Comments on: A map to the future of the parish http://blog.todaysparish.com/2010/03/a-map-to-the-future-of-the-parish/ Ideas and Inspiration for Pastors, Parish Ministers, and Leaders Tue, 03 May 2011 12:43:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Facebook User http://blog.todaysparish.com/2010/03/a-map-to-the-future-of-the-parish/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Facebook User Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:40:38 +0000 http://blog.todaysparish.com/?p=576#comment-181 Hi William. I think the overall point Roxburgh is making is that we don't yet know what it means to make new maps. It is going to be a learning experience for all of us. The first step, however, is to stop relying on old maps. We have to be willing to try new things, some of which may seem counter-intuitive. So, perhaps we have to re-invent ways of safeguarding the deposit of faith. In a previous era, we could simply say "as the church has always taught." Now, we have to find a way to make church teaching more authentic for the lives of those we are ministering to. The faith is still the same. But the presentation of the faith will have to change. For me, the challenge is to first of all listen more. So many of the people who need to hear the gospel are so different from me. Until I better understand how they are different and what is important to them right now, I will not be able to tell them why the gospel is important to me and how it can be important to them. Blessings on all you are doing to spread the word. Hi William. I think the overall point Roxburgh is making is that we don’t yet know what it means to make new maps. It is going to be a learning experience for all of us. The first step, however, is to stop relying on old maps. We have to be willing to try new things, some of which may seem counter-intuitive.

So, perhaps we have to re-invent ways of safeguarding the deposit of faith. In a previous era, we could simply say “as the church has always taught.” Now, we have to find a way to make church teaching more authentic for the lives of those we are ministering to. The faith is still the same. But the presentation of the faith will have to change.

For me, the challenge is to first of all listen more. So many of the people who need to hear the gospel are so different from me. Until I better understand how they are different and what is important to them right now, I will not be able to tell them why the gospel is important to me and how it can be important to them.

Blessings on all you are doing to spread the word.

]]> By: William http://blog.todaysparish.com/2010/03/a-map-to-the-future-of-the-parish/comment-page-1/#comment-156 William Tue, 04 May 2010 14:47:26 +0000 http://blog.todaysparish.com/?p=576#comment-156 Nick, Thank you for sharing. I would be very interested in the implications of what this author is talking about for the Church. What "new disciplines" as Catholics might be considered? You shared that "Traditional churches are coming to be seen as no longer relevant to the everyday lives of ordinary people. Therefore, the more we focus on the internal workings of parish life, the less we will be able to connect authentically with the actual lives of real people in real neighborhoods. And, in recognizing this change, we have to admit that there is really not much cultural or spiritual difference between the people who have left the church completely and those who may still be in our pews. The forces of change are not just “out there.”" What does this mean for the life of the Catholic Parish? How do we "guard the deposit which has been entrusted to us" (1 Tim. 6:20) while making it relevant to those in the Third Millennium? Also, what does it mean to make a "new map" in a Catholic parish, in the Church? I would greatly appreciate any insights you have regarding missional map-making. Nick,
Thank you for sharing. I would be very interested in the implications of what this author is talking about for the Church. What “new disciplines” as Catholics might be considered? You shared that “Traditional churches are coming to be seen as no longer relevant to the everyday lives of ordinary people. Therefore, the more we focus on the internal workings of parish life, the less we will be able to connect authentically with the actual lives of real people in real neighborhoods. And, in recognizing this change, we have to admit that there is really not much cultural or spiritual difference between the people who have left the church completely and those who may still be in our pews. The forces of change are not just “out there.””
What does this mean for the life of the Catholic Parish? How do we “guard the deposit which has been entrusted to us” (1 Tim. 6:20) while making it relevant to those in the Third Millennium? Also, what does it mean to make a “new map” in a Catholic parish, in the Church?

I would greatly appreciate any insights you have regarding missional map-making.

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