Tim Keller has written a two-part post on the future of cities in the USA.
His main interest is identifying opportunities for Gospel ministry.
Not only can we be confident of a good future for American cities, but also of good opportunity for urban ministry. If cities experience great gaps in social services, this only opens a door for our churches to help in such a way that their neighbors will rejoice that we are here (1 Peter 2:11-12). Whether or not cities are rising or falling, the Christian church’s ministry in and to cities can and must continue to grow.
Read: The Future Of American Cities Part One
Read: The Future Of American Cities Part Two
Now, I have an interest in ministry in rural and provincial situations, but given the urbanisation of Australia I do accept that discretionary resources and funding should be directed into areas that are growing (our major cities) rather than trying to maintain what we’ve had in country areas.
This needs to be done sensitively and with humility.
Provincial and country congregations should humbly commit themselves to Gospel ministry and mission on the basis of their current situation, not on trying to maintain some status quo from the past.
Those in pastoral ministry and denominational leadership should be striving to work alongside non-urban congregations to help them in this transition. Eliminating the notion that a congregation unable to finance a full time ministry has a ‘second class’ status would be a start.
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