Insights

We explore and interpret the changing landscape of community and spiritual life.

The structures of community and spirituality are rapidly changing. Learn about the innovative ideas, creative solutions, and emerging trends that are shaping our culture.

Illuminating Spiritual Innovation

Underpinning the crises of our world is a crisis of spirit. To turn the tide toward flourishing, we need spiritual innovation. Learn about the incredible innovators from Tokyo to Nairobi who are responding to the soul longings of our time – and what they need from us now.

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Design for the Human Soul

Unmet soul needs shape our time. The more we go hungry for meaning, connection and purpose, the more we act from isolation and despair. This plays out in the way we live, love, work, and lead. The problem is soul-deep. So, too, must be our response.

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A Call to Connection

A Call to Connection is a primer for leaders who want to cultivate a culture of connections. Drawing on the latest scientific research, practitioner stories, and ancient wisdom practices, this report illustrates that  relationships are not just a means to an end. They are ends in themselves, and they are vital to enhancing most every aspect of our lives and society.

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How We Gather

How We Gather maps the emerging landscape of Millennial communities that are fulfilling the functions that religious congregations used to fill. Grounded in six recurring themes — community, personal transformation, social transformation, purpose-finding, creativity, and accountability — this report has been called the most important non-theological text being read in seminaries today.

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Care of Souls

Care of Souls brings together four years of research and practice to illustrate seven necessary innovative community leadership roles for this moment. The Gatherer, Healer, Venturer, Elder, Steward, Seer and Maker all unbundle and remix the religious traditions previously seen as separate and invite the reader to live into new categories of religious life.

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Something More

Something More builds on the analysis of How We Gather but looks at new communities at the edge of religious traditions, namely those still claiming an affiliation. Most straddle the desire for authenticity and depth with a very different model of gathering to their denominational or faith congregations.

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Faithful

Written especially for denominational leaders across traditions, Faithful considers the stark and destabilizing tensions between improving existing models of congregational ministry and re-organizing around emerging leaders and models of religious life. It illustrates the need to come alongside innovators to offer the gifts of tradition and the resources of institutions.

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December Gathering

December Gathering: Notes from the Field shares the insights from one of our gatherings hosted at Harvard Divinity School. It tells the story of the emerging religious landscape becoming aware of itself as a movement, and leaders in that landscape realizing the profound value of connecting to one another. This tract explores how these diverse leaders connect through purpose, aspiration, and a deep desire for spiritual leadership formation by transcending traditional silos like “secular” and “religious”.

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