Bruce Reyes-Chow gave a presentation at First Presbyterian Church of West Chester discussing how churches need to adapt to changes in culture in the 21st century. He outlined several major cultural shifts, including how authority, structure, mobility, technology, influence, and spirituality are changing. Reyes-Chow argued that churches must find new ways to integrate open discussion, be more flexible and adaptable, respond to transience, utilize social media, value diversity, and engage in public issues. He also discussed the need for churches to have open conversations about race and not shy away from complex issues.
3. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
morning people or night owls
decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s, 00’s
ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
religious tradition: Presbyterian,
Baptists, Methodist, Lutheran, UCC
Catholic, non-denominational, other...
time to ministry: 10m, 30m, 60m
church longevity?: till the end, <10, <5
Who are you?
technology: email, facebook, texting, google, twitter,
pinterest, instagram, foursquare, yelp, spotify...
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
4. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Who is Bruce?
69X:85Y
URBAN:SF
TECHIE:SM
CREATIVE:BOBO
PASTOR:PLANTER
BLOGGER:WRITER
CONSULTANT:COACH
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
5. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Why Bother?
Genesis 17-18 - Will a son be born
to a man 100 years old and a
woman the age of 90?
Abraham gave the best of what he
had . . . Sarah laughed . . .
God is NOT done with us and is
continually asking us to birth new,
irrational and unexpected things.
What are we being asked to birth?
Gladys Burrill, 92
2011 Honolulu Marathon
Photo: AP
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
6. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
21C Culture Shifts
Authority and “t”ruth:
from a single source of authority to
an open source of discernment.
eg . . . how we explore and discern
Scripture, politics, culture, worship,
decision making, etc. changes.
SO WHAT?
The church must figure integrate
new ways of worshipping,
discerning and understanding
authority.
Photo by carbonnyc
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
7. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
21C Culture Shifts
Structure and Adaptability:
from a mindset of methodology
and “steps” to a of spirit of
embraced chaos and institutional
fluidity.
eg . . . Changes how we structure
our communal lives: congregation
and councils.
SO WHAT?
The church in all aspects of its life
must become less rigid and more
adaptable, flexible and fluid. Photo by 31878512@N06
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
9. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
21C Culture Shifts
Mobility and Commitment
from a life-long commitment to
“place” to an expectation of
transience and change.
eg . . . we change how we
perceive a person’s commitment
in terms of longevity.
SO WHAT?
Organizational structures and
communal activity must be more
adaptive and responsive. Photo by carbonnyc
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
10. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
21C Culture Shifts
Technology and Community:
from geographic clustering and
isolation to broad global
community.
eg . . . our understanding and
experience of community, privacy
and social interaction is
broadened.
SOCIAL MEDIA SO WHAT?
The church must find faithful and
effective ways to utilize social
media in all aspects of the church. Photo by splityarn
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
11. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
21C Culture Shifts
Influence and Social Capital:
from a monolithic presence and
mindset to a niche reality and
opportunity for growth.
eg . . . denominational evangelism
strategies will change.
SO WHAT?
The church must find and value a
multiplicity of expression of faith.
Photo by glamhag
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
13. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
21C Culture Shifts
Spirituality & Public Engagement
from a silent understanding of
separating church and state to an
increased move to a public
expression of faith and politics.
eg . . . we acknowledge political
realities while encouraging
personal discernment.
SO WHAT?
We must reclaim our voice in the
public square and responsibility to
nurture the voices of the people. Photo by wy_jackrabbit
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
16. Lets Take a Break
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
17. Part ||
But I Don’t See
You As Asian
Curating Conversations about Race
Bruce Reyes-Chow
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN - WEST CHESTER
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
18. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Race.
The church must not only be a
safe place to talk about race,
it must also be where the
complex beauty of God's
creation is made real.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
21. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Conversation.
While there may be times
to pause, just because we
may not find agreement,
that does not mean that
we should stop talking.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
22. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
To hear we must speak
When they heard this sound, a
crowd came together in
bewilderment, because each one
heard their own language being
spoken.
ACTS 2:6
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
23. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Deflection of the struggle
"IT IS APPALLING THAT THE MOST
SEGREGATED HOUR OF CHRISTIAN
AMERICA IS ELEVEN O'CLOCK ON
SUNDAY MORNING."
REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
24. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Hollow multiculturalism
There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free,
neither male nor female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
ETHNICITY
ECONOMICS
GENDER
POWER, JUSTICE AND INCLUSION
GALATIANS 3:28
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
26. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Devalued graciousness
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to
drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
ROMANS 12:20 (TNIV)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
29. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Microaggressions
BRC SELF-PORTRAIT - 1970’S
BRIEF AND COMMONPLACE DAILY
VERBAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR
ENVIRONMENTAL INDIGNITIES,
WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR
UNINTENTIONAL, THAT COMMUNICATE
HOSTILE, DEROGATORY, OR NEGATIVE
RACIAL SLIGHTS AND INSULTS
TOWARD PEOPLE OF COLOR.
RACIAL MICROAGGRESSIONS IN EVERY DAY LIFE
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
36. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
DO YOU KNOW MARTIAL ARTS?
MINORITIES CAN’T BE RACIST
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SIT TOGETHER?
AND OUT COMES THE RACE CARD
WHAT KIND OF ASIAN ARE YOU?
WE JUST NEED ONE
IF THEY CAN SAY IT, WHY CAN’T I?
I’M NOT A RACIST, BUT...
THOSE PEOPLE...
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
38. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
“THE ARC OF THE MORAL
UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS
TOWARDS JUSTICE”
REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
39. #FIRSTPRESWC | @BREYESCHOW
Questions and Comments
Questions, Comments,
Reflections
Connect with Bruce
reyes-chow.com
twitter/breyeschow
facebook/breyeschowpage
linkedin/breyeschow
instagram/breyeschow
pinterest/breyeschow
THE DEFINITIVE-ISH GUIDE
FOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA
IN THE CHURCH
THANKS FOR COMING!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013