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Letter From the President
Click here to return to the Church Innovations web site. Dear Partners, We have another Fall Conference approaching within this next month. We are well prepared for it, indeed, due to scheduling problems last Spring we have been planning it for over a year. We have speakers and participants coming from all around the world and from many different denominations. We are not surprised by the global scope because the theme focuses on the emerging networks in the missional church movement, networks both global and local. We have seen the original Gospel and Our Culture Networks look almost as if they had died, not unlike a plant that has gone without water turning wilted and brown, but then seemingly come back to life. We have seen this coming back to life in several countries, including Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Church Innovations founded an International Research Consortium that brings together researchers and church leaders from several continents. The Consortium focuses on a theologically framed, social scientific study of congregations and the systems that support those local churches. The original three partners: (1) BUVTON ( now Communitas) Institute at Stellenbosch, South Africa; (2) Norwegian School of Theology—Oslo, Norway; and Church Innovations Institute here in St. Paul. Church Innovations also sponsors with partners around the world the Partnership for Missional Church. In the recent past clusters of local churches in Australia, southern Africa, and North America have joined in this spiritual journey to seek God’s preferred future for their churches. In the next month four different denominations and non-denominational local churches will form clusters in the United Kingdom and receive training to launch those clusters on their spiritual journey. This coming Spring similar training will be taking place in Denmark and Norway. Plans are developing for similar partnerships in Germany. Our Fall Conference will feature leaders from these partners inviting them to reflect upon these emerging networks both locally and globally. We are asking them to reflect on the very practical work of innovating a missional church. We are giving them ample time to meet with one another, reflect and learn from one another, and offer insights to the larger group where the next steps might be in these emerging networks. Hope you will attend the Fall Conference and that you make it a part of your regular plans for the future. Peace, Patrick
R. Keifert Please support Church Innovations Thank you for your continued interest and support of Church Innovations. We ask for your prayers and, if so moved, your financial support, which is always needed to help us have the greatest impact for God. God has a preferred and promised future for all congregations, and with the support of individuals, foundations and partner congregations, we will be financially able to help them discern and respond to God’s call. Church Innovations is a 501(c)3 non-profit so provides a tax deduction – please consider us in your charitable contributions. Please click here for more information or to make a donation. |
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