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bill
easum
author, and
church consultant with easum/bandy
1.
we ask this question of everyone, and the
diversity in the answers are wonderful - how would
you define the "postmodern movement?"
I define the postmodern movement by what it has
caused to happen rather than trying to describe
it. Postmodernism seems to have caused three
things to happen. We live in a time in which
speed is more than cool, it is everything.
To move slowly and deliberately at this point in
history is so devastating that things like
strategic planning is replaced by strategic
mapping. This has caused everything to be set on
blur and flux. Because of the speed nothing
is as clear as it used to be, I mean nothing.
Instead of looking for answers, the world is
grappling with a new set of questions. As a
result, everything is in flux from day to day.
Flexibility, without losing ones spiritual
equilibrium is essential.
2. leadership is very important for the future
church. what do you see as the four most important
qualities of a leader in the 21st cent. church,
and why?
I think there are two very essential qualities in
a leader for the 21st century, both of which
define the leader's character and authenticity.
Foremost, is a commitment to a call bigger than
one's own life. This call to serve is more
important than life, family, or even health. The
day of the career oriented leader is over. Second,
leaders are passionate about Jesus and flexible on
everything else. When you put these two
qualities together, the result is a very
passionate leader.
3. with "old line" denominations
jumping on the church planting wagon, what do you
see as the future for the older urban churches?
I don't separate the fate of the older urban
churches from that of the rest of the established,
"old line" denominations. I think
the day of denominations in general is coming to
an end. They will be with us, but who will
notice much longer. My guess is that less
than 25% of the existing denominations will
survive the next twenty-five years.
4. most postmodern people see the church as
"money hungry." what do you see as ways
of getting the postmodern person to see the
importance of giving, without making it seem to be
the center of the church?
Postmoderns will give only because they have found
a home in the Body of Christ and are head over
heels in love with Jesus. Stewardship drives
will be replaced by biblical teaching in the early
stages of Christian formation. I have always
contended that discipled people always give and
give well. So the focus should be on
discipleship and the money will take care of
itself.
5. traditional churches and "old
line" denomination systems "choke"
people with a postmodern mindset, what do you see
both sides can do to achieve a balance?
I don't see anyway to achieve a balance any more
than I believe oil and water can stay mixed.
I compare organizations to organisms and machines.
One of my favorite metaphors for thriving churches
is "spiritual redwoods." I then compare
the redwood to a machine. Then I say, "You
can't morph an organism into a machine."
Postmoderns won't waste their time with the
organizational nonsense of Modernity. They
don't want to plan worship or ministry, they want
to do it. This question begs me to return to
previous question. Putting people on
committees seldom grows spiritual giants who give
well of their financial resources; whereas
equipping people for ministry almost always
results in more spiritually mature people who give
generously.
6. what do you see is the role "old
line" denominations will play in the 21st
cent.?
At best a back seat. At worse, the won't have a
role to play. Unless, they begin to make radical,
and I do mean radical changes really soon, and I
don't yet see that happening. Most are still
trying feverishly to rearrange the deck chairs on
the Titanic. If it weren't so serious it would
remind me of an Abbot and Costello movie.
7. what do you believe traditional churches can
do to reach out to a postmodern people?
They have to begin by putting mission before
methodology, doctrine, or denominational polity. I
am beginning to see more and more churches doing
this. They are focusing on separating what
is culturally relevant from what is biblically
eternal. They are willing to change anything that
is culturally relevant while keeping close to the
biblical mandates such as making disciples, being
a witness to Jesus Christ, and developing a
loving, spiritual community .
Perhaps the best thing they can do is to develop a
postmodern church within the modern church.
Give them space and time to grow and mature
without imposing their cultural mores on them.
Holding them to biblical principles and mandates,
but allowing them to run free and follow the
Spirit wherever it takes them.
any closing thoughts?
Tom Bandy and I will be talking about a lot about
the implications of these questions on our 2002
Tour. To learn more about it go to www.easumbandy.com
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