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Anyone for Pizza?. 44% of Americans/ 34% Canadians attend church monthly. 93% of Americans eat Pizza at least once per month. Can the Bread & the Wine be as popular as Pizza?. The President’s Tool Kit. Del Sexsmith President 2010, MNWO United Church of Canada.
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Anyone for Pizza? 44% of Americans/ 34% Canadians attend church monthly. 93% of Americans eat Pizza at least once per month
The President’s Tool Kit Del Sexsmith President 2010, MNWO United Church of Canada
Introducing the President’s Tool Kit • 12 Pointed Questions for the New Millennium • Isaiah 65:17 (NIV) • Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
Tool Kit Instructions • Apply any one tool or any combination of tools to your current situation. • Does it tell you who you will be or what you will be doing in 5 years? • Does it suggest who we (the United Church) will be in 15 years (our centennial)?
A church without walls? Where owning property is not a concern and the faithful meet whenever and wherever they wish? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • Social Disengagement (e.g. “Bowling Alone” by Robert Putnam) • Declining participation in community organizations (1970 onwards) • Believers are not belongers
Achurch without pews? Where a multi-purpose facility with stackable chairs and movable divider walls creates useable space for the community 24/7? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • Wheelchair accessibility • Economical maintenance • Welcoming groups of various sizes • Rented space is usually multi-use in nature
Achurch within the community where no one professes to belong to a “home” or “host” church? Mennonite United Lutheran Anglican Presbyterian Whatever Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • Impact of multi-faith multi-cultural families • Resistance to tithing, pledges and annual giving • Rise of casual attendance & giving
Achurch with 21st Century language where words such as “Thy” and “Lord” are never used, even in prayer? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • Online access to multiple translations of the Word • Smaller classes in Sunday School to memorize an “official” version of prayer or scripture
A church with 21st Century technologywhere paper is neither seen nor used? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • Sales of e-books exceeded that of printed publications in 2009 • Social media have created virtual communities
A church without organ music but guitars and other instruments only? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Achurch without hymns or choirs but favourite recordings instead? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • Declining use of sacred music at public events (such as funerals) • Declining numbers of school choirs & “sing-a-longs”
A church without clergy where lay leaders take all the initiatives? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be Luke 4:18
Notes to think about • 50% of UC clergy will retire by 2025 • Evangelical Fellowship of Canada- there is one student in training for every 20 churches
Will the Church of Tomorrow Be • A church without children where elders form the core of church life?
Notes to think about • Half of Canada’s population is 40+ • By 2016, seniors (65+) will outnumber children (under 14) • Couples with children account for 29% of families
Will the Church of Tomorrow Be • A church without seniors where young people engage in modern free-form worship unencumbered by tradition?
Notes to think about • Half of current aboriginal population is under 25 • Majority of under 30 population has no living memory of church
A church without financial requirementswhere a network of households forms the basis of meetings? Will the Church of Tomorrow Be
Notes to think about • House churches (10-30 people) • 2,000 HC’s in Canada • Over 30,000 HC’s registered in America • Believed to be 30 million American & 80 million Chinese believers
A church with other churcheswhere denominationalism is gone and the local community is paramount? Congregationalist Methodist Presbyterian Other Your Town Fellowship Church Will the Church of Tomorrow Be