The Church after Innovation - Questioning Our Obsession with Work, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship

Churches and their leaders have become obsessed with innovation, which can lead to burnout and a lack of theological depth. Andrew Root explores the problems of innovation and offers a healthier spiritual alternative through mysticism and the poetry of Meister Eckhart.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2022
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Churches and their leaders have become increasingly focused on innovation in recent years, driven by a desire to enliven tired institutions, embrace creativity, and be proactive. While innovation can be a valuable tool for growth and transformation, it is important to recognize that it can also be problematic. In this follow-up to Churches and the Crisis of Decline, leading practical theologian Andrew Root explores the problems of innovation.

One of the main problems with innovation is that it is often driven by a contemporary relevance, creativity, and entrepreneurship that inflates the self and lacks theological depth. This focus on the present can lead to burnout and a lack of long-term sustainability. Root argues that innovation and entrepreneurship should be grounded in a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and its moral visions.

Another problem with innovation is that it can be shaped by new imaginations like neoliberalism and technology. These imaginations can hold the church captive to modernity and limit its ability to engage with the world in a meaningful way. Root suggests that the church needs to develop a more robust theological framework that can navigate these new imaginations and remain faithful to its core values.

One of the moral visions of the self that innovation and entrepreneurship deliver is the idea of self-discovery and self-actualization. This vision can be powerful, but it can also be problematic if it is not grounded in a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. Root argues that the church needs to develop a more holistic approach to spirituality that includes practices such as meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

A healthier spiritual alternative to innovation and entrepreneurship is a return to mysticism and the poetry of Meister Eckhart. Eckhart's teachings emphasize the importance of experiencing the divine in everyday life and the importance of living in harmony with the natural world. Root suggests that the church can learn from Eckhart's teachings and develop a more contemplative and mystical approach to spirituality that can help individuals find meaning and purpose in their lives.

In conclusion, innovation can be a valuable tool for growth and transformation, but it is important to recognize that it can also be problematic. Churches and their leaders need to develop a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and its moral visions and to develop a more holistic approach to spirituality that includes practices such as meditation, prayer, and contemplation. By doing so, the church can remain faithful to its core values and engage with the world in a meaningful way.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 9 x 6 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781540964823