Comments on: Belief, Practices, and Re-Thinking Church http://onlywonder.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/ Reflections on faith and life by Jay Voorhees Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:35:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: John Flowers http://onlywonder.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1658 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:22:33 +0000 http://onlywonder.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1658 I have been a pastor for 34 years and this discussion about Peterson’s writing is some of the best, most insightful I have known. I have long ago realized that the church is not crated to be a hospital for sinners, more like a medical school that trains wounded healers (Nouwen). There is power in bringing our wounds to the blog. Thanks for allowing me to overhear the gospel (Craddock) in your writings.

]]> By: Jonathon Norman http://onlywonder.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1628 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:32:14 +0000 http://onlywonder.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1628 Great post Jay. Me thinks you are right on!

]]> By: dogearedpreacher http://onlywonder.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1599 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:28:23 +0000 http://onlywonder.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1599 I am always skeptical when I hear companies talk about rebranding. Perhaps re-missioning is a more appropriate term for us.

]]> By: Larry http://onlywonder.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1584 Fri, 29 May 2009 15:58:59 +0000 http://onlywonder.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/belief-practices-and-re-thinking-church/#comment-1584 Jay,
This is one of the more thoughtful critiques of Rethink Church and one that should spark a constructive conversation about what exactly we should do if we seriously rethink United Methodism. In fact, I personally have given considerable thought to the deeper issues that we need to consider, and don’t think the marketing direction we’re taking is sufficient, not because it’s wrong, but because marketing isn’t an adequate platform for considering the theological foundations for authentic faith community. After the national AP article broke yesterday featuring Rethink Church I started to write some of my thoughts. However, it became clear I was beginning a book, not a blog post.

Your post raises deeper theological questions than marketing can address. What is the nature of faith community, and faithful community, in the 21st. Century? How will that community constitute itself and express its faithfulness? What will faith mean in an age of cafeteria choices? How do we manage the worship practices that are faithful to the the historic traditions of the church while also trying to be relevant and engaging with those who have no knowledge of them?

In the AP article a professor of religion views the marketing inadequate to attract a younger audience precisely because mainline tradition holds fast to traditional worship, worship which he thinks will turn off “progressive young adults.” It’s too easy to critique the marketing but overlook the fundamental challenge of doing theology in this age of great change. This is why I believe the marketing content cannot adequately analyze and address the deeper motivations and meaning that are in the minds and hearts of those who are seeking a relationship with God, and hopefully with a community of faith. This can only be addressed in a community by those who lovingly listen and respond to each other, and who inform themselves of the traditions and their meaning.

If we risk not addressing these questions, then your concern will come to pass. But the danger is not limited to the marketing. The danger is in the quality of congregational life. If we do not study, pray and explore the meaning of worship, we will surely accommodate to the culture in the least helpful way and become another stop on the journey through the spiritual cafeteria.

It’s instructive that the Greek Orthodox Church is seeing a growing number of young families returning to worship and church life. The church probably hasn’t changed its liturgy in hundreds of years, yet it’s attracting a new group of younger persons. What might that tell us?

Your thoughtfulness in this post is a welcome invitation to deeper theological reflection about who we are as a community in all our diversity and, equally, within a particular tradition that informs us and shapes us.

Thanks for this thinking.

Larry

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