From: Jonathan
Date: 12/02/2006 7:32 PM
The characteristics I would expect an "ideal church" to have:
- Trust: being able to trust others and to be trusted
- A sense of belonging
- Involvement (more than just being on a "job roster")
- Personal encouragement
- Transcendence: a sense that there is something far bigger than myself
- Fresh insights -- on spiritual issues and life in general
- A sense of meaning
- Soulfulness (as per the writings of Thomas Moore)
- A sense of joy (as per the writings of C.S. Lewis)
- Simplicity: getting back to the "essence of things" (In other words, I don't usually go for "religious theatre", unless it's done very well, usually in the context of a VERY large gathering.)
From: Arthur
Date: 12/02/2006 9:27 PM
At the conference on Wednesday the speaker, Martin Robinson from England, gave us a list which was just about an answer to your question. He believes that the emerging church will have [the following characteristics]:
- Value authentic community
- Sustainable spirituality (as opposed to instant fixes)
- Small is beautiful (as in small group is essential)
- Congregations are needed as an additional blessing
- Celebration events have value
- Creative experiment leading to ministry, mobilisation and movement (which in the end will change society)
No comments:
Post a Comment