FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2023, 9:30 A.M.–4 P.M., in cathedral nave; registration required

Cost: Regular, $39 | "Bring a Friend," $69 | "Team" (up to five people), $139.

Join renowned leader Brian McLaren for a dynamic interactive event exploring the future of Christian faith in the 21st century. Is Christianity Worth Saving? is a six-and-a-half hour interactive experience featuring author Brian McLaren. Throughout the three-part event McLaren will be joined by a circle of Seattle-area practitioners, experts, advocates, critics, and audience members who will ask clarifying questions and respond to his insights and observations.

• SESSION 1—“NO”
• SESSION 2—“YES”
• SESSION 3—“NOW WHAT?”

Is Christianity Worth Saving? is produced by Off The Map, who've gotten lost so many times they're no longer much afraid. It is co-sponsored by The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and 3Practice Circles.

Brian McLaren’s book Do I Stay Christian? considers compelling reasons for both staying and going. This is McLaren’s most recent offering among two dozen books that reexamine American Christian beliefs and practices in contemporary terms. McLaren has an acknowledged stake in the conversation. In 2005, Time magazine called him one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America — a claim that rankles some Evangelicals. Jim Hancock, Henderson’s partner at Off the Map thinks McLaren takes that in stride: "Brian McLaren is a public intellectual from the school that’s fearless without trying to come off as fearsome. He doesn’t rave; he reasons — but with passion and compassion. It’s easier to get that wrong than right... I think he gets it right."

Is Christianity Worth Saving? also occurs a day earlier, on March 16, in Portland, Oregon, at St. Johns Church, with Portland-area participants joining Brian McLaren. IN Seattle, twelve guests will be joining Brian McLaren in conversation. The guests include:

• Derek McNeil, President & Provost of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.
• Finny Philip, Community Ministry Pastor at North Sound Church in Edmonds Washington.
• Eliacín Rosario-Cruz, Cathedral Canon and Priest Associate at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle.
• Fred Lynch, hip hop artist, speaker, trainer and film producer living in Dallas Texas; founding member of the rap collective P.I.D. (Preachers in Disguise); is a Lead Trainer for 3Practice Circles.
• James Wellman, Professor and Chair of the Comparative Religion Program in the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington; founder of the Center of Global Christian Studies.
• Jun Love Young, CEO of ZUM Communications in Seattle, and founder of Beloved Arise, the first national organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering LGBTQ+ youth of faith; host of the podcast A Change Mindset.
• Michelle Lang-Raymond, Founder and Executive Director of Seattle’s Acts On Stage; singer/songwriter, playwright, producer, community developer, and former Campus Pastor at Warner Pacific University.
• Michael Swanson, Territorial Mission Integration Manager for the Salvation Army Central Territory in the U.S. Previously, he was Divisional Social Services Director for the Salvation Army Heartland Division.
• Namitha Crow, Talent Coordinator in Seattle Washington for the the global health equity nonprofit PATH; founder and former program director for nonprofit, Sinza, in Kampala, Uganda.
• Pat Thompson, co-founder and Executive Director of YES! Foundation of White Center, Washington.
• Roxy Hornbeck, creative strategist and, until recently, Assistant Professor of Arts Leadership at Seattle University.
• Tali Hairston, Director of Community Organizing, Advocacy, and Development at Seattle Presbytery; Director of the Seattle Presbytery’s Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations grant program; former Director of the John Perkins Center at Seattle Pacific University .

Learn more at the Off the Map website here.

Tickets at this Eventbrite link: $39 for individuals | $69 for two | $139 for groups up to five

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, public theologian, and interrogator of 21st Century American Christian expression. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity”—just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is the author of many books, including A Generous Orthodoxy (2004), A New Kind of Christianity (2010), The Great Spiritual Migration (2016), Faith After Doubt (2021), and, most recently, Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned (2022). In 2005, Time magazine called him one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America. Learn more about Brian here.

Pre-registration required, and spaces are limited. There are no refunds, but we’ll gladly look for someone who’ll be happy to join us if it turns out you can’t. Register at this link.