2. Overview
How is the emerging conversation
influencing ministry today?
How can Presbyterians chart a "third way"
through the myriad of opinions and
perspectives surrounding this dialog?
My context: Adapting ministry to serve
young adults, the emerging generation,
while staying loyal to Presbyterian roots.
3. Vocabulary and
Qualifications
Presbymergent coordinating group
A living, breathing “Emerging Adult”
A hopeful skeptic
A loyal, yet maybe radical, Presbyterian
7. The World is Changing
The Great Emergence
Postmodern
Post-Christian
Post-denominational
8. Nimble Wisdom
Can the Presbyterian church embrace
models of ministry and worship that are
moving?
Can our tradition accommodate diversity
and culturally referential forms of
worship?
9. Emerging Generations
18-23 (and beyond, in many cases)
Extended adolescence
Constant change, constant growth
Explorers
Skeptics
10. Practical Explorations
Re-framing worship gatherings for the
INN
Exploring new ways of ministering to
students
Re-employing traditional worship forms,
forgotten and lost
Willingness to throw out dying or
impractical practices and programs
11. Being a Third-Way
Denomination
Embracing our past
Recognizing the high-speed changes of
the present
Setting new foundations for the future
Holding forms loosely
12. Charting Our
Own Course
What ways are we embracing the concept
of “nimble wisdom” in our own
communities?
What ministries, programs, or forms is
your church holding onto that are
ineffective, outdated, and limiting to your
congregation?
13. More info about
Presbymergent
www.presbymergent.org - blog and
events
@presbymergent - twitter feed
www.facebook.com/presbymergent
14. Good Reads
The Great Emergence - Phyllis Tickle
Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond
Emerging and Traditional -
Jim Belcher
How (Not) to Speak of God -
Peter Rollins
Tell the story of childhood faith.
Growing up Presbyterian influenced the ways I think about and articulate my faith in deep ways.
I am deeply tied to the denomination and want to see it flourish in the years to come.
I am also deeply skeptical of many of it’s ways of doing ministry and hope to influence change as a lifelong member.
One of the great strengths of the emerging conversation is found when thinkers and practitioners are willing to throw out the “way it’s always been” and renew a sense of “seeking the best moving forward.”