Reflections on Faithful Innovation in the City of Saint Francis: ICEF Conference Report

Abstract

The annual meeting of the International Consultation on Ecclesial Futures (ICEF) took place in July 2023 in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States. Participants from the United States, Europe, South Africa, and Australia gathered to share research around the theme “faithful innovation” and to reflect together on the challenges and possibilities for cultivating innovative missional ministries. This paper reflects upon two significant themes from the consultation: (1) clarifying the tensions between innovation and Christian faith, and (2) reflecting upon the ecological conditions that cultivate room for innovation that is faithful, and expressions of the faith that are innovative.