| Reflections of the Annual Conference Click here to return to the Church Innovations web site.
For many years the Church Innovations’ staff has been “Dwelling in the Word,” specifically God’s call to the disciples as written in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 10. Along the way, the staff has been inviting many others to join them. Now, I cannot dwell in these passages without remembering the verse from Luke 22 as well. It is with this verse in mind that I reflect upon CI’s annual conference held in October. Church Innovations was born out of a vision woven in the imaginations of Dr. Patrick Keifert and Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison. Sent out as a pair, they responded to God’s call with passion, wisdom, research and faith. As a result, a wonderful gift was created for you, me and the church at large. Portions of this gift were revealed during the annual conference. The toughest part of the conference was deciding which mix of sessions to attend within the three day period. I wanted to listen to all the speakers and glean every bit of information from them. Soon it was apparent that whatever mix I chose, I would receive blessings of knowledge and partnership. Opportunities to learn and grow were found in abundance as we listened to panels of speakers from around the world, individual presentations, and engaged in conversation with other participants. It was evident that those who have been implementing the programs and utilizing the many services of Church Innovations have also been experiencing deep transformation as the body of Christ, alive and at work in our world. For example, it was a joy to listen to the many and varied stories of congregational clusters participating in Partnership for Missional Church (PMC). Ongoing successes have been experienced by PMC clusters in South Africa, Pennsylvania, New Orleans, Alaska… all sites where additional PMC clusters are now being formed. United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, and multiple new areas in the United States are starting PMC clusters as well. The conversation of discipleship continued in sessions which explored models of youth and family ministry, young adult male ministry, and the emergent church movement. Church FutureFinder, an extensive collection of research data from congregations around the world, was also available for conference participants to explore. A very special gift was offered by Jim Johnson, a singer and songwriter extraordinaire. We gathered in the chapel to listen to stories of faith, struggle and joy, brought to life in the melodies, words and unique “earthy” delivery born out of Jim’s journey with God and God’s people. It was an inspirational evening indeed! The stories of individuals and congregations discerning God’s call in their lives and the subsequent faith formation evident in their willingness to risk to follow that call, has changed cultures in our world today. I thank God for God’s faithfulness to all of us who dare to respond to God’s call in our lives. I thank God for the imagination and passion of Dr. Keifert, Dr. Ellison and all the staff and partners of Church Innovations. There is an abundance of blessings awaiting us as we join in the vision of God’s preferred future for us! Rev. Kathryn A. Brown is pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, N.D. and a long-time friend of Church Innovations. She received M.Div. from Luther Seminary. |
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