Are you concerned about the inability of the church to reach the postmodern generations? Are you concerned about the lack of young clergy? Are you hungry for a new way of being the church?
If these and other related issues energize you, you're not alone. People all over the church have been exploring these questions in isolation. It's time to link people, resources and passions together for the building up of the Kingdom.
Gathering the neXt Generation is a powerful network which has been developing over the past three years to do just that. After beginning in 1998 as a clergy group, GTNG has expanded to become a resource which allows laity and clergy of all generations to work together for mission in a postmodern world. The network is designed, sustained and managed by lay and ordained Episcopal Gen Xers. Anyone who cares about these issues is encouraged to use it.
GTNG has four simple core values, which participants are asked to affirm:
- We are Christ-centered.
- We value the leadership of Gen X.
- We value our relationships in Christ over the issues that divide us.
- We value restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
How does GTNG work? Think of it like the internet. GTNG is a neutral means of communication and mobilization. If you are interested in getting information or connecting with other people around a certain issue, just plug into the network. If you have a ministry or initiative others can learn from, plug into the network. If you are a postmodern person wanting to get your voice heard and offer your gifts to the Episcopal Church, plug into the network.
A sample of ministry and mission initiatives who have already linked with GTNG:
- Gen X Episcopal Clergy Listserv
- Young Priests Initiative
- Recruitment and vocational discernment internships
- Gen X Seminarians Listserv
- Overall Episcopal Gen X Listserv (in development)
- http://get.to/pomo (A website dedicated to postmodernism and ministry with postmoderns)
- http://surf.to/the_ec (A website presenting the Episcopal Church to postmoderns)
- Gen X Preaching Conference (in conjunction with College of Preachers)
- Rule of Life Project
- Time and Money Seminar
- Catalyst (A Gen X theological quarterly)
These are exciting times in our church. No one knows what it will take for us to thrive in this millennium. GTNG participants are convinced the Holy Spirit is moving through the church right now, and that they are called to serve that Spirit by mobilizing people with common passions to action.
You can access GTNG by:
For more information, email any of these members of GTNG's Core Leadership Team:
