As we come out of Lockdown, what is the future of the Christian Church?

That's the question which our friends at the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication in London have been asking recently, and they have developed 10 key things to watch for the future of the church.

1. _“

The church must ...be less about buildings and institutional structures and more about relationships."

1. [The church must] ...be less about buildings and institutional structures and more about relationships.
2. A hybrid model of participation will emerge- Both in-person and virtual gatherings are here to stay. Worship services, small groups gatherings and committee meetings will offer in-person and virtual options for participation.
3. Churches will be more community oriented.
4. Inward-focused churches that exist primarily for the benefit and use of their members will diminish. 
5. The ‘clergy / lay’ divide will disappear - God will continue to call people to ordained ministry. But the role of full time stipendiary Priests and staff members will increasingly become more of overseeing and supporting people in their ministry as opposed to delivering a programme or service. 
6. Gospel confidence will grow and become less defensive and welcome dialogue. 
7. The post-COVID church will focus more on spiritual life than organisational strength. 
8. Consumer Christianity will begin to decline and whole-life discipleship will emerge. 
9. Simplicity of faith and discipleship which complements and enriches people’s lives rather than competes with it will emerge. 
10. Online church will become the new front door to church life - The church of tomorrow will be both big and small- while many might think the large, centralised gatherings and church services are dead, they’re not. People will still find them life giving but they won’t be the whole of church life and the interplay between large celebration, small group, personal discipleship and online resources will be a key decision for each church."

Questions:

1. What do you think God is calling us to be and do as we come out of Lockdown?
2. What is your part in God's plan?

Read More:

Click here for the full article by the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication.

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