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE? .......LIVE IT!

I have been observing lately that if you want to build something, a career, a house or a church. Do it while you are young. It is amazing to see that even those ol' guys with lots of life left hit 50 and something changes. The drive to do it in your 50's is not there. In your 50's you want to enjoy the fruit of your labour, tell someone else how to do it, or better yet....consult. Building is for your 30's maybe 40's so get a move on.... OLD MAN.

SEX and money

So, I have been listening to a buddies sermon at rechurch and he makes the comment that churches don't mind talking about money, but don't really ever talk about sex.
So....

I propose a new contract for churches.. If you want to talk about openly about money. Talk just as openly about Sex. AND i propose a contract.....preach them, teach them, admonish them in equal amounts.

Church Planting Thought #1

Now I have had a hard time distinguishing it is my pride, or my desire for progress that thinks things, especially churches should grow. I really like it when things grow. By growth I mean: numerically, in spiritual health-meaning broken people becoming healed, and in churches that plant churches. That seems healthy.

There are those that believe that what a church is-it is. If it is a church of 40 then that is it. I tend to think that there are reasons for it being a church of 40. Now let me be clear, a small church does not mean an unhealthy church. I am of the opinion the world needs more churches and different churches. BUT, the argument you often hear from small churches is.....well every church doesn't have to be a mega church. I tend to agree. Regardless, my observations would say, a church of 40 is unlikely to survive past 1 generation.

That means once the founding pastor resigns, that church will likely fold for a number of reasons. The leadership of a small church requires a greater burden on the pastor to be bivocational. A small church is not able to support a pastor. Secondly, a small church really gets built around the pastor and transitioning to a new leader is extremely difficult. Now a church closing, I have come to realize, is not the end of the world, but....

If a church wants to be around for successive generations needs to have a size of at least 100. Many say 150 is a 'critical mass'. Small churches if they are concerned about their community, about the people that depend on them, should be planning either grow, or be prepared to transition the community into a place where the long term care of the community can be provided aka. help them go elsewhere.

feel free to comment, this is about refining thoughts.