Process Pop-Up: Becoming Together: Immersing a Congregation in Process Theology

Introducing process theology into a congregational setting can be both enriching and disorienting. Its language and assumptions often differ so significantly from traditional frameworks that people may feel as though the ground beneath their faith is shifting rather than expanding. Concepts like a non-coercive God or a dynamically changing divine reality can challenge deeply held beliefs about power, prayer, and certainty. The task, then, is not simply to teach new ideas but to translate them pastorally, creating space where curiosity can grow without triggering fear or defensiveness.

Pastor Brian’s approach is to introduce the core themes of process theology over the course of a month, with different types of learning. Rather than presenting it as a dense theological system, the month offers four distinct but connected experiences that engage both heart and mind. The journey begins with a participatory Bible study centered on God in relationship, using the vine and branches imagery from John 15 to explore divine nearness and mutual indwelling. The next session is a story-weaving circle where participants share experiences of change, loss, and renewal, discovering together how transformation unfolds within community.

Over the rest of the month, these themes are embodied in worship and action. A sermon and teaching moment within the worship explore how persuasive love is the nature of divine power, reframing God’s work as relational and life-giving rather than coercive. The month concludes with a collaborative arts workshop that invites the wider community into a shared act of creation. Through contributing to a single piece of art, participants experience co-creation as a spiritual practice, reinforcing the idea that transformation happens through relationship and continues beyond the gathered space.