The Church after Innovation

Andrew Root's Church after Innovation is an interesting and incredibly in-depth discussion of the causes and possible effects of a church that is increasingly focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. This theological work is born of various conversations Root had where he heard people both hailing innovation as the Church's savior and those who viewed innovation as the millstone around the neck of the Church.

It's important to note that this book is very in-depth. Root traces the question of innovation and how it became rooted in Church-thought to its earliest traces and is incredibly deft in citing both theologians, economists, philosophers, etc. While this might disappoint those readers who are only looking for how to respond to the Church's new innovative streak, Root makes clear how each of these seemingly disparate threads are vital in understanding how we got to where we are and what the possible consequences (good and bad) might be if the church continutes to weave entrepreneurship and innovativeness into it's DNA. Root makes this whole process look easy which I think says something very important about how good of a theological writer he is. He also skillfully weaves anecdotes and practical experience into this book in a way that doesn't devalue his academic work but instead bolsters it (which as someone who has read a lot of theological writing is a rare feat).

Each year, Apple enthusiasts celebrate the latest new iPhone. Software gets upgraded with more features that are better, faster, and more powerful than the previous generation. The old gets replaced by the new. It is a modern phenomenon that many of us are used to. Just like the Olympics where the prize goes to the fastest, tallest, or most able achievements, life, in general, seems to be heading toward the modern belief that the "latest and the greatest" are deemed better than the previous generation. CS Lewis once calls it "Chronological snobbery." In this book, author Andrew Root looks at how such a philosophy has engulfed the Church at large. He probes the nature of innovation and entrepreneurship asking questions about the history, the underlying philosophies, and its influence on the Church. The basic question in this book is: "Is the Church influencing the world more than the world of innovation influencing the Church?" He points to the latter and calls the modern Church having an "ecclesial obsession" with all things innovation. Thus the title of this book looks at what would happen if the church uncritically embraced innovation in all of its ministries. The author engages a host of philosophical thoughts from Meister Eckhart, John Tauler, Theologia Germanica, Michel Foucault, Andreas Reckwitz, Friedrich Hölderlin, and others. Root raises the question of how similar the Church is with companies like Applebees's where innovation is crucial to survival. While it is one thing to hear from just one Church, it is yet another to notice how pervasive that philosophy is. He notes how one Church tried innovation with great success in the first year only to fizzle out the year after. His key assertion is that the Church should not confuse ministry innovation with her real mission.

He unpacks his thesis in the rest of the book by probing the roots of the uncritical use of innovation and individuality. For instance, modern infatuation with innovation hardly has any orientation toward things divine. He acknowledges the way creativity and innovation have helped move society forward. Yet, while creativity does has benefits in ministry, it should not become an identity in itself. From consumerism to capitalism, management to growth via neoliberalism, it is easy for people to embrace creativity and innovation as the new solutions to all things, including Church.

My Thoughts
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This book is high in critique but comparatively low when it comes to solutions. Root makes powerful observations about the state of the Church and how it has unwittingly hopped onto the innovation bandwagon, sometimes too uncritically. Like many academics, he too is high on deconstruction but relatively low on reconstruction. To be fair, the author has already made it clear at the onset that his thesis is but a starting point for further conversations. He makes strong arguments against our infatuation with all things based on individual creativity and nonstop innovation. This is especially so when it comes to things pertaining to the mission of the Church. He critiques the spirit of the "innovate or die" paradigm that is fast becoming a distraction. Worse, it sucks away the humanity in us. I find Root's thesis a timely reminder of Romans 12:1-2, to be careful not to let the philosophies of the world squeeze the church into its mold.

Some people might find Root's critiques of capitalism and entrepreneurship a little too drastic. This might be applicable to those already deep in the innovation cloud or those who had experienced some level of success from innovation philosophies. So, for these groups, it might take a little while to see the validity behind Root's observations. Bear in mind that he often qualifies his observations in terms of "assumptions." He is not saying that the Church should abandon innovation and creative entrepreneurship altogether. What he is actually saying is two-fold: 1) Don't be distracted by the innovation emphasis to the detriment of the true mission of the Church; 2) Refocus Christian Ministry based on the Theology of the Cross. Then our ministry will grow more toward authenticity instead of mere aesthetics.

A word about Root's conclusion. Using Friedrich Hölderlin's movement from Enlightenment to Romanticism, we are reminded that the highest goal of the human person is toward fulfillment in God rather than self-accomplishment. This might appear strange judging from Root's many analytical chapters throughout the book, only to arrive at such a conclusion about art and poetry. I remember one apologist saying how arguments can work both ways. If one could reason oneself into faith, in the same way, one could also reason oneself out of faith. Thus shows the limits of analysis. I believe Root has a point here, that the divine cannot be approached by the mind of analysis. God needs to be embraced in worship and that in itself is an art.

As always, I find Root's work very thought provoking. This book is no different.

Andrew Root (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of numerous books, including Faith Formation in a Secular Age, The Pastor in a Secular Age, The Congregation in a Secular Age, Churches and the Crisis of Decline, and The End of Youth Ministry? Root is also the coauthor (with Kenda Creasy Dean) of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Part of the author's series regarding how Christianity can look and work in our secular age; in this work he focuses on the emphasis on "innovation" and "entrepreneurship."

Throughout the book the author explains his connections in a denominational organization with various characters, all of whom want to move forward in ministry and be effective, but with varying commitments to "innovation." One guy is reactionary against such things; one seems to be a potent evangelist for it; another is a higher level official who is trying to leverage the spirit of the age to advance the mission.

Yet the author throughout has his misgivings about the entire impetus toward "innovation." He does so not from a Luddite or reactionary posture but instead considers the recent history of how we have reached the place where creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation are prized above all other things. Part of this story is the greater insecurity but "freedom" granted ever since the collapse of the bureaucratized workplace of the 1940s to the 1970s; a lot of the story is how capitalism manifests all kinds of internal contradictions regarding consumption and creativity and thus questions using what works for business as a model for what should work for Christians and churches. He speaks of the exhaustion brought by the constant pursuit of continual innovation, the over-valuation of the self when creativity is honored above all, and how attempting to foster creativity and innovation can many times backfire.

The story does not turn out as expected; the innovation evangelist leaves ministry; a dynamic small group looking to creatively innovate implodes and hinders the faith development of many of the young people working in it. The author looks toward the path of the mystics to help us find a way beyond innovation and creativity and the boxes they force us into in late capitalism.

A lot to chew on. Good critique of the continual attempts to use business insights to direct the way forward for Christians and churches. Definitely worth consideration.