1

2

Chapter 6

Renewing the Church

Through Shared Mission

3

Emergent Church:

“the children of Baby Boomers who still desire a community of faith value authenticity over orthodoxy. “

“If the command is to love God and neighbor, it helps to know the neighbor. Better yet, it helps to do something with the neighbor that transcends doctrine and tradition—even styles of worship.”

4

The real question for our time is this: Why would we rather be

right than loving?

5

The real question for our time is this: Why would we rather be

right than loving?

“To save the church, liberals and conservatives (and everyone in between) need to find concrete

ways to work together across our theological and liturgical divides—lest they define us, instead of love.

“

6

“What If the Church Were Christian?”

Jesus would be a model for living rather than an object of worship.

Affirming our potential would be more important than condemning our brokenness.

7

Reconciliation would be valued over judgment.

Gracious behavior would be more important than right belief.

Inviting questions would be more important than supplying answers.

8

Encouraging personal exploration would be more important than communal conformity.

Meeting needs would be more important than maintaining institutions.

Peace would be more important than power.

9

We would care more about love and less about sex.

This life would be more important than the afterlife.

10

Hospitality

We welcome you as we would welcome Christ

himself.