Religion & the Spiritual Crisis

Ministry in a Secular Age

An Online Pop-Up Learning Community with Dr. Andrew Root & Dr. Tripp Fuller


A 6 Week Exploration of our Secular Age & the changing shape of ministry

Launching June, 2021

6 Feature Sessions

Andy & Tripp will facilitate our feature sessions that include a mini-lecture, conversation, and QnA

Curated Readings

Each week we will have powerful selections from two of the most penetrating cultural commentators - Charles Taylor & Hartmut Rosa

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Online Community

Everyone will be invited to join the private online group to connect with other nerds and have access to everything in Audio/Video on the class resource page

How can faith be formed in a Secular Age?

In a world longing for enchantment but too cynical to accept it, pastors can understandably feel irrelevant and confused. The speed and rhythm of life are unsettling and decentering. In this class, we hope to provide a helpful overview of how our world became so disenchanted and what it might look like to attend to God in a world that has forgotten how to do so. Through a conversation with Charles Taylor & Hartmut Rosa, we intend to wrestle with the currents of culture and the task of embodying and inviting people into the life of faith.

The 6 Feature Sessons

Session 1: Why the Handmaid's Tale is [not] a good ministry model Or What happened to all the devils and demons? Ministering to people who file belief away as private

Session 2: When Margaritas replace a Speaking God: Ministering to people whose lives are framed by immanence as opposed to transcendence

Session 3: The Need to Recognize Authenticity: What happens to denominations and pastors when our age is an authentic one and our authority is our own self

Session 4: Stained Glass Narratives, melted crayons, and a stack of unanswerable questions

Session 5: Why Speed Kills…the church:  The church isn't facing a decline of resources but a loss of time

Session 6: Why relevance is a drug:  Moving beyond ministries of relevance to encounters of resonance

Meet The Hosts

Andrew Root

Luther Seminary

Andrew Root is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, USA. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture and younger generations.  His most recent books are The Congregation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2021), The End of Youth Ministry? (Baker, 2020), The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need God (Baker, 2019), Faith Formation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2017), and Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science (Fortress Press, 2018).  Andy has worked in congregations, parachurch ministries, and social service programs. He lives in St. Paul with his wife Kara, two children, Owen and Maisy, and their dog. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Andy spends far too much time watching TV and movies.

Tripp Fuller

University of Edinburgh

Dr. Fuller is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Theology & Science at the University of Edinburgh. He recently released Divine Self-Investment: a Constructive Open and Relational Christology, the first book in the Studies in Open and Relational Theology series. For over 12 years Tripp has been doing the Homebrewed Christianity podcast (think on-demand internet radio) where he interviews different scholars about their work so you can get nerdy in traffic, on the treadmill, or doing the dishes. Last year it had over 3.5 million downloads. It also inspired a book series with Fortress Press called the Homebrewed Christianity Guides to... topics like God, Jesus, Spirit, Church History, etc. Tripp is a very committed and (some of his friends think overly ) engaged Lakers fan and takes Star Wars and Lord of the Rings very seriously.


Is this class just for ministers?

No. Anyone interested in the changing shape of religion, spirituality, faith, and culture can join the fun. We will be framing the sessions to address the questions and challenges for those on the ground.

When does the class meet?

The class is asynchronous and you can participate fully without being present at any specific time. The weekly streaming session will take place on Tuesdays at 5pm eastern starting June 15th.

How do I get access to the class content?

The complete class content collection will be available on the password protected resource page. The downloadable audio and video of each session will be uploaded there and available for at least a year.

What happens after I sign up?

The email you enter when signing up will receive an email from tripp[at]homebrewedchristianity[dot]com. The email will include access to the resource page, details on how to join the class Facebook group, and more.

Do I have to have Facebook?

No. Facebook is not required to participate, but an additional way to connect with other class members and interact throughout the class.