Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context

Transcription

1 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context John B. Brittain, PhD, Church Planting Catalyst NoBA Associational Summit 2013 SWBTS, Fort Worth, Texas January 7-9, 2013

2 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Three Keys Toward Urban Ministry Success!

3 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Goal: We will discuss strategic practices and procedures for starting and restarting churches by reaching urban areas from the inside-out.

4 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Task: We will examine practical methods of discovering and interpreting statistical, demographic, and ethnographic information.

5 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. --Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)

6 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Motivational Fact: For the first time in history more than 50 percent of the world's population is urban. "

7 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Motivational Fact: In 2011, U.S. cities grew at a faster rate than suburbs. "

8 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Motivational Fact: In Canada, more than 80 percent of inhabitants live within its four major urban areas in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. "

9 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Motivational Fact: By 2050 over two thirds of humanity will be living in urban population centers."

10 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Motivational Fact: The U.S. is projected to become a majority-minority nation by 2043.

11 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Motivational Fact: As Southern Baptist leaders, we must decide how we will respond missiologically by spreading the gospel through starting and restarting churches in the urban multiethnic context."

12 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Outline w Defining and Identifying Urban

13 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Outline w Defining and Identifying Urban w Utilizing History and Statistics

14 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Outline w Defining and Identifying Urban w Utilizing History and Statistics w Analyzing Demographics

15 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Outline w Defining and Identifying Urban w Utilizing History and Statistics w Analyzing Demographics w Understanding Ethnographics

16 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Outline w Defining and Identifying Urban w Utilizing History and Statistics w Analyzing Demographics w Understanding Ethnographics w Urban Multiethnic Congregations

17 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context Outline w Defining and Identifying Urban w Utilizing History and Statistics w Analyzing Demographics w Understanding Ethnographics w Urban Multiethnic Congregations w A Final Word

18 Defining/Identifying Urban Urban, adj. w relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area. (WordNet)

19 Defining/Identifying Urban Urban, adj. w relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area. (WordNet) w 1. Of, relating to, or located in a city. 2. Characteristic of the city or city life. (American Heritage Dictionary)

20 Defining/Identifying Urban Urban Design (McNairy) w Core City w Inner City w Suburbia w Exurbia

21 Urban Design: Core City Core City w 1st ring of development

22 Urban Design: Core City Core City w 1st ring of development w Government centers and central business districts

23 Urban Design: Core City Core City w 1st ring of development w Government centers and central business districts w Commercial and residential gentrification

24 Urban Design: Inner City Inner City w 2nd ring of development

25 Urban Design: Inner City Inner City w 2nd ring of development w Older housing and building stock

26 Urban Design: Inner City Inner City w 2nd ring of development w Older housing and building stock w First-generation immigrants, lower socioeconomic neighborhoods

27 Urban Design: Inner City Inner City w 2nd ring of development w Older housing and building stock w First-generation immigrants, lower socioeconomic neighborhoods w Connected to core city by public streets and public transportation routes

28 Urban Design: Suburbia Suburbia w 3rd ring of development

29 Urban Design: Suburbia Suburbia w 3rd ring of development w Highly visible residential communities

30 Urban Design: Suburbia Suburbia w 3rd ring of development w Highly visible residential communities w Connected to the core city by divided roads and parkways more than public transportation

31 Urban Design: Exurbia Exurbia w 4th ring of development

32 Urban Design: Exurbia Exurbia w 4th ring of development w Spacious community plans

33 Urban Design: Exurbia Exurbia w 4th ring of development w Spacious community plans w Bordering suburb to rural areas

34 Urban Design: Exurbia Exurbia w 4th ring of development w Spacious community plans w Bordering suburb to rural areas w Connected to the core and inner city by interstate and intrastate highways

35 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends (McNairy) w Non-traditional families

36 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends (McNairy) w Non-traditional families w Immigrant population clustering

37 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends (McNairy) w Non-traditional families w Immigrant population clustering w Gentrification

38 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends (McNairy) w Non-traditional families w Immigrant population clustering w Gentrification w Multihousing community proliferation

39 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends... w Exurban development

40 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends... w Exurban development w Socio-economic interfacing

41 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends... w Exurban development w Socio-economic interfacing w Decreasing homeless populations

42 Defining/Identifying Urban Major Urban Trends... w Exurban development w Socio-economic interfacing w Decreasing homeless populations w Decreasing Christian presence/influence

43 Urban in this Presentation All information is applicable to each of the four rings of urban development For the sake of this presentation, let s concentrate mainly on the core and inner city

44 Utilizing History and Statistics Statistics are our friends!

45 Historical Analysis Elements to analyze w Beginnings and key influencers

46 Historical Analysis Elements to analyze w Beginnings and key influencers w Location(s)

47 Historical Analysis Elements to analyze w Beginnings and key influencers w Location(s) w Pastors/key leaders and effectiveness levels

48 Historical Analysis Elements to analyze w Beginnings and key influencers w Location(s) w Pastors/key leaders and effectiveness levels w Significant celebrations and crises

49 Historical Analysis Elements to analyze w Beginnings and key influencers w Location(s) w Pastors/key leaders and effectiveness levels w Significant celebrations and crises w Patterns of growth and decline

50 Historical Analysis Elements to analyze w Beginnings and key influencers w Location(s) w Pastors/key leaders and effectiveness levels w Significant celebrations and crises w Patterns of growth and decline w Demographics over time

51 Statistical Analysis Elements to Analyze w Annual Church Profile figures

52 Statistical Analysis Elements to Analyze w Annual Church Profile figures w Church records in addition to or prior to ACP when applicable

53 Statistical Analysis Elements to Analyze w Annual Church Profile figures w Church records in addition to or prior to ACP when applicable w Concentrate on growth and decline in each area, noticing highs and lows

54 Statistical Analysis Elements to Analyze w Annual Church Profile figures w Church records in addition to or prior to ACP when applicable w Concentrate on growth and decline in each area, noticing highs and lows w Note any and all recognizable patterns

55 Utilizing History and Statistics Compare and integrate the historical and the statistical information that has been gathered

56 Utilizing History and Statistics Compare and integrate the historical and the statistical information that has been gathered Compile and organize notes

57 Utilizing History and Statistics Compare and integrate the historical and the statistical information that has been gathered Compile and organize notes Keep this information to utilize when crafting a strategic action plan

58 Analyzing Demographics Analyzing demographics provides helpful data for church starting or church revitalization to be generated from the inside-out

59 Analyzing Demographics Demographics are statistical characteristics of a population

60 Analyzing Demographics Demographics are statistical characteristics of a population Demographic trends describe the historical changes in demographics in a population over time

61 Analyzing Demographics Demographics are statistical characteristics of a population Demographic trends describe the historical changes in demographics in a population over time Both are critical to urban ministry success

62 Analyzing Demographics One thing demographic work does that is not accomplished through other disciplines is determining needs in advance.... Churches must anticipate and act accordingly rather than react, usually incorrectly, after transitions have taken place.

63 Important Types of Demographics Population density

64 Important Types of Demographics Population density Religious preference

65 Important Types of Demographics Population density Religious preference Race and ethnicity

66 Important Types of Demographics Population density Religious preference Race and ethnicity Immigration

67 Important Types of Demographics Population density Religious preference Race and ethnicity Immigration Age Education Income level

68 Demographic Tools Center for Missional Research (SBC) w or w Richie Stanley, Director rstanley@namb.net w Demographic reports from local to state

69 Demographic Tools PeopleGroups.info (SBC) w w Database from the International Mission Board w Excellent resource for language starts or restarts

70 Demographic Tools MAPChurch.com (SBC) w w w Free missional assessment tool from the North American Mission Board w Effective to offer potential partnering congregations

71 Demographic Tools Joshua Project (U.S. Center for World Mission) w w info@joshuaproject.net w w Excellent people group tool for urban work

72 Demographic Tools General Demographic Reports

73 Demographic Tools General Demographic Reports w Statistics Canada

74 Demographic Tools General Demographic Reports w Statistics Canada w U.S. Census Bureau quickfacts.census.gov

75 Analyzing Demographics Concentrate on the important list and on any other pertinent demographics

76 Analyzing Demographics Concentrate on the important list and on any other pertinent demographics Integrate demographic and history/ statistical information

77 Analyzing Demographics Concentrate on the important list and on any other pertinent demographics Integrate demographic and history/ statistical information Utilize the combined information as the strategy plan is designed

78 Understanding Ethnographics

79 Understanding Ethnographics If analyzing demographics provides helpful data from the inside-out, understanding and implementing ethnographics takes it to another level

80 Understanding Ethnographics Simple Definition: Ethnography is the work of describing a culture.

81 Ethnographic Study Elements w Hypothesis/hypotheses

82 Ethnographic Study Elements w Hypothesis/hypotheses w Relationships

83 Ethnographic Study Elements w Hypothesis/hypotheses w Relationships w Fieldwork

84 Ethnographic Study Elements w Hypothesis/hypotheses w Relationships w Fieldwork w Interpretation w Reporting w Conclusion

85 Ethnography as Ministry Preparing with prayer for a desired result (hypothesis)

86 Ethnography as Ministry Preparing with prayer for a desired result (hypothesis) Reaching into the lives of others in more than a superficial way (relationships)

87 Ethnography as Ministry Preparing with prayer for a desired result (hypothesis) Reaching into the lives of others in more than a superficial way (relationships) Developing an true friendship with others for the sake of understanding their culture (fieldwork)

88 Ethnography as Ministry Understanding the deeper needs of a person because you know them more fully (interpretation)

89 Ethnography as Ministry Understanding the deeper needs of a person because you know them more fully (interpretation) Praising God for the outcome (reporting)

90 Ethnography as Ministry Understanding the deeper needs of a person because you know them more fully (interpretation) Praising God for the outcome (reporting) Sharing the gospel clearly and openly as the relationship becomes more established (conclusion)

91 Benefits of Ethnographics Benefits w Reaches deeper into lives and culture

92 Benefits of Ethnographics Benefits w Reaches deeper into lives and culture w Helps bring understanding about ethnic differences

93 Benefits of Ethnographics Benefits w Reaches deeper into lives and culture w Helps bring understanding about ethnic differences w Offers wisdom to the process of urban ministry

94 Benefits of Ethnographics Benefits w Reaches deeper into lives and culture w Helps bring understanding about ethnic differences w Offers wisdom to the process of urban ministry w Assists in winning the lost to Christ

95 Understanding Ethnographics Understanding ethnographics can help release the great power and potential of multiethnic congregations in urban centers

96 Multiethnic Congregations Southern Baptists and the Homogeneous Unit Principle w The HUP is a church growth theory that projects that ethnic homogeneity will result in higher function, growth, and vitality w In practice, Southern Baptists have reflected this theory well

97 Multiethnic Congregations History of SBC Work in Cities w northamericanmissions.org/files/ UrbanEngagement.Walters.revised.pdf

98 Multiethnic Congregations

99 Multiethnic Congregations Two Essential Insights w While the HUP worked in the 20th Century, it is likely multiethnic congregations will win out in the 21st

100 Multiethnic Congregations Two Essential Insights w While the HUP worked in the 20th Century, it is likely multiethnic congregations will win out in the 21st w The multiethnic church in Antioch versus the homogeneous church in Jerusalem

101 Multiethnic Congregations Three Clear Pieces of Scripture w Isaiah 56: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations

102 Multiethnic Congregations Three Clear Pieces of Scripture w Isaiah 56: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations w Ephesians 2: Reconciliation together through Christ

103 Multiethnic Congregations Three Clear Pieces of Scripture w Isaiah 56: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations w Ephesians 2: Reconciliation together through Christ w 1 Corinthians 12: Unity and diversity in the Body of Christ

104 Multiethnic Congregations It s Messy, But It s Worth It!

105 A Final Word Review w Motivational Facts

106 A Final Word Review w Motivational Facts w Urban Context

107 A Final Word Review w Motivational Facts w Urban Context w History and Stats

108 A Final Word Review w Motivational Facts w Urban Context w History and Stats w Demographics and Trends

109 A Final Word Review w Motivational Facts w Urban Context w History and Stats w Demographics and Trends w Ethnography as Ministry

110 A Final Word Review w Motivational Facts w Urban Context w History and Stats w Demographics and Trends w Ethnography as Ministry w Power and Potential of MECs

111 Revitalizing Churches In An Urban Context John B. Brittain, PhD God Bless You!