An overview of some of Mead's ideas in "The Once and Future Church"

Analysis of 'The Once and Future Church' - Loren Mead Reinventing the Congregation for a new mission frontier

Mead's Thesis:
'The congregation is at a critical point of change'

This is a confused time - we struggle for vision. clarity, and direction

Our confusion relates to:

1. We are facing a fundamental change in how we understand the mission of the church

2. Congregations have moved from a supporting role in mission to a front-line active role

3. Institutional structures and forms developed to support the' vision of mission are collapsing, and we are being called to reinvent new forms and structures for the new mission of the church

A time for a Paradigm shift

The Apostolic Paradigm

The Christendom Paradigm The Time Between Paradigms Signs of Cracks in the Old System
- uncertainty about clear division between laity and clergy and their respective roles - lack of support flowing to the top

3 Kinds of responses to Cracks
- frantic efforts to recapture the initiative
- hold steady and hope for the best
- moving ahead into a new paradigm, reinventing and rebuilding the church as we go

The Reinvention of the Church involves
- more intentional formation of the laity
- better catechumenates
- teaching people to 'do theology'
- an altered clergy role: partnership with laity, training, encouraging
- resources flowing from top down rather than bottom up
- seeing crises as learning points
- encouraging innovation

Impediments to Change
- structural and personal
structural: systems of old paradigm inadequate leadership
personal: denial, depression, bargaining, anger

Resources for Change
- seminaries with a new vision and new options
- current structures, given imagination and money
- people themselves
- new breed of change agents

Strategies for change
- work with congregations ready to change
- work experimentally, encourage innovation
- pay attention to boundaries: learning opportunities
- hold steady, don't panic
- develop a better system of accountability between congregations in mission and those that assist them in mission

Signs of the Future Church
- cross denominational congregational clusters
- Christian guilds or small groups based on vocation
- new ministries based on gifts and needs
- denominational agencies provide service instead of programs
- cross denomenational networks
- local training events
- serious study of the local context

11 believe we are called to be midwives for a new church, working to help our present forms and structures give birth to form appropriate for the new mission of the church'