Brian McLaren

This is the third installment in my series of notes from the recent conference I attended at Louisville Seminary on New Ways of Being Church. These are from the lecture and discussion given by Brian McLaren, and really consists mostly of sound bites that jumped out at me. This is the longest entry, in part because I consider Rev. McLaren one of the most innovative and far sighted thinkers in the church today. For a fuller idea of what he thinks, read his books, especially Everything Must Change and A Generous Orthodoxy .

Humanity is in the midst of a change as big as any in history. A whole new society is emerging, that we do not yet know what is. Reacting to this change is about more than changing music or adding programs.

The big shift:

• Conquest & control -> conservation
• Mechanics & sound bites -> holistic systems
• Secular science -> spiritual science
• Objective -> intersubjective
• Organizational -> alliances & networks
• Individual -> communal & traditional
• Denominational -> post denominational
• Consumer -> sustainer

The new vision of what church is comes from those new to the faith and the young.

Pivot points
How do we relate to Jesus?

• Taking what Jesus says seriously
• Jesus as more than forgiver of sin
• Focus on Kingdom of God
• Jesus not a religion maker but a kingdom proclaimer

How do we relate to the world

• Move from: the gospel being an institutionally controlled message which provides an enhancement of the soul (self) so that it can get to heaven
• To: In following the gospel, the church serves as God’s agent in recruiting people to engage in the healing of the world.

An old interpretation of how the Gospel helps us relate to the world:


A new interpretation of how the Gospel helps us relate to the world:


How do churches relate to each other?

• We celebrate a range of ministry and mission by a range of congregations with different styles and different gifts.

Three new ways of being church:

1. A movement that seeks to join God in the healing of the world
2. A disciple forming community that seeks to practice the way of Jesus. Product of the church is “Christ like people”
3. A liturgical/mystical network that practices receptivity to the Holy Spirit