The Young Pietists
Having grown up in the Evangelical Covenant Church in Canada, I was very excited to hear about the development of group called The Young Pietists. The Young Pietists are (from their website):
A group of student, lay and clergy leaders who are committed to empowering the next generation of church leadership; witnessing to biblical justice through holistic and embodied discipleship; and serving and actively engaging the Evangelical Covenant Church so that together we may more faithfully embody the ekklesia, the ‘called out’ body of Jesus Christ.
Building on our rich heritage as pietists who value using our heads, our hearts, and our hands in ministry, we affirm our inherited history in the Evangelical Covenant Church and desire to contribute to its future story. This movement intends to gather, encourage, organize and send out young leaders committed to holistic and embodied discipleship in our church. It is not intended to be programmatic or exclusive – but rather a safe and focused space where young leaders can take part in creative conversation and influence the shape of our church’s communal life.
I am eager to see how this movement plays itself out and matures, as well as the impact that the denomination allows them to have on the larger Covenant Church community. It is my hope that this is the first of many such creative missional endeavours to be born within established churches communities. This kind of change does not require some radical departure from denominational foundations. Check them out!
(Also, check out The Narthex, a theological publication committed to renewing a movement for justice within the Evangelical Covenant Church)
