SEATTLE — Worship. Fellowship. Collaborative learning. The 2019 NEXT Church national gathering had as its theme “Woven Together: Stories of Dissonance, Sacrifice and Liberation,” as the conference held Mar. 11-13 at Seattle First Presbyterian Church invited participants to consider how God weaves individual stories together to shape community and live out the church’s call to freedom and faith. Here's a look at some of the conference highlights.     … [Read more...]

SEATTLE — The story of Ruth served as the backdrop for three days of discussion on story, community, lament, displacement and God’s provision. The 2019 NEXT Church national gatheringhad as its theme “Woven Together: Stories of Dissonance, Sacrifice and Liberation,” as the conference held Mar. 11-13 at Seattle First Presbyterian Church invited participants to consider how God weaves individual stories together to shape community and live out the church’s call to freedom and faith. About 575 people – about half of them pastors serving churches and the rest ruling elders, Christian educators, youth leaders, entrepreneurs and people serving in other ministry contexts – attended the conference. NEXT describes itself as a network of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders “who believe the church of the future will be more relational, more diverse, more collaborative, more hopeful and more agile,” and the gathering attempted to live into that vision by providing opportunities for worship, … [Read more...]

SEATTLE – “Who are your people?” That’s the question that Jennifer Harvey, a professor of religion and ethics at Drake University and the author of “Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation” and “Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America,” put to Presbyterians at the NEXT Church 2019 national gathering March 13. Harvey contends that it’s “who we name and claim as our people that determines how we understand what the path towards liberation is.” In other words, it matters who we see (or do not see) as part of the family — who it’s worth taking risks for and worth journeying out with into the shark-infested waters. And she says white Christians have much to account for – including a history that favors racial reconciliation over lament or reparations for wrongs inflicted. “If there was ever a time to be praying and agitating and creating on the question of what it means to be church, this is it,” Harvey … [Read more...]

SEATTLE — How can congregations be bearers of good news to their neighborhoods? Co-moderator of the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Cindy Kohlmann led a workshop at the Next Church national gathering called “The gospel mandate: Beloved communities and neighborhood churches” highlighting the one church, one book chosen by Kohlmann and co-moderator Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. Kohlmann and Cintrón-Olivieri have asked Presbyterians to read “Neighborhood Church: Transforming Your Church into a Powerhouse for Mission” by Krin Tatenhove and Rob Mueller as a means of prompting discussion and sparking ministry in their contexts. Kohlmann invited participants to consider how congregations – as disciples of Jesus Christ – can be incarnational bearers of good news, outlining the cornerstones of beloved communities: Incarnation (Matthew 22:37-38); Compassion in word and deed (1 John 3:18); Partnership within and without the walls of the church … [Read more...]