In WikiWorship, church members help edit the sermon

[hrmjustin]

Amanda Greene

WILMINGTON, N.C. (RNS) Turning part of the message over to church members is the concept behind a new worship model called WikiWorship.

Yes, that’s wiki as in Wikipedia.

It was developed by the Rev. Philip Chryst, pastor of a United Methodist mission in Wilmington, as part of an evangelism course when he was finishing his degree at Duke Divinity School. He’s using it as part of a Lenten series at 9:45 a.m. each Sunday through April 13 in the bar called Hell’s Kitchen.

The week before each WikiWorship, participants submit questions on religion, ethics, life or God via the mission’s website. Then Chryst chooses one to spur discussion at each service.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/03/14/wikiworship-church-members-help-edit-sermon/

[cbayer]

1. Cool. I like the whole idea about having questions and discussions as part of the service.

I think the decrease in dogma and increased openness to questions may represent a trend and appeal to those who have become disillusioned about where churches have gone.

Very interesting that the first question was about whether non-christians will be damned to hell.

[hrmjustin]

2. I never cared for the hell thing.

I believe in a merciful God. My idea of Satan is more of a lawyer type that accuses you.

[struggle4progress]

3. Their second question is whether we can infer from the existence of giraffes

that G-d has a sense of humor

[cbayer]

4. I would throw manatees in there as well.

[struggle4progress]

5. I think they're cute