Thanks for embracing the nuances in your conversation.
I was particularly struck by the question of whether community is a felt need in 2024. I heard commonalities from your observations of and experiences with immigrant communities in Iowa City to what I know of and about rural communities near you. I also appreciate the tone of your response; it still comes down to churches investing in relational discipleship (or as Robert Putnam would call it, both bonding AND bridging social capital). Being part of a congregation can feel like a series of sacrifices; those rootings are the return for that work.
There's a future "theology of place" paper for seminary somewhere in these thoughts...
Thank you 🤗 Yes, I’m here for all the conversations about a theology of place. Churches need to be places of community, but they are also made up of the very people who often struggle to make places of community. Which is a tough challenge.
Thanks for embracing the nuances in your conversation.
I was particularly struck by the question of whether community is a felt need in 2024. I heard commonalities from your observations of and experiences with immigrant communities in Iowa City to what I know of and about rural communities near you. I also appreciate the tone of your response; it still comes down to churches investing in relational discipleship (or as Robert Putnam would call it, both bonding AND bridging social capital). Being part of a congregation can feel like a series of sacrifices; those rootings are the return for that work.
There's a future "theology of place" paper for seminary somewhere in these thoughts...
Thank you 🤗 Yes, I’m here for all the conversations about a theology of place. Churches need to be places of community, but they are also made up of the very people who often struggle to make places of community. Which is a tough challenge.