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The Changed Religious L andscape of Post Christendom

The Changed Religious L andscape of Post Christendom. Central Texas Conference 2012. Post Christendom is stepping out of the established position. A post-local (global community) world A post-modern (more than science and progress) world

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The Changed Religious L andscape of Post Christendom

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  1. The Changed Religious Landscape of Post Christendom Central Texas Conference 2012

  2. Post Christendom is stepping out of the established position • A post-local (global community) world • A post-modern (more than science and progress) world • A post- Christendom world: Church History in Three Ages The Age of Faith: “faith in Jesus” The Age of Belief: “belief in Christ” The Age of the Spirit: “an experience of Jesus”

  3. Post Christendom through the lens of generations… • Generational Cohort Theory: • We understand and experience our world in the same way as those who were born at the time of our birth • Generational cohorts establish their values as a corrector or the excess that they see in the generation that went before them • There are “watershed moments” in which the values of one generation stand a full 1800 contrast to what went before

  4. Bi-Modal CongregationsLeading Multigenerational Congregations • Congregational Tenure Studies: How long have people been a member of a congregation? • New members are coming into our established congregations. • Short term members and long term members tend to carry different cultural values. %of Members Years of Membership

  5. Bi-Modal CongregationsLeading Multigenerational Congregations • Cultural Value System held by long term members: • group identity • sameness • deferred pleasure • “spirituality of place” %of Members Years of Membership

  6. Bi-Modal CongregationsLeading Multigenerational Congregations • Cultural Value System held by short term members: • individual identity • difference • instant gratification • “spirituality of journey” %of Members Years of Membership

  7. Bi-Modal CongregationsLeading Multigenerational Congregations • The two generational cohorts in our congregations like each other, but have difficulty speaking the same language. • For example: • vital worship • stewardship of resources • mission • women’s groups • children’s Sunday School • leadership and congregational structure %of Members Years of Membership

  8. Post Christendom through a Multi-faith lens… Protestant Catholic Jew Protestant, Catholic Jew: An Essay in American Religious Sociology Will Herberg, 1983

  9. The Six Major Socio-Religious Groups White Protestant Black Protestant Catholic Jews Other: (Mormons, Eastern Orthodox, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists) No Religious Affiliations (“nones”)

  10. What is an appropriate / faithful response in the wilderness? • Letting go of “problems” (in favor of conditions) • Letting go of efficiency (in favor of wandering) • Letting go of North American hospitality (in favor of biblical hospitality)

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