Why "Complex Culture?"

Many of you have just begun following this blog, and may be asking yourselves, “What is he talking about when he uses the term “complex culture?” Back in July, I attempted to define this term in two posts. For a more complete description, you can click on July and read those posts. Briefly stated:

In the past, the Church’s ministry location has been broken down into three broad categories: urban, suburban, and rural. However, over the last forty years, growing cultural, language, religious, ideological, and generational diversity, has increasingly blurred those distinctions. The endless possibilities for combinations of these differences in any particular community have modified the ministry context of most congregations.

In addition, the broadcast media’s coming of age has tended to shape and homogenize the values of most Americans no matter where they live. There seems to be greater difference and uniformity at the same time. Any variances between the three traditional categories are now more in degree than in kind.

This is not to say that what we have known as urban ministry no longer exists or is needed. The point is that communities everywhere in the U.S. have their own unique combination of the above factors.

Many call it a “new normal.” This blog is proposing a new term, “complex culture,” to describe this new ministry context. The posts found here will be an exploration of both the narrower and broader issues surrounding this new ministry context.

Are you experiencing some of these kinds of differences? If so, what are they?

What are you doing in your church to minister to as many people in your community as possible?

An Action/Reflection Project for the Use of Space

In my book, Reconnecting the Church: Finding our Place in Complex Culture, I have included 25 Action/Reflection Projects (one at the end of each chapter) for you to do in your church. This particular project is not in the book, but follows the format, and will assist you in exploring the dynamics of space.

ACTION:

When your church prepares for a congregational pot-luck dinner, take several round tables (at least 5 feet in diameter) and intersperse them with and equal number of 10’ - 12’ rectangular tables around the room. During the event notice observe each type of table and record the following.

• Which of the table-styles fill up first?
• Monitor the conversations at each type of table:

a.      How many conversations are there?

b.      How many people are included in the conversations?

c.       How many people at each type of table seem not to be included?

REFLECTION:

For a better sample, you will probably need to do this experiment three or more times. Remember that preserving silence about what you are doing is crucial to maintaining the integrity of your outcome. The results of this experiment will normally be pretty straight forward. When you reflect on the results, ask the questions:

• “What is the purpose of this gathering (outreach—getting acquainted—fellowship—have a meal and get back to a seminar—etc.)?”
• “What is the desired outcome of the gathering (incorporate new people into the church’s fellowship—get discussion going—etc.)?”
• “What course correction (as far as the kind of spacing is concerned) do we need make in order to make our desired outcome happen?”
• “How can we look at additional ways we use space to make the worship experience as fulfilling as possible for a diverse congregation?”

If you do any additional research, please share it and your conclusions with the rest of us.