NEXT Church is one of those spaces that continues to transition as time goes on. I have been attending NEXT for about 13 years. It is a place that continues to wrestle with the questions of what it means to be the church today—but uniquely it does this with hope and joy and for the church at all levels. The mantra NEXT church is trying to live into is that it is better together, therefore anyone who is involved at NEXT church at any level is NEXT church. We are NEXT church. It is more of a movement than an institution.
It certainly felt that way when at NEXT Church the news broke that the Gay marriage had passed. I’ll never forget that day—Diana Butler Bass was speaking. I was sitting up in the balcony, and we all got text alerts about it. No one was able to hear a word of what she was saying, because the news was so exciting. I was livetweeting the conference and asked if someone was going to interrupt her and announce the news. NEXT Church is kind of laid-back, so it seemed hard for anyone in the hall to break in. Finally, I realized I was in a good position. I raised my hand and said “Excuse me, Diana. I hate to interrupt, but we just got the news that gay marriage was ratified for our denomination, and we are all distracted by the good news. Everyone can marry.” Diana said, “Congratulations. This Episcopalian welcomes you.” And the entire hall erupted in applause. More Light and Covenant had planned a reception for that evening, and what was initially meant to be a small gathering turned into practically the entire conference coming out to celebrate, many of them ordering “the Presbyterian,” which the bartenders no doubt quickly learned how to make.
NEXT Church is not a place for clergy to gather at the mountaintop and go hope. It is trying to meet all of the congregation as we figure out whether the church will continue as it is now, or what it will become. That is what the Already Not Yet national gathering of Next is coming together to contemplate—not to provide all of the answers, but to give time and space to be the church together, both now and for the future. The pathways are for all people doing all the work that is the church, because this is who we are.
If you have had a conversation with me about the greater church, you have probably heard me say, “I’m excited about where the church is going.” It seems like a strange thing to say at this time, but the church was and is always meant to be a movement for the marginal. It was never meant to be for the rich and powerful. Right now, people don’t go to the small town church for prestige or honor. The people who come are attracted by community and by a hunger for something more. We are the church together. God is planting the seeds so that we can become a significant enough movement to do God’s work in the world. The buildings and pews are just dressing. The people are the heart of God’s love.
That something more is what is being addressed by the current Pathways for Next Church. There is the self-explanatory Community Organizing. There is one about the Goals of your ministry called: More Than Good Intentions. There is the much-in-demand Communal Trauma track. There is the one I think I’m going to land on, entitled Art as Trauma (my mom and I had a long discussion that she forgot that writing was art). And there is NEXT church’s pathway about measuring progress other than through membership and money (or butts and bucks) called Cultivated Ministry.
I hope you consider joining me on November 11-14 in Grand Rapids, MI. The cost is $499 and includes some meals. If you do not have a Continuing Ed budget, it is reduced to $299. There is a hotel deal as well, and of course, if you convince a friend to come, you can share a room. If you do not have young children like I do, perhaps you can drive out and reduce costs more.
