An exploration of the vocation of the religious educator as change leader; using living systems theory, emergence, and principled pluralism.

1. Moseses, Miriams, Monarch
Migrations
&
Teaching for Redemptive
Community
Dori Baker
Nov. 11, 2014

4. “I am not alone in my wild
ideas for re-framing
theology, but I have found
other wild thinkers and
doers to curate my
wildness, my holy
wildness.”

6. Three Jack-isms

7. As theologians and meaning-makers,
religious educators
are about the work of helping
others to become the
theologians and meaning-makers
of their own life
experiences.

8. Our meaning-making takes place
at the very innermost core of our
individual selves, and
simultaneously and necessarily
at the outer edge of our
traditions, where it must do the
risky work of ongoing public
interpretation if it is to be
redemptive.

9. Our meaning making is not for the
sake of inner peace, nor for the sake
of preserving our traditions or
institutions – although these are
surely sacred purposes – but always
for the sake of an aching world, for
the sake of community.

16. • Culture of Anxiety
• Culture of Busy
• Done with Churchly Ways

17. • Places to be vulnerable
• Practices of prayer and
sabbath
• Mentors for the hard stuff

19. Global
Presencing Institute
MIT April, 2014

21. Trans-local learning is
“what happens when separate, local
efforts connect with each other, then grow
and transform as people exchange ideas
that together give rise to new systems with
greater impact and influence.” (Wheatley,
2013, 28)

24. As theologians and meaning-makers,
religious educators
are about the work of helping
others to become the
theologians and meaning-makers
of their own life
experiences.

25. Our meaning-making takes place
at the very innermost core of our
individual selves, and
simultaneously and necessarily
at the outer edge of our
traditions, where it must do the
risky work of ongoing public
interpretation if it is to be
redemptive.

29. Our meaning making is not for the
sake of inner peace, nor for the sake
of preserving our traditions or
institutions – although these are
surely sacred purposes – but always
for the sake of an aching world, for
the sake of community.

31. All Saint’s Day, 2014

32. Works Cited
Books
Borg, Marcus. Speaking Christian: Why Christian words have lost their meaning and power -- and how they can
be restored. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2012.
Bedford, Nancy. “Little Moves Against Destructiveness: Theology and the Practice of Discernment.” in Bass,
Dorothy and Volf, Miroslav, Practicing Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
Hill, Alec. Principled Pluralism: The Challenge of Religious Diversity in 21st Century America. The Huffington
Post. Oct. 21, 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eboo-patel/principled-pluralism-reli_b_3530332.html.
Scharmer, Otto. “Leading from the Emerging Future.” San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2013
Wheatley, Margaret. “So Far From Home: Lost and Found in Our Brave New World.” San Francisco: Berrett-
Koehler Publishers, 2012.
Wheatley, Margaret. “Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now.”
San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2011
Websites
www.fteleaders.org The Forum for Theological Exploration
www.chriscorrigan.org Exercises in seeing the church as a living system
http://cassidhehart.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/let-my-people-go/ Words to “Let My People Go”
http://www.society6.com/royalmontgomery “Don’t let anyone tell you you are less than sacred” artwork