Pagitt provides some very practical advice in the second half of his book:
- Pastors can help facilitate change by asking "why" questions. This is a great way for pastors to model the values of the Inventive Age for a congregation that is seeking ways to be faithful in this time and place.
- Pay attention to space and aesthetics. They matter! (63)
I really appreciated Pagitt's description of how the Christian Church is divided between Evangelicals/Pentecostals and Denominational/Mainline. It is fascinating to me how each group is out of balance. E/Ms are great at changing their objects, but they don't want the ideas to change. The mode of delivery can change, but not the message. D/Ms are willing to change their ideas, but hold tightly to their objects (liturgy, tradition, etc). Pagitt definitely has a point that we are both off balance and could afford to learn from one another (54-).
- We need all types of churches to move forward. There is not one model for future growth and change. Pagitt's description of churches "for," "with," and "as" the Inventive Age. (76-)
Pagitt's dialogue of the relationship between a "with" church and an Inventive Age church reminded me of the relationship between an Anglo-PCUSA church and a immigrant Hispanic church. The struggles in this "parent-child" relationship are real and hard. I was sure to make note of his suggestions:
- Listen to one another (Become the learner)
- Practice hope (Don't complain unless you want to stick around to find a solution)
- Be welcoming
- Be authentic
- Allow the worship committee for the Inventive Age church to be comprised of people who are of the Inventive Age (or at least are sensitive to those issues). Otherwise, you will not create a church of the Inventive Age. You will resist it.
Authenticity and Meaning are two themes that Pagitt briefly mentions that I would argue are core values of the Inventive Age. When I visit a new worshiping community they are the two things I value most. It does not matter to me if the people sing a capella or with an organ or five piece band. What matters is whether or not the people are singing with gusto. What matters is that the people pray like they know God.
This quote is a good reminder for me why it is so important to keep diverse opinions at the same table:
"It's easy for people of the Inventive Age to think we have discovered fire when we have simply found something new to light. Your stories remind us of what's come before and inspire us to follow that path of creativity and faithfulness" (85).
Pagitt mentions congregations on Second Life and I find myself uncomfortable with the idea of "going to church" through the internet. Maybe this is an area where I need to be pushed? I have googled the congregation that Pagitt mentions - Koinonia Congregational Church of SL, but I have to have an account to visit. What is it about this that makes me nervous to join?
I really appreciate atheist ways that you make connections between the book and your experience of the church. Your illustration of the Anglo congregation and the immigrant congregation is spot on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about authenticity and meaning being key values in postmodern culture. These are key in a highly relational environment where people need to understand how the institution serves their sense of call as a community.
Second Life perhaps deserves a conversation because of what it represents. Is it possible to build authentic relationships which are mediated through social network media?
Oops. "atheist" was not what I typed, but the product of my iPad correcting me. Just read "the" in that first sentence. :-)
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