During the World Urban Forum 10 in Abu Dhabi urban thinkers and practitioners from around the world and from a number faith traditions gathered at the invitation of the Urban Shalom Society. These gatherings serve multiple purposes it seems to
One of the most vital conversations at the intersection of: cities, humans, environment, design, and faith is happening at Thriving Cities. As their website says, “Thriving Cities Group uses a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together decades of research, training, community
Just finished up a wonderful few days as the keynote speaker at the annual Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec “Reignite” leadership conference. All the Bapist leaders and their partners are invited to pause their regular day-to-day work, and gather
My friend Chris Elisara invited to join him at the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), when its conference was here in Seattle a few weeks back. I’ve posted just two of the amazing talks from the event. One of the
Wow! What a Day! I have never loved felt more proud of my city than I do today. The Womxn’s March on Seattle was truly beautiful. Lynette and I carpooled with some neighbors, we had a blast… if that’s the right
Paul, Tim, & I get to go up to St. Andrew’s Hall’s “Centre for Missional Leadership” at the invitation of Ross Lockhart and his leadership team at the beginning of next month. Leaders from different church traditions, cultures and regions
Here is a conversation from the latest Inhabit Conference in which Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens and I share the emerging Five Signs of new parish churches and leadership. As always visit Parish Collective for more info on these vital themes.
A few months ago – September 25, 2015 to be exact – the 193 countries of the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Development Agenda titled “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” I can only imagine the
Spiritual innovator Spencer Burke has launched a new venture with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Pacific Southwest Region. It’s called the Hatchery LA, and it is thoroughly invested in one idea when it comes to the future of our
“Conversations after Church” is the latest film directed by Winnipeg’s Bevan Klassen. The film explores faith and spiritual journeys of six people who at one time described themselves as Evangelical Christians and/or Mennonites. Each person’s story testifies to their experience
I just got back from team teaching an immersive learning course at McMaster Divinity College. The course was “Leadership in the New Parish” and I got to team teach it with my brother, Dallas Friesen. So grateful for the team
Came across this the other day and I watched it a few times. This is a vision of development that I need to learn more about and feels really hope filled. Check out the site for the Congress for New
Between the “Leadership in the New Parish” think tanks and the hundreds of parish walkabout Tim Soerens, Paul Sparks, and I have lucky enough to have engage over the last few years, we’ve identified 2 vital questions, and 10 practices
As Lynette, Pascal, and I have been thinking about the rhythms of our lives, we want to experiment with bringing our everyday lives in our neighborhood with our spirituality. While we don’t exactly know what that all means, we’d like
This year’s Inhabit Conference will be our fourth one, the first three all “Sold Out!” Hundreds of parish leaders gathered to celebrate the move toward a more embodied, participatory, and sustainable way of being the church. Our theme this year
Every December Christianity Today publishes its books of the year. This year in “The Church/Pastoral Leadership” CT awarded The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community its Award of Merit! Writing of our book for CT
Next week I’m heading to the Twin Cities to keynote at the PCUSA “Ministry in a Changing World” leadership conference. Saturday, November 1, 2014. Special thanks to Newell Krogmann, and David Parker for making this event happen. Peace, dwight
This weekend I have been invited to join the Evergreen Mennonite Church drawing out its collective narrative and listening to God’s invitation to them in light of who they are becoming. We’re calling the time: “Listening to our Story: Exploring
Bishop Kirby Unti of the ELCA NWWA Synod has invited me to serve as the 2014 keynote speaker for their region’s pastor’s conference. I will be presenting on the key themes of the new book that I have co-authored with
Parish Collective together with The Seattle School have launched a place based leadership certificate. Participants of the Leadership in the New Parish Certificate at The Seattle School share their experience and what they’re discovering. Peace, dwight
Inhabit: The Art of Parish Renewal April 19-20, 2013, Seattle, WA The last two years the Inhabit Conference “Sold Out!” Hundreds of parish leaders gathered to celebrate the move toward a more embodied, participatory, and sustainable way of being the
What a privilege to be one of the keynote speakers for this year’s PLU’s annual Summer Institute on Pastoral Theology. Granted Dr. Nate Frambach, who is the Associate Professor of Youth & Culture at Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa was scheduled
If you know me at all, then you know how passionate I am about the mission of the grad school where I get to teach. You may have already heard that The Seattle School was recently awarded a grant to
There is a tectonic shift happening under the surface of the church in North America. Parishioners are returning to the parish. The greater our individual mobility extends, the greater the world’s longing and need for a faith that can be
Richard Florida, author of the international best seller Who’s Your City: How the Creative Economy is Making Where you Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life, writes to put it simply, about the importance of place. In his introduction
