We asked Leith Anderson, the pastor and skilled observer who heard and defined the outcry for change in the 1990s, to describe the church of tomorrow.
Will the church be large or small? Denominational or independent? Traditional or contemporary or razor’s edge postmodern? His answer? “Yes!”
We get it. The church is moving in many directions at once.
What trends will make it that way?
“Yes!” Anderson says again.
We think we know what he means. The same forces that are driving our society are propelling the church forward, or should we say outward, at the same speed.
Still, there are discernable forces that will influence the shape of ministry after the millennium’s turn. We invited five experienced seers to scan the horizon and tell us what’s ahead.
“What trend will have the greatest impact on the church in the next ten years?” we asked.
We’re surprised by what they didn’t spot: the impact of technology, the mainstreaming of contemporary worship, demographic shifts, urbanization, trends in church size, the prognosis for the parachurch, megachurch, or cellchurch. The future is not about methods or even movements, they say. It’s about people.
Our watchers foresee clashes of the soul: Will the shouts of individuality drown the heartcry for community? What will motivate people after the apparent death of duty? Can we mediate the conflict between personal experience and absolute truth?
Like our advisers, we’re excited about the twenty-first century. We believe that through discernment of the present, we have insight into the future. Commissioned by the Most High God, we are equipped to meet the unique challenges of ministry to our age. In the hymn writer’s words, we have strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Are we ready for a new era in building Christ’s kingdom?
Yes!
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