1. we need a theology of
institutions & movements

2. Institutions:
Organizations which
conserve the gains made
by past social movements.

3. Social Movements
Organizations which call
current institutions to make
progress towards new
gains. (Or to resist
proposed changes)

4. Both movements and
institutions...
Cherish traditions
Can lean conservative or
progressive
Organize for their purpose
Need one another
Are frustrated with one
another

5. Without movements ...
Institutions stagnate ...
Without institutions ...
Movements evaporate ...

6. Some movements
successfully inject their
values into the institutions
they challenge
Other movements
create their own institutions,
or pass away

7. Vital movements
call people to passionate,
sacrificial personal
commitment
Sustainable institutions
create loyalty across
generations through
evocative rituals & traditions

8. What are the downsides of
institutions? What are the
signs of institutions gone
bad?
What are the downsides of
movements? What are the
signs of movements gone
wild?

9. What are the differences
between institution founders
and defenders/preservers?
What are the differences
between movement
founders and defenders/
preservers?

10. Did Jesus start a movement
or an institution or both?
What institutions did Jesus
challenge? How?
What was his goal in “I will
build my ecclesia?”

11. Paul? Anthony? Benedict? Francis and
Claire? Luther? Calvin? Wesley?

12. What kinds of personal
commitments do movements
invite? How do they solicit and
maintain commitment?
What kinds of personal
commitments do institutions
invite, and how do they solicit and
maintain them?

13. Catholic movements
Ecclesiolae en ecclesia
Protestants as protestors
Protestant movements and
institutions

14. What is the status of our
Christian movements
today?
What is the status of our
Christian institutions?
How are they interacting?

15. Movements are not only
progressive.
Institutions are not only
conservative.

16. 1960’s-1970’s:
Progressive movements
rise, gain contested institutional control.
MLP Institutional Distress
1980’s - 2010’s:
Conservative movements rise,
seek renewed institutional control
... or division.

17. we need a theology of
institutions & movements

18. From Greg Leffel
Faith Seeking Action: Mission
and Social Movements

19. Movements unite people to create or resist change.
Through them, individuals seek a common voice to
challenge, social, political, economic and cultural powers;
movements, in fact, multiply the power of individual action
through their unique form of collective, non-institutional
power. (47-48)
Social movements are non-institutionally organized human
collectives, that put meaningful ideas in play in public
settings, that actively confront existing powers through the
strength of their numbers and the influence of their ideas,
and that grow in size and power by inspiring others to act, in
order to create or resist change (48)
A movement is “a segmented, usually polycephalus cellular
organization composed of unites networked by various
personal, structural, and ideological ties. (50)

20. It takes collective, non-institutional
(or prophetic) power to bring
change to institutions.
You can’t change the center/inside/
priestly without proposals and
pressure from the margins/outside/
prophetic.

21. Movements are diagnostic, prognostic,
and motivational (51)
- They say what’s wrong
- They say what’s needed
- They motivate and mobilize for
concerted action.

22. Movements are context dependent.
In certain periods, fundamental
contradictions in a society’s core
understanding of itself create the possibility
of widespread and socially disruptive
change. (52)
Movements exploit opportunity:
1. An active interest among elites in
changing the political structure
2. Conflicts or corruption within elites
3. Events that weaken established social
control (war, disaster, economic collapse)

23. Leffel’s 6 Characteristics of Vibrant Social
Movements

24. 1. Opportunity Structure
Current restraining realities ...
in tension with ...
emerging opportunities.

25. Opportunities:
- Problems needing to be solved
- Elites who hold power, resist change
or promote negative change
- Fissures, Problems among elites that
make the status quo vulnerable
- Values of the movement in conflict
with values of elites
- Potential advocates and allies in
academic, civil society, arts, church,
government, business, science, etc.

26. 2. Rhetorical Framing/Conceptual
Architecture
Movement leaders have to make a conceptual and verbal
case for their movement by answering questions like these:
How do we redefine reality?
How do we disrupt or change current realities?
How do we name our grievances? Articulate our positive
vision for the way forward?
How do we motivate and sustain dissatisfaction with the
status quo, and affection for our shared vision?
How do we justify our aims in terms of 5 lines of moral
argument (Jonathan Haidt): justice, compassion, tradition,
loyalty, and purity?
How is the movement liberating? (liberal)
How is the movement conserving? (conservative)

27. 3. Protest (messaging) strategy
Raising awareness, attracting growing numbers of
participants
Campaigns, tactics, deployments, making demands,
public relations, sustaining conflict, forcing a crisis,
managing internal tensions, managing stigmatization,
showing results, maintaining momentum, not overreacting,
defining acceptable level of disruption,
- Gaining attention - demonstrations, sit-ins, teach-ins, etc.
- Building Networks of Participants and Allies
- Wisely Identifying and Engaging Opponents
Movements must be convergent (creating broad, vigorous
alliances) and insurgent (confronting real problems upheld
by elites and the systems that privilege them).

28. 4. Mobilization Structures & Strategies
- Authority and Decision-Making Structures
- Transparency/Confidentiality, Communication Plans
- Leadership development, Relational Development, Conflict
Management Plans
- Coalition development
- Resource, Technology, Finance Mobilization and
Management
- Evangelism, recruitment, induction
- Renewal and Increase of commitment
- Awareness of levels of commitment (core, activists,
supporters, listeners, opposition, indirect impact, unaware

29. 4. Mobilization Structures & Strategies
Jesus and the 12
- Intense time of modeling, relationship building and vision
sharing
- Contagious passion
- Periodic sending and returning
- Final sending/Succession insured
- Warnings of expected trials, failures, conflicts
- “Polycephalic” structure - connection without control
- Self-organizing units
- Welcoming of new leaders (Paul)
- Reproducible expansion
- Both individual agency and group agency (Paul, Philip,
Antioch)
- Both planning and spontaneity

30. 5. Movement Culture
“Movements are about changing a
society’s lifeway; a movement itself
becomes an experimental field where a
new way of life can be, to some degree,
experienced and where the movement’s
ideals, values and common vision are
put to the test.” (61)

31. 5. Movement culture
- Emotional vibe (fun, serious, angry,
playful, heady, gutsy, etc.)
- Feel of spaces, physical and digital
- Songs, slogans
- Virtues, values, moral ethos
- Dress, Graphics,
- Nicknames, terminology
- Emotion, motivation, motion

32. 6. Participant Biography
How does involvement benefit - or harm -
participants? How does the movement promote
emotional and social sustainability ... avoiding
burnout, squabbles, etc.
How does it contribute to personal formation:
- character
- attitudes
- knowledge
- recovery from trauma
- relationships
- renewal
What do participants gain from being involved?

33. 1. Opportunity Structure
2. Rhetorical framing
3. Protest (messaging) strategy
4. Mobilization strategy
5. Movement culture
6. Participant Biography

34. Jesus says the kingdom of God is like
gardening (an organic movement) not
warfare (institutional action): It spreads
through seeds ... sown into systems to
grow.
The seeds of the message.
The seeds of people who personally embody the
message.
The seeds of communities who socially embody
the message.

35. Jesus seizes the opportunity
structure provided by
conflicted elites (Pharisees/
Sadducees; Herodians/
Zealots) and struggling
masses (Galilee/Judea)

36. He provides rhetorical framing on
hillsides, in houses, on retreats, in
public teach-ins, in debates,
through parables, through rituals
and practices. He repeats key
themes - commonwealth of God,
life to the full, life of the ages,
liberation - rooted in dynamic
tension with tradition.

37. His protest (messaging) strategy
includes public demonstrations
(healings & miracles), teach-ins
(sermon on mount), civil
disobedience (turning tables),
guerilla theatre (exorcisms),
festivals (feasts & feedings), naming
evil (woes), naming heroes
(blessings).

38. He develops a mobilization
strategy based on 3, 12, 70, and
multitudes. He entrusts freely
with responsibility and
expresses high confidence in his
agents (greater things shall you
do ...)

39. He associates his
movement culture with
love, joy, justice, risk,
hope, creativity, courage,
service, willingness to
suffer, nonviolence.

40. He provides his disciples
challenge, rest, retreat,
encouragement, recovery after
failures. They testify that their
participant biographies have
been forever changed for the
better.

41. we need a theology of
institutions & movements

48. Do not merely try to bring others to
where you are, as wonderful as that
place might be.
But do not leave them where they are
either.
Instead, go with them to a place
neither you nor they have ever been
before.
Fr. Vincent Donovan (adapted)

50. What is being done?

51. 1. Creating marginal
zones for far-reaching
experimentation.
Using your polity to support
missional ecclesiologies working
on new economic/training/
support/connection models.

52. your polity
missional ecclesiologies
new economic models
new training models
new support/connection models.

53. 2. Sequestering funds for
these new lines of
ministry.

54. 3. Attracting new people
in new ways to the new
zone.
“Bring in a new day with new
people.”
New leaders, new members

55. 4. Thinking garden, not
tree.

56. 5. Thinking in terms of
refounding, not
preserving, renewing,
or restoring.
Truly Protestant, truly
catholic

57. 6. Thinking differently
about denominational
identity and ethos:
Calvin’s creative example
Reformed as edgy (not stodgy)
Presbyterian as empowering (not
bureaucratic)

58. Liturgical Social Action
Evangelical Charismatic

59. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

60. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Emerging
Ethos?
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

61. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Emerging
Ethos?
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

62. Constricting Prosperity-Gospel Combative
Evangelicals Pentecostals Fundamentalists
Emerging
Ethos?
Nostalgic Mainline Contracting Roman
Protestants Catholics
Elite Eastern
Orthodox

64. this
convergence
creates
emergence

65. a new
spiritual
identity

66. Not
Militant Religious Right
Institutional Religious Left

67. Not
Militant Religious Right
Institutional Religious Left
But
Evangelical passion mixed with
progressive social vision of
common good, “beloved
community”

68. Not
Conservative anti-science bias
Old Liberal anti-spiritual bias

69. Not
Conservative anti-science bias
Old Liberal anti-spiritual bias
But
Both pro-learning and pro-
spirituality

70. Not
Strong Hostile Identity
Weak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...

71. Not
Strong Hostile Identity
Weak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...
But
Strong, theologically-rooted
benevolent spiritual identity as
neighbors, peacemakers

72. Not
Jesus as weapon
Jesus as embarrassment

73. Not
Jesus as weapon
Jesus as embarrassment
But
Jesus as bringer of good news of
the kingdom of God

74. A lot depends on the emergence
Liturgical Social Action
of
Evangelical this Charismatic
new identity.

75. 6. Thinking differently
about denominational
identity and ethos:
Think bigger than
Presbyterian/Reformed
to Mainstream
Protestant;

76. 6. Think bigger than
Mainstream Protestant,
to (???) Christian;

77. 6. Think bigger than
Christian, to disciples of
Jesus.

78. 6. Think bigger than
disciples of Jesus, to
Kingdom of God/New
Creation.

79. 7. Trust and move with
the Holy Spirit.

86. Do not merely try to bring others to
where you are, as wonderful as that
place might be.
But do not leave them where they are
either.
Instead, go with them to a place
neither you nor they have ever been
before.
Fr. Vincent Donovan (adapted)

87. Where do you see the
most momentum?
Where do you see the
biggest obstacles?
What do you “hear” in
your heart?

89. Christian futures:
Mission and Social
Justice

90. What is the question taking
The Human
shape inside the
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
“spiritual but not religious?”
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

91. “Can you accept me where I am
and gently, wisely lead me
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
to a better way of life
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
so I can play my part
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
in building a better world?”
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

92. spiritual emptiness corrupt leadership
poverty disease ignorance hunger
and malnutrition climate change
conflicts Financial Instability Water/
emergencies
Sanitation subsidies/trade barriers
population/ migration communicable
GLOBAL
diseases education governance/
corruption hunger education
FOUR
gender inequality child mortality
maternal health environmental
sustainability ethnic conflicts
terrorism weapons of mass
destruction organized crime networks
energy demands clean water
population growth authoritarian
regimes

93. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Framing Story

94. Compiling and integrating the
lists of global emergencies...
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
1. Planet
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
2. Poverty
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
3. Peace
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
4. Religion
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

95. How do Presbyterian followers
of Christ engage their
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
communities with each crisis?
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
1. Planet
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
2. Poverty
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
3. Peace
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
4. Religion
1
2
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

96. Planet ...
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

97. Poverty ...
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

98. Peace
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

99. Religion
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant

100. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Framing Story

101. Ivan Illich (Austrian
former priest,
philosopher, social
critic, 1926-2002)

103. Neither [violent] revolution nor
[political] reformation can ultimately
change a society, rather you must tell
a new powerful tale, one so
persuasive that it sweeps away the
old myths and becomes the preferred
story …

105. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.

106. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.

107. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,
philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)

109. What are our shared

110. What are our shared
values/beliefs

111. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits

112. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives

113. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives
trainings/reinforcements

114. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives
trainings/reinforcements
that send us out and keep us engaged?

115. What are our shared
values/beliefs
behaviors/habits
projects/initiatives
trainings/reinforcements
that send us out and keep us engaged?

117. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...

118. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?

119. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment

120. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying

121. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships

122. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
DIY mission support

123. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
DIY mission support
Demonstration/civil disobedience

124. People, communities, publics, and
superpublics ...
Where is the new leverage?
Community organizing/empowerment
Fair trade/ethical buying
Mission partnerships
DIY mission support
Demonstration/civil disobedience

125. Christian futures:
A hopeful
movement

126. What’s
emerging?

127. a conversation
becoming
a movement

128. Some ways to think of the church that is
emerging -
As center a…
a fringe
a stage
a n d a r a n g e.

129. a stage

130. Consider that we live in at least three
worlds.
Emerging world
NOW
Modern world
Pre-modern world
Non-modern world

131. ion
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

132. ion
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

133. New
Paradigm/
ion Model
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

134. New
Paradigm/
ion Model
sit
T ran
L ate
ion
sit
Old T ran
y
E arl
Paradigm/
Model

135. The Churches
of Tomorrow
The Churches
that are
emerging
The Churches
We Know

136. The Churches We Love and
Respect
The Churches
of Tomorrow
The Churches
that are
emerging
The Churches
We Know

137. As center

138. Liturgical Social Action
Evangelical Charismatic

139. a fringe

140. Is this “the
emerging
church?”
pentecostal
A new “slice
Anglican of the pie?”
catholic
baptist

141. Or are these
the churches
that are
emerging?
pentecostal
reformed
A new ring on
catholic
the tree…
baptist

142. All must deal
with the
realities of
today’s world
pentecostal
reformed
catholic
baptist PLANET
POVERTY
PEACE
RELIGION

143. emergence and
convergence

144. Conservative
way
Modern
Crisis
Medieval
church
Liberal way
from Nancey Murphy, “Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism”

145. “evangelical”
Modern
Crisis
Medieval
church “mainline”
from Nancey Murphy, “Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism”

146. Increasing Polarization
Conservative way
Medieval church
Modern
Crisis
Liberal way

147. Increasing Polarization
Conservative way
Medieval church
Modern
Crisis
Liberal way

148. The Post-Liberal, Post-Evangelical
Convergence
Conservative way
Medieval church
Modern Postmodern
Crisis Interruption
Liberal way

149. Conservative way
A Generous
Orthodoxy?
Modern
Crisis
A Missional
Liberal way Church?

150. Conservative way
Modern
Crisis
Liberal way

151. At hea! -
a "eological movement seeking to
transform ex#ting in$itutions
ar%nd Jesus’ messa' of "e
kingdom of God

152. Christian futures
and Denominations

153. Christian futures:
A critical choice

154. Conventional
Church-going
Christians
Spiritual Atheists
but not Agnostics
Religious

155. Typical Reaction
ATTACK! ATTACK!
Conventional
Church-going
Christians
Spiritual Atheists
but not Agnostics
Religious

156. Alternate Response
Listen/Learn Listen/Learn
? ?
Conventional
Church-going
Christians
Spiritual Atheists
but not Agnostics
Religious

157. “I don’t feel the need for
religion or spirituality.”
The New Atheists/Agnostics

158. I’m NOT ...
Interested in preserving
unprovable beliefs.
Interested in defending
religious violence.

159. I’m WORRIED ...
That strong religious identity
makes people vicious.
That no spiritual identity
makes people vulnerable to
persecution by the religious.

160. I’m CONFIDENT ...
Religion is the problem.
Reason is the answer.

161. “I’m not religious, but I’m
spiritual.”
The SNR/Nones ...

162. I’m NOT ...
I don’t believe organized
religion has all the answers.
I don’t believe science,
government, and
economics have all the
answers either.

163. I’m WORRIED ...
That strong religious identity
makes people vicious.
That no spiritual identity
makes people vacuous.

164. Religion:
How [our] religion provides
exclusive
religious goods and services
so human souls can
be saved
from God.

165. From what kind of God would
people need to be saved?
violent
unforgiving
cruel
capricious
tribal or racist

166. Religion:
How [our] brand provides exclusive
religious goods and services
so human souls can
be saved
from God.

167. Spirituality:
How God is saving
all creation from human
evil ... by grace, through
faith,
in the way of wisdom,
compassion, and love,
inviting our participation.

168. The Christian Religion:
Identity: Exclusive distributorship of saving
doctrines, rituals, or membership so souls
can be saved from God
Goal: Converts, believers, souls in heaven,
political power
Jesus: blessings for members, condemnation
for non-members
Clergy: Priests & pastors to and for members
Laity: Consumers, satisfied customers become
marketers
Focus: One hour per week
Social Cohesion: In-group vs. Out-group, us vs.
them

169. Christian spirituality:
Identity: A way of wisdom, compassion, and
love so creation can be saved from human
evil
Goal: A world healed and transformed
Jesus: Blessings for learners so they can bring
blessings to everyone
Leaders: Training fellow-learners to be priests
and pastors to all humanity
Learners: Being presence and agents of Christ,
inviting and including others
Focus: Way of life and goodness lived every
day
Social Cohesion: Come-on-in group, some of
us for all of us

170. Religion:
Other Religions: Shouldn’t exist, a mistake,
should be critiqued and eradicated
Other Religious Leaders: Should be rejected,
mocked, vilified, discredited
Other Religious Beliefs & Practices: Should be
feared and avoided as competition with and
contradiction to our own
People of other religions: Seek to avoid or
convert and assimilate. If they won’t convert,
ignore, shame, or inconvenience. If they
become a threat, defeat and “cleanse” them.

171. Spirituality:
Other Religions: Part of God’s world, should be
understood and valued, a mix of good and
evil in need of growth and maturity - just as
ours is
Other Religious Leaders: Should be respected,
honored, appreciated
Other Religious Beliefs & Practices: May have
much to teach us, similarities and differences
may help us appreciate our own
People of other religions: Receive the gifts they
offer, offer the gifts we have; seek mutual
understanding; collaborate for the common
good of all