Tim Conder’s recent book – The Church in Transition – The Journey of Existing Churches into the Emerging Culture, has been a helpful book in my reading.
Currently considering my role/or lack of role in an established church, my frustrations with this and my growing’s towards missional churches.
Tim’s book has aided some questions in possibly making that transition. It’s a well written book, that does not suggest a certain model is best/better, rather partnership with open discussions and dialogue concerning future trends is required.
Tim discusses 7 major fears or concerns est. churches seem to have over the emerging culture. There are well detailed, and rather then trying to ‘prove’ one is right or wrong, Tim is able to discuss the merits of each, and demonstrate theologically strong cases why transition from an established viewpoint needs to be discussed.
Postmodernism and the loss of Truth
Community and the loss of Personal Faith
Cultural ‘accommodation’ & changing the ‘changeless’ message of the Gospel
Watering down the Word of God
Condoning personal immorality and the abandonment of Christian Ethics
The Church Environment and the loss of Tradition
Church Heritage and the loss of Identity
There is a particularly beneficial chapter on transition in Spiritual Formation. Tim suggests the traditional view of SF/ spiritual growth being linear causes several assumptions and often works against a meaningful and true spiritual formation. He suggests true SF has more to do with a wider connection to community, care and hospitality practices than simply linear growth and increased knowledge.
Other chapters deal with transition in leadership, community formation, mission and worship. It’s a book I would highly recommend….
