When I was studying missional theology several years ago, I was introduced to the term “discontinuous change.” In an article in 1993, William Pullen described it in this way: “ Discontinuous change occurs in response to an abrupt event in the environment - a strategic shock - for which there is no organizational precedent. Discontinuous means the event is not continuous with the past or current direction of the organization.” The COVID-19 pandemic certainly illustrates such a paradigm shifting event, but many of the changes engendered by this event were already on the horizon. Especially for the church, the pandemic is simply accelerating what was going to happen anyway. We have jumped forward in time and been forced to deal with conditions that were already emerging, This reality came up in a conversation with a pastor recently. In his situation, he has seen that worship is no longer the “front door” to ...
Comments from a Christ-follower on things that matter to him