Mission:Think, the collaborative effort between me and Jeff, has some new projects already in the works.  We are really interested in fostering discussions that will foster faithfulness within the church.  Here are some potential projects ahead:

• Some discussion is already begining on having a sort of consultation in about 6 months to process and discuss practical ways of following through with the conference.  Nothing is nailed down, but here are some initial thoughts:

• We’d try to make it free or very cheap.  We’d keep in the Twin Cities and try to get those who attended the conference to come be a part of the consultation.  However, we’d also want to make it accesible for those who didn’t attend the conference.
• I like the idea of having Rodney Clapp come be a part of it.  His talk on Green Martyrdom would be a great way of organizing the consultation.  Todd has a good summary of his talk here.
• We’d probably have it hosted a local church…anyone willing to host it?

• In Spring 2007 we’re thinking of having a consultation on "remonking the church." Many who came to the conference wanted to hear more on ecclesiology.  Since several of the folks there have some sort of neomonasic approach, we may try to gather neomonastic folk from all over to discuss ways of embodying our faith in our contemporary American context. 
• MacLaurin has already expressed some interest in co-sponsoring in the future.  We’ll probably do that in 2008. Our tentative topic is: Christianity in a Media Culture.  The goal will be to look at how television and internet and other new media have changed our way of living in this world, especially the way in which we "do" religion–as well as talking about how Christianity speaks into our increasingly small, yet diffuse, world.

About Mark Van Steenwyk

Mark Van Steenwyk is a member of Missio Dei. He is a speaker, writer, educator, and grassroots organizer. With the support of the Central Plains Mennonite Conference, he travels to radical and intentional communities around the country to help network and offer support.