You are here: Home / Archives for Brian-McLaren

Brian McLaren’s Message to the Church on the Fourth of July

July 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sarah, Caleb and I are in downtown Ashland, Oregon right now, along with close to 20,000 other people (in a town with a population of about 21,000 people), taking in the Fourth of July Parade. It’s apparently a pretty big deal in Ashland, and we’ll be seeing what all the fuss is about. I’ve never been a fan of church around this holiday, and so was glad I was coming home from a mission trip this past Sunday. The unfortunate aligning between US patriotism and the religious right in the recent past has been more than disturbing.

I wanted to share with you a short clip that Brian McLaren recently recorded…a message to the church on the Fourth of July:

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , ,

Looking for a Youth & Children’s Ministry Conference?

February 24, 2012 by 3 Comments

If you are still looking for a great continuing education event this spring, you should definitely check out the Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity Event happening this spring. Here are what a few people are saying about it, including Kenda Creasy Dean, who was a good friend and my advisor when I was at Princeton Theological Seminary:

“This event sets the bar high. It’s got passion, purpose, and a lineup of theological luminaries who rarely share the same stage. What brings it all together is a shared core conviction: if we’re going to be the church Christ calls us to be, we’re going to need to take young people as seriously as Jesus does.” -Kenda Creasy Dean

“I’ve been saying again and again that we need a creative revolution in spiritual formation and Christian education for children and youth, and this is the gathering that I think will bring the right people together.” -Brian McLaren

“A new generation needs to emerge that has a passionate vision for making the Kingdom of God a reality in this world. Children, Youth, and a New Kind of Christianity is a major attempt to foster that generation. It promises to give hope to a church and a world that need renewal.” -Tony Campolo

I’m looking forward to being there in Washington, DC from May 7-10, and I hope that you’ll join me. Anyone planning on going?

Filed Under: Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Have you Registered for the Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity Conference Yet?

January 30, 2012 by 1 Comment

I just received an email today from the folks behind the Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity Conference – notifying me that the fee for the conference will be increasing on February 1. The more I read about this conference, the more I’m excited for it and can’t wait to spend a few days thinking theologically about children’s and youth ministry. This was their update:

Register now for Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity and take advantage of the early bird rate of only $189. (Don’t forget that this includes lunches, dinners, and receptions). The registration rate will increase on February 1, so don’t miss out on your chance to save! Visit http://children-youth.com/register/ today.

And while you’re at the website, check out the new primer (http://children-youth.com/primer/) featuring the work and ideas of CYNKC contributors, including John Westerhoff, Brian McLaren, Almeda Wright, Ivy Beckwith, Joyce Mercer and Dori Baker, Shane Claiborne, Tony Campolo, and more! Get to know their ideas before you meet them at the conference.

This primer is a really great resource of articles about the topics that we’ll be discussing more in-depth during the conference. I think I’m most excited to learn more about children’s ministries and what people are finding to be the most effective way to reach children today in our churches.

Filed Under: Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged With: , , , , ,