Whenever the church has aligned itself with worldly, coercive power, it ends up on the wrong side of important justice issues. But when the church cooperates with God’s power through his presence among the least powerful, its witness for Jesus transforms the world and the church into a better place.
Join us for a 4-week book study starting in March with David Fitch and his new book “Reckoning with Power: Why the Church Fails when it’s on the wrong side of Power”
Fitch has worked carefully to create space to have a much-needed conversation around power systems at work in the church today and the well-documented abuses in Christian leadership. The church in Canada is not immune to this. This book offers theological scholarship, ecclesiological critique, and a hopeful path forward for those who desire to follow in the way of Jesus and lead with Godly power.
New Leaf desires to be a place that catalyzes essential conversations for the church in Canada. Come ready to wrestle with this book together with like-minded leaders.
From the publisher’s description:
In Reckoning with Power, David Fitch unpacks the difference between worldly power, or power over others, and God’s power, which engages not in coercion but in love, reconciliation, grace, forgiveness, and healing.
In a world where we can see the abuses of power everywhere–in our homes, schools, governments, and churches–Fitch teaches readers how to discern power and avoid its abuses and traumas. By learning from the church’s historical pitfalls, Fitch empowers Christians to relinquish worldly power and make space for God to disrupt and transform our culture for his kingdom.
Schedule
Week One: Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2
Week Two: Chapters 3 and 4
Week three: Chapters 5 and 6
Week Four: Reflections and Q&R live with Fitch