Six important findings about new worshiping communities

My travels this month have been fascinating, because they have allowed me to look at new church movements from the view of a seminary, practitioners, and denominational leadership.

I spent a week at San Francisco Theological Seminary, for their launch of the Center for Innovation in Ministry. Then, I helped to host UNCO, where practitioners and pastors support one another in ministry. Finally, I went with the Center for Progressive Renewal to present a new church study for ecumenical partners--the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Canada, and the United Church of Christ.

I want to highlight a few things from the study. We know many of these things intuitively, but it’s always good to have research that backs our instincts.