As Ive reflected on this new responsibility of guarding the flock and caring for the church of God (Acts 20:28), Ive been thinking about the particular challenges facing the 21st century church. Our church may have resources that are going unused because we do not see them as resources. We are an antsy culture. But some of the other answers are not so much logistics. Increased cynicism toward the government and politicized scientists. What is the future of Catholic schools on all levelselementary, secondary, and collegiate? Top 10 challenges facing pastors in 2022 - Subsplash Every scientist has an opinion and most of us agree in part and dissent in part. Pst Fana Skosana from gauteng, South Africa That means these issues often produce trauma and abuse in our congregations. Required fields are marked *. But with the second wave, we see many denominational structures destabilizing. One perspective was that churches would resume their practices just as they were before the pandemic. In the discernment session, we lead the group in some contemplative brainstorming on the basis of the findings of the report. (modern). Integrity is wholeness (integer = whole number), all parts of our lives integrated and reflective of the Lordship of Christ. 10) The Authenticity = Brokenness Fallacy. With the pandemic speeding up a broader trend of Americans turning away from Christianity, researchers say the closures will only have accelerated. We are in the midst of and hopefully coming out of a season of pandemic and also tremendous social unrest, and that unrest has not left the church untouched. Thats why addressing these issues faithfully is necessary for moving into more whole, just, and loving forms of life together. The end goal is not endless dialogue, but action, particularly the kinds of embodied practices your church can do to lean into the new life God is making available. We are the generation that has rendered RSVP-based party planning a futile endeavor. This is a vast area that encompases a wide range of things (homosexuality, gender identity, marriage, divorce, egalitarian vs. complementarian gender roles, pornography, etc. "The church needs to quit talking quite so much about visions, plans, strategies, new teachings, authors, bands, missions, buildings, teams and heresies," advises Brad Vanderburg. Millennials want to know that the church is willing and ready to serve in the community and make a difference. Today is a good day to (re)read Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Letter From a Birmingham Jail and reflect on the continuing relevance for discipleship in our day.