How do we move forward as the church in a world where the institutional system is collapsing?
Not if it’s collapsing. Look at the numbers, look at the buildings, look at the clergy burning out, look at the budgets.
The mid-20th-century institutional model - one full-time minister, one building, a set of programs and committees, one set group of people supporting it all - is not going to make it. And if you’re in it right now, you already know.
The institution is probably not going to survive.
But the church will.
The church has survived this far. Followers of Jesus are more numerous than the original disciples could have ever dreamed. Faith in resurrection - in love stronger than death - is offering us hope in a world so rocked by instability.
The Body of Christ will not be shaken.
What’s collapsing is the particular mid-20th century institutional organization that is unintentionally (yet systematically) destroying the rich tradition it was built to defend.
Which means the question isn’t:
How do we save the institution?
The question is:
How do we re-discover and re-connect to the practices and traditions of the church on which it was built?
And ..
How do we support each other as we discover a new, sustainable system for sharing the Gospel?
This is good news. Especially as we carry the weight of trying to keep the old system alive. It’s time to put it down - and look to the adventure of the future of church.
It’s time to bring church to people.
Free Range Priest is a business and ministry that includes:
Cage Free Ministry:
Ministers serving sustainably - financially and spiritually - so we can recover the JOY of sharing Good News and let go of trying to prop up a failing institution.
Learn more HERE.
Trexo: a gym for your soul
Become an every day monastic and stretch your soul with simple, daily actions - grounded in the ancient church - that bring you closer in relationship with God (and therefore peace, JOY, connection, meaning, and love).
Learn more HERE.
Substack Seminary: you’re not weird, you’re early
A home for Cage Free Ministers (aka ‘weirdo orphan pastors’) - discover a community of collaboration, support, and formation for those creating new ways to serve God and the church.
Learn more HERE.
If you’re ready to stop propping up the dying institution and free yourself for the JOY of sharing God’s love in new ways…
Free Range Priest is practical ideas and wildly optimistic theories about how the Holy Spirit is transforming the practice of ministry.
At Free Range Priest, we’re bringing church to people.
Bite-sized ways that YOU can re-imagine ministry and get ‘unstuck’.
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