Ep. 113 Andrew Root Returns - When Church Stops Working
Jun 27, 2023
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Andrew Root, a Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary and author of 'When Church Stops Working,' explores the church's challenges in today's world. He argues that innovation isn't the answer, urging a focus on spiritual guidance and community storytelling. Root emphasizes the power of waiting and reflection, advocating for deeper connections during times of sorrow. He suggests shifting from static mission statements to engaging 'watchwords' that prioritize genuine faith. Overall, he calls for a communal approach to embrace life's crises.
Church leaders should focus on waiting for the Spirit's guidance and embracing spiritual crises instead of seeking innovative solutions.
The design of church spaces significantly impacts community interactions, promoting deeper spiritual engagement and connection among members.
Deep dives
The Crisis of Innovation in the Church
Innovation in the church has not resolved the underlying crises; rather, it has exacerbated them by deepening the church's entanglement with secular culture. The reliance on innovative methods to address church decline often distracts from the true essence of faith, which involves grappling with spiritual crises. Instead of seeking to escape from these crises, it is essential to acknowledge and embrace them as a part of the Christian experience. Engaging with this reality requires leaders to shift their focus from trying to innovate solutions to discerning how God is still active in the world.
The Importance of Waiting
A vital aspect of faith is the call to collectively wait for the leading of the Spirit rather than rushing to take action. The early church received instruction to wait for the Holy Spirit before undertaking their mission, prompting the necessity for patience in the face of uncertainty. This act of waiting allows for deepened faith and reflection within the community and creates space for recognizing God's presence amidst trials. Active waiting emphasizes building relationships, sharing sorrows, and experiencing God's intervention rather than merely producing results.
Architecture and Community Engagement
The design and use of church spaces significantly impact how communities interact with God and each other. Architectural elements can serve as symbols and reminders of faith, drawing individuals into a deeper understanding of their spiritual journey. While church buildings should not merely serve as functional structures, they need to embody the sacredness of community and connection. Rethinking church spaces can lead to environments conducive to spiritual engagement and collective waiting on God's action in their lives.
The Role of Witness and Testimony
Being a witness in the Christian faith involves sharing stories of how God has worked in individual and communal lives, particularly in moments of suffering and transformation. Such testimonies reflect the depth of God's presence and love in times of despair and joy and serve to encourage and uplift the community. Rather than focusing solely on producing measurable outcomes, the church should prioritize narrating authentic experiences of faith that engage the vulnerabilities and hopes of its members. Embracing this witness fosters a communal identity connected to God's ongoing story and invites others to join in the transformation of life.
In this episode, Andrew Root talks about his latest book When Church Stops Working, and he answers the question why isn't innovation the answer? He talks through waiting for the Spirit's leading, paying attention to our stories, being witnesses to the acts of God, and sitting with the sorrows of our neighbors.
Andrew Root, PhD (Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary. He is most recently the author of four volume Ministry in a Secular Age series (Churches and the Crisis of Decline, The Congregation in a Secular Age, The Pastor in a Secular Age, and Faith Formation in a Secular Age), and The End of Youth Ministry?. He has also authored Christopraxis: A Practical Theology of the Cross (Fortress, 2014) and Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker (Baker, 2014). Root puts together theology and storytelling to explore how ministry leads us into encounter with divine action. His book The Relational Pastor(IVP, 2013) as well as a four book series with Zondervan called A Theological Journey Through Youth Ministry (titles include Taking Theology to Youth Ministry, Taking the Cross to Youth Ministry, Unpacking Scripture in Youth Ministry, and Unlocking Mission and Eschatology in Youth Ministry) break new ground in this direction. In 2012 his book The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry (with Kenda Creasy Dean, IVP, 2011) was Christianity Today Book of Merit. He has written a number of other books on ministry and theology such as The Children of Divorce: The Loss of Family as the Loss of Being (Baker Academic, 2010), The Promise of Despair (Abingdon, 2010), Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry: From a Strategy of Influence to a Theology of Incarnation (IVP, 2007) and Relationships Unfiltered (Zondervan/YS, 2009). Andy has worked in congregations, parachurch ministries, and social service programs. He lives in St. Paul with his wife Kara, two children, Owen and Maisy, and their dog. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Andy spends far too much time watching TV and movies.