Distilled Theology Indy The Thirsty Scholar Indianapolis, IN - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Distilled Theology Indy The Thirsty Scholar Indianapolis, IN - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Distilled Theology Indy The Thirsty Scholar Indianapolis, IN Vision of Ministry An opportunity for theological conversation Outside the church With diversity in participation But not a replacement for church Inspiration came


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Distilled Theology Indy

The Thirsty Scholar Indianapolis, IN

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Vision of Ministry

  • An opportunity for theological conversation
  • Outside the church
  • With diversity in participation
  • But not a replacement for church
  • Inspiration came from the Brethren community

Matthew McKimmey – “Distilled Theology” and the Catholic group, “Theology on Tap”

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Program

  • Meets 1x a month, 4th Tuesday of month
  • In a local bar “The Thirsty Scholar”
  • Family style seating about tables
  • Lasts 1-3 hours
  • No cost to attend
  • No preparation necessary
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Distilled Theology

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Communications

  • Facebook page “Distilled Theology”
  • “Indy Star” – local newspaper article
  • Church announcements
  • Weekly church bulletins
  • Word of mouth
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Distilled Theology

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Faith Traditions

  • Mostly All Saints Episcopal Church
  • Other Episcopal churches
  • Methodist, Presbyterian
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Distilled Theology

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Participants

  • Leaders in the church

– Vestry, Stewardship, former Search committee

  • Active in the church (multiple activities)
  • Demographically mixed:

– Male/Female – Age: 30-70 years – Mostly single – Caucasian

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Distilled Theology

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Discussion Preparation

  • The leader picks a topic or theme in advance
  • Topic is announced on Facebook
  • Adds a few quotes or pictures
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Discussion Participation

  • On Tuesday, the leader brings a handout
  • Gives a short theological/historical background
  • Free-form discussion follows
  • All encouraged to participate
  • Usually starts as intellectual discussion
  • Usually moves into experiential conversation
  • Sometimes the leader would offer continued

reading (books and articles)

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Topic: JOY

  • “To get the full value of joy,

you must have someone to divide it with.” Mark Twain

  • Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

C.S. Lewis

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Topic: FEAR

  • “The enemy is fear.

We think it is hate; but it is fear.” Gandhi

  • “There is no fear in love.

Perfect love drives out fear….the one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

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Can you guess this topic?

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LOVE:

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

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HOPE

  • “Hope is the thing with feathers –

that perches in the soul – And sings the tune without words – and never stops at all” Emily Dickinson

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What I liked (participants’ views)

  • Focus on a single theological theme
  • Deep exploration
  • Various view points represented
  • Brings focus and flexibility
  • Ask questions. Raise doubts.
  • Lets the mind grapple with something
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What I liked

  • To hear other people’s ideas and perspectives
  • To hear a completely new perspective
  • To have experts in the group
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What I liked

  • Everyone participates
  • People feed off one another
  • There’s a quality of listening (You are heard)
  • No one dominates
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What like

  • Being challenged
  • Being affirmed
  • Being on our own
  • Can go deeply
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What like

  • Fellowship – fun to be with people
  • Community
  • Bonding
  • Kinship
  • A gathering of fellow believers
  • An anchor point
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What I like!

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Value over normal faith experience?

  • Episcopalians have tradition, ritual, liturgy in

worship

  • Can’t hit “pause” button to explore deeply
  • Provides forum for faith discussion
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Meets These Spiritual Needs

  • To probe deeper than normal church service
  • To provide meaning to life
  • To explore one’s spiritual life
  • To form community
  • To be with people with similar beliefs
  • To be with people who challenge beliefs
  • To contribute to the common good
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Surprises

  • Not attended by a young people. Why?
  • Lack of opportunity for deep conversation

within the church. Is this an opportunity for a change in liturgy or educational programs

  • ffered.
  • An affordable model of ministry. How would it

change if the leader was compensated?

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Insights/Musings

  • Is part of the value of the experience that it

helps take faith out of the church building and into the community?

– They publically prayed together one night. – Comments about needing more outreach in their

  • congregation. They used to be known for their
  • utreach.
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Their Words

  • “Someone speaks and you think ‘Wow! I

never looked at it that way!’”

  • “It was life changing. [The discussion] sent me

down a road I had never expected.”

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Their Words

  • “I was afraid it would be ‘chit chat’, ‘deadly

dull’ but it’s a group conversation. I have to go to that!”

  • “One of the most enjoyable fulfilling things we

do!”

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Distilled Theology