Andrew Root's Blog, page 5
April 7, 2022
WHEN THE CHURCH STOPS WORKING
Churches and the Crisis of Decline
Andy’s brand new book – Churches and the Crisis of Decline – is out now!
Derek took some time to sit down with Andy to talk about the book, the real “crisis” the church is facing (hint – it’s not decline), and the importance for church leaders to simply wait for God to act.
New Time Religion
Churches and the Crisis of Decline
Andy’s brand new book – Churches and the Crisis of Decline – is out now!
Derek took some time to sit down with Andy to talk about the book, the real “crisis” the church is facing (hint – it’s not decline), and the importance for church leaders to simply wait for God to act.
February 6, 2022
Crackers and Grape Juice
Congregations often seek to combat the crisis of decline by using innovation to produce new resources. But leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows that the church’s crisis is not in the loss of resources; it’s in the loss of life–and that life can only return when we remain open to God’s encountering presence.
This new book, related to Root’s critically acclaimed Ministry in a Secular Age project, addresses the practical form the church must take in a secular age. Root uses two stories to frame the book: one about a church whose building becomes a pub and the other about Karl Barth. Root argues that Barth should be understood as a pastor with a deep practical theology that can help church leaders today.
This book pushes the church to be a waiting community that recognizes that the only way for it to find life is to stop seeing the church as the star of its own story. Instead of resisting decline, congregations must remain open to divine action. Root offers a rich vision for the church’s future that moves away from an obsession with relevance and resources and toward the living God.
January 28, 2022
Too Much Positivity, Smoothness, and Ted Lasso
Everyone loves Ted Lasso. But Andy thinks that this points to a bigger issue in our culture & church.
When we’re always trying to be positive and smooth, life becomes an exhausting performance where we hide our jagged edges. And this isn’t always healthy, and it’s definitely not the point of the Gospel.
December 21, 2021
What Does Resonance Look Like?
We’ve talked about “resonance” a lot on the podcast, but what does it look like in the real world?
This week Andy shares a personal story from a family trip to Hawaii featuring messy dolphins and finding beauty in the midst of it all.
Andrew Root on What is Youth Ministry For?
In this episode, Andy Root explores how narrative and joy spark the imagination and provide a framework to minister in Christ and for young people in deeply formative ways.
December 6, 2021
The Englewood Review of Books Podcast
Episode 35: Andy Root & John Swinton
Chris sits in the host chair to speak with two outstanding first-time podcast guests: Andy Root and John Swinton. They have a sharp and philosophically-informed discussion on our experience of time, modernity, and the social concepts of “acceleration” and “resonance.”
John Swinton is professor of theology at the University of Aberdeen, and author of numerous books. Some listeners may remember that we ran an interview last year with John about his book, Finding Jesus in the Storm: The spiritual lives of people with mental health challenges. However, today’s conversation will highlight an earlier book of John’s: Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship.
Andrew Root is professor at Luther Seminary, and author of, among other books, The Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time against the Speed of Modern Life, the third and final book in his Ministry in a Secular Age series, which engages Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age, exploring what Taylor’s work might mean for our life together in the church.
December 3, 2021
New Time Religion with Andrew Root
What a Year It Has Been
We’re back from summer break with a new batch of episodes and it’s….been….quite the year.
There’s a lot going on with the global COVID pandemic, political turmoil, issues of equality and justice, and more. And so to kick things off, Andy talks about the perspective thinkers like Taylor and Rosa can give us during historic times like these. Also – did you know that dogs tell time through smell?
November 9, 2021
October 28, 2021
CBF Blog
Andrew Root, The Congregation and Pastor in a Secular Age
Many congregations felt like they were running out of time to make a positive change before the pandemic. However, now that time has been sped up by a globally-altering experience.
That pressure and stress level is unhealthy for the church, let alone the vocational staff often wrongly tasked with turning it all around.
Time just doesn’t seem to be on the side of the church, its members, and the pastoral staff. The busyness of our culture and our churches, the pressure that comes with time, has replaced sacred time with secular time.
“Being too fatigued to be the church is a challenge. Its most popular solution is change. Perhaps change is needed, but the pursuit of change, the need to recast an identity, runs the ever-present risk of producing depression,” said Dr. Andrew Root on the CBF Podcast.
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