Blank Slate: Write Your Own Rules for a 22nd Century Church Movement

The church must get "unstuck" from its current context in order to address the context of younger generations; otherwise, it will not be relevant to younger people and will die with the older generations. As an example, a letter from the Younger Generations to Baby Boomers: Dear Baby Boomers, Thank you for all you've done, but I don't want your church. I want you, our relationship, our engagement, but not your church structure and outdated assumptions. Signed, The Younger Generations Blank Slate guides leaders to envision, and actually design, the future church. The authors start by describing each generational group currently living in the US, helping readers understand the varied context of people in every age group. Next, they explore five innovative secular organizations, drawing sharp lessons for the church. The last section includes a seven-step process for ministry leaders to engage current and upcoming generations. This book, with questions for individual and group reflection in each chapter, is a powerful planning tool for ministry teams. "In a time when so many of us want a blueprint for how to do ministry in a rapidly changing world, McIntosh, Smothers, and Smothers hand us a pencil and tell us to draw it ourselves. God has entrusted us to be the designers and visionaries for a new way. Blank Slate is the guide that you and your team need to design a new future together." -Jacob Armstrong, pastor, Providence Church, Mt. Juliet, TN

Lia McIntosh is an ICF certified executive coach, consultant, trainer, speaker, and community advocate. She empowers leaders and organizations to build sustainable relationships and grow their impact in the neighborhoods and marketplaces they serve. Program Officer for Education, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, MO

Jasmine Smothers currently serves as the Lead Pastor of the historic Atlanta First United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as Associate Director for Congregational Vitality through the Office of Connectional Ministries in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Dr. Rodney Thomas Smothers serves as The Director of Leadership and Congregational Development for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. During the past thirty-seven years he has founded new congregations, served as the lead pastor of multicultural, urban and suburban congregations and served as an adjunct seminary professor in the areas of church administration, evangelism, worship and United Methodist History. He formally served as the Director of Evangelism at the General Board of Discipleship, and as a Path 1 New Church Development Coach. As a congregational consultant, workshop leader and coach; he resources laity and pastors, local churches and denominational leaders in the areas of congregational vitality, leadership effectiveness, strategic ministries and the development of skilled servant workers.