Exploring Exile

I have been a "quiet" blogger on Secret Women's Business, but have had my blogging focus directed to "Exiles":

The institutional church in the Western World has been in a long period of decline... judged by church attendance at least.

The reasons for this decline are many and complex. I have a particular interest in the rise of "non-institutional" expressions of church life... house churches, workplace churches, and the like.

I also have a pastoral heart for those who have left churches for reasons that have been painful for them... conflict, clashes, spiritual abuse, inappropriate pastoral care, a failure to address serious and legitimate questions and needs.

In response, I've been experimenting with the idea of a website that explores the multitude of reasons people drift from "institutional" churches. If you know of anyone who might find this conversation interesting, maybe you could let them know!

It's not all dire news for the world-wide church. At the same time that the church has appeared to decline in the Western World (less so in the United States) there has been massive growth of the church in Asia, Africa, South America and various islands (eg Papua New Guinea). I also suspect God just might be up to something new in a period of cultural transition in the West... He has a habit of popping up in unexpected ways and places. I'd be interested in any insights you have as to what God is up to in this point of global history.

Comments

AbiSomeone said…
Have you taken a look at the work Brad Sargent has done over at his FuturistGuy blog?

http://futuristguy.wordpress.com/

You may remember him from those early days at TFW... Anyway, his stuff is intense but amazing....

Blessings...
13 May 2010 at 12:40
Janet Woodlock said…
How DO you know when I write when I write so infrequently? Is there some trick I don't know about?

I will have a look... better do some other things I'm multi-tasking on first!!!!
13 May 2010 at 12:44
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