Are conventional church growth strategies falling short in today's changing religious landscape? In this episode (first in a two-part discussion), we dive deep into the concept of "innovation" in church contexts, exploring whether it's a helpful framework for ministry or a potential distraction from our core mission.

Dr. Andrew Root offers a critical perspective on adopting business-world trends, while the Rev Dr. Michael Binder and the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile present a case for "faithful innovation." Their spirited conversation reveals both cautions and possibilities for churches seeking to thrive beyond traditional growth metrics.

Discover insights on:
The limitations of conventional church growth strategies
Balancing faithfulness with adaptation in changing times
Practices for deep listening and discernment in congregations
Measuring ministry effectiveness beyond numbers
Embracing uncertainty while remaining grounded in gospel truths

Whether you're rethinking your church's approach to growth or seeking fresh perspectives on faithful ministry, this episode offers valuable insights for navigating the complexities of church leadership in the 21st century.

SHOW NOTES:


Book: "The Church After Innovation" by Andrew Root


Book: "Leading Faithful Innovation" by Michael Binder, Dwight Zscheile, and Tessa Pinkstaff


Download: Spiritual Life Listening Tool


Download: Free sample chapter of Leading Faithful Innovation

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8rKGLGi9jC0

Are conventional church growth strategies falling short in today's changing religious landscape? In this episode (first in a two-part discussion), we dive deep into the concept of "innovation" in church contexts, exploring whether it's a helpful framework for ministry or a potential distraction from our core mission.
Dr. Andrew Root offers a critical perspective on adopting business-world trends, while the Rev Dr. Michael Binder and the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile present a case for "faithful innovation." Their spirited conversation reveals both cautions and possibilities for churches seeking to thrive beyond traditional growth metrics.
Discover insights on:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The limitations of conventional church growth strategies</li>
<li aria-level="1">Balancing faithfulness with adaptation in changing times</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practices for deep listening and discernment in congregations</li>
<li aria-level="1">Measuring ministry effectiveness beyond numbers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Embracing uncertainty while remaining grounded in gospel truths</li>
</ul>
Whether you're rethinking your church's approach to growth or seeking fresh perspectives on faithful ministry, this episode offers valuable insights for navigating the complexities of church leadership in the 21st century.
SHOW NOTES:
<ul>
<li>
Book: "<a href="https://www.andrewroot.org/the-church-after-innovation/">The Church After Innovation" by Andrew Root</a>
</li>
<li>
Book: "<a href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506488769/Leading-Faithful-Innovation">Leading Faithful Innovation" by Michael Binder, Dwight Zscheile, and Tessa Pinkstaff</a>
</li>
<li>
Download: <a href="https://faithlead.org/ebooks/spiritual-life-listening-tool/">Spiritual Life Listening Tool</a>
</li>
<li>
Download: <a href="https://faithlead.org/topics/faithful-innovation/">Free sample chapter of Leading Faithful Innovation</a>
</li>
</ul>
Watch this episode on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/8rKGLGi9jC0">https://youtu.be/8rKGLGi9jC0</a>

COVID-19 forced church leaders to respond to a global crisis in the blink of an eye. In a moment with little information and much uncertainty, churches reinvented nearly every aspect of church. This moment has ignited imagination, created collaborations, launched experiments, and dreamed of new possibilities as the heroic efforts of leaders continue to lead ministry. The response to these challenges has been great, but there comes a time when responding is no sufficient. If the church is going to live into a new reality, it will need to pivot.
Pivot invites church leaders to use the disruptive moment of COVID-19 to reimagine how they think about church, ministry, and leadership. Each week three veteran church leaders wrestle with making spiritual sense of this time, name how the Christian faith is a resource for navigating this moment in history, offer ideas on how church leaders can pivot toward the emerging future, and suggest practices for engaging others in this work.
Pivot is co-sponsored by LEAD and Faith+Lead.

COVID-19 forced church leaders to respond to a global crisis in the blink of an eye. In a moment with little information and much uncertainty, churches reinvented nearly every aspect of church. This moment has ignited imagination, created collaborations, launched experiments, and dreamed of new possibilities as the heroic efforts of leaders continue to lead ministry. The response to these challenges has been great, but there comes a time when responding is no sufficient. If the church is going to live into a new reality, it will need to pivot.
Pivot invites church leaders to use the disruptive moment of COVID-19 to reimagine how they think about church, ministry, and leadership. Each week three veteran church leaders wrestle with making spiritual sense of this time, name how the Christian faith is a resource for navigating this moment in history, offer ideas on how church leaders can pivot toward the emerging future, and suggest practices for engaging others in this work.
Pivot is co-sponsored by <a href="https://waytolead.org/">LEAD</a> and Faith+Lead.

Pivot

Season 5 of the Pivot podcast explores the changing landscape of the church. Our co-hosts will dig into difficult questions that faith leaders are asking now, and provide an understanding of the deeper cultural shifts that account for the unraveling of inherited models of church. 

Season 5 of the Pivot podcast explores the changing landscape of the church. Our co-hosts will dig into difficult questions that faith leaders are asking now, and provide an understanding of the deeper cultural shifts that account for the unraveling of inherited models of church.

Episode 92: Innovation: Hype or Hope (1 of 2)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/28f01144-8775-4fb7-b93c-ad7c010bef79/clips/ace5aa97-c091-4f46-b6c1-b1d900e958b8/transcript

Transcript

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