I just got back from the 1st day of a 3 day seminar on Alternative Worship at Lancaster Theological Seminary.  They brought Jonny Baker in from GRACE in London (writer of Alternative Worship).  Jonny gave us different quotes from Marshall Macluhan (the medium is the message).

Here are a few that speak profoundly to me..if you want to talk with me about them, call me or e-mail me.

“The potential of any new technology is always dissipated by its users involvement in its predecessors” (Can this also refer to the potential of new ministries-alternative, etc.. being dissipated by the leaders involvement in more traditional structures??- Thoughts???)

“Official culture still strives to force the new media to do the work of the old media, but the horseless carriage did not do the work of the horse; it abolished the horse and did what the horse could never do.”

“The amateur can afford to lose.  the expert is the man (or woman) who stays put.”- (This one is painful for me to hear as I am struggling with is very thing.  Can I take the risk or am i more comfortable staying put???)

I guess related to these things is my question.. can an emerging/postmodern ministry (emerging church) stay within an institutional church or will it eventually need to move out on its own or face death of it’s original vision and dreams?  Your Thoughts??

Ryan