Generation Rising: A Future With Hope For the United Methodist Church

Publisher Description

Computers, mass media, consumerism, and family instability have transformed oursociety dramatically over the past three decades. These cultural shifts underminethe stability of real, authentic community and make it more difficult to fulfillGod 's call to live in love and connection to one another. Jesus calls us toreconciliation, but life today moves toward ever-more alienation. The adults now known as Generation X had a unique firsthand experience of thecultural shifts now affecting the way the church works in the world. Growing up, GenXers were isolated and independent and had no common cause in terms of war orrevolution, but had a common experience of life as increasingly less concrete, increasingly more detached. Because of this, Gen X Christians have a deep hunger forauthentic community and the possibility of lifelong growth in grace because thosethings have become more and more difficult to achieve. Generation Rising is the collaboration of twelve Gen X authorswho believe passionately that the Wesleyan vision of Christian discipleship in theholy community called church is the most exciting life we can live. They offer avision of what the United Methodist Church could be, if we will faithfully respondto the call God continues to give us, and where our very identity as disciples willnever be separated from the community God calls us to join. Contributors include: Sarah Arthur, Presian Burroughs, Jeff Conklin-Miller, TimothyR. Eberhart, Joy J. Moore, Julie O'Neal, Arnold S. Oh, Douglas Powe, Shane Raynor, Andrew C. Thompson, Eric Van Meter, and Kevin M. Watson