Date: June 6, 2023
In our May newsletter we put out a call for ideas we could fund to create minimum viable prototypes (MVPs) to try new things this summer. We called it the “summer of innovation.” We just announced the ideas where we’re partnering to fund these MVPs.
Here’s a sampling of the ideas:
“Refresh unused church office spaces to be available as coworking rentals exclusively for the parents at our church preschool, creating income for the church and meeting the needs of working parents.”
“Develop a restful space for listening to Cuban music (traditional and contemporary hymns and songs) so that the community around the church can have a special time of meditation, relaxation, renewal, and spirituality during the week.”
“Build up the blank space around our sidewalks/paths on the UofM campus with elements taken from prayer and meditation gardens to share community support and delight in God’s creation.”
Innovation, which we define as “doing something we’ve done in a new way to make disciples” is all around us. We’ll see if these summer experiments pan out, but even if they don’t, the real MVPs are those looking at new ways of following the Holy Spirit. We need to celebrate that.
The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija
Chief Innovation Officer | Virginia Theological Seminary and the General Theological Seminary
Executive Director | TryTank Experimental Lab