Church in the Inventive Age (Paperback)

We live in the midst of inescapable change. Maybe this thrills you. Maybe this scares you. We can't pretend cultural change doesn't impact the church. It does. It always has. The challenge for churches is the rise of a creative, participatory, inclusive culture. The role of the church is to live as a participant in the culture. Inclusion, participation, collaboration, and beauty are essential values. Living in the Inventive Age is not optional. We can either be in on the change or we can be left behind. Contents Adobe Acrobat DocumentChapter 1 Adobe Acrobat DocumentSamples require Adobe Acrobat ReaderHaving trouble downloading and viewing PDF samples?"So smartly written, so clearly framed, and so winsomely presented that it deserves your time, money, and attention." - Brian D. McLaren "'Brilliant'. A 'must read' for every pastor and lay person concerned with Church in our times." - Phyllis Tickle "I highly recommend Church in the Inventive Age to all Episcopalians struggling to find words to express what it means to be church today." - Brian N. Prior, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota "Church in the Inventive Age may be the very spark that ignites a fire in you to re-imagine the world." - Shane Claiborne - author, activist, and recovering sinner "I hope that every young, idealistic pastor will read Church in the Inventive Age and find new language and depth for what they feel about the future of the church. But even more, I pray that every pragmatic senior pastor will read it and find a new understanding and empathy for his/her younger brothers and sisters. We're all in this together, and with voices like Doug Pagitt helping the conversation, the future feels as compelling as ever." - Aaron Niequist - Worship Leader Willow Creek Community Church "I read "the book" on Saturday afternoon. Here it is Monday and I am still thinking about it and wanting to reread it. I serve a 144 year old Lutheran Church who has the choice to die or to change. The content really helped me organize my thinking on how the church has shaped as well as has been impacted by community . As result, I am asking new questions of the leadership team and myself. A must read for all." - Michelene Verlautz - Senior Pastor Augustana Lutheran Church "In Church in The Inventive Age, Doug explores the ongoing cultural shifts occurring not only with culture but especially within the church. These shifts are bringing out a new sense of creativity and imagination that has never existed before. How we make meaning with people is becoming of central concern. Doug provides a valuable perspective and suggests some profoundly simple insights on on navigating and participating effectively in that change." - Jonathan Brink - Thrive Ministries "As a pastor of a "traditional" church that is making strides to moving into the future, I am excited about this book and how it can help us move forward " - @RootedRadical - pastor in the Christian Reformed Church of North America "I'm always thankful for opportunities to sit across a table from Doug. It happens a few times a year. While a book will never stand in completely for a living, breathing person, this one gets really close. I just finished the last page, and my mind is full and spinning, alive with possibility and new ideas, just as it is after time spent with the man himself." - Shauna Niequist - Author shaunaniequist.com Reviewed by Emergent Village WeblogReviewed by The Winding Labrynth BlogReviewed by For the Someday Book BlogAn interview with Fuller Theological Seminary