Personal reflection on emerging church movements

New Church

Allen's image of the future Church is interesting in that it does not predict any specific end format. Instead, it is a consideration of fluid movements and trends that are likely to influence the operations of the Church. I think Allen applied a large amount of not only critical thinking, but also a particularly thorough body of research and statistics to his central question. He offers his analysis to the reader without asking him or her to agree or disagree. Instead, the premise is simply an invitation to think with the author about the possibilities that the future holds for the Church.

This is one of the things that struck me about Allen's work. Unlike so many other ecclesiastical works, Allen's thoughts are not based upon the fundamental belief system of the church and the perceived dangers that social or demographic changes might hold for it. Instead, it is a practical assessment of the way in which these changes might influence the practices that are based upon a particular set of beliefs within the church. While ideas surrounding homosexuality and abortion are not projected to be subject to significant change, the roles of priests, women, and evangelical Catholicism are seen as having significant future influences.

I find these prospects exciting, because it means, on the one hand, that the Church is flexible without completely breaking with what makes it the Catholic Church. This flexibility will allow the continued existence of the Church for a long time to come. I find this both exciting and profoundly comforting.

Part 2:

In his vision of the future Church, Allen is suggesting that the Catholic Church will fundamentally continue to exist on the basis of the fundamental faith that it has held for centuries. What changes will occur will be demographic and social. These changes will influence the way in which faith is practiced, but not the faith itself. The faith remains. This can be compared with the current trend of the Global Church as well. Christians from across the world are joining this Church under the unifying umbrella of their faith. Culturally, this means the integration of a wide variety of cultures and denominations. These differences no longer cause division, since the unifying factor, faith, is stronger. Allen seems to imply the same in his work. The faith that makes the Catholic Church remains its foundation. In the Global Church, the same thing occurs on a wider scale. The Christian faith remains unchanged, although the way in which this faith is expressed and integrated undergoes some changes.

Part 3: