Design Thinking and Church Innovation

podcastOPTalks
Written By Open Plaza

Rev. Dr. Tony Lin talks to Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija about the founding of TryTank Research Institute, an “action-resource laboratory”

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In this episode of OP Talks, Rev. Dr. Tony Lin talks to Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija,  the chief innovation officer of Virginia Theological Seminary, about the founding of TryTank Research Institute, an “action-resource laboratory” of which he serves as executive director.  TryTank focuses on “advancing theological research to meet the evolving needs of the church in the modern world.” 

"Are we doing the best we can to meet the needs that they have in today’s world?" Rev. Lebrija asks. Before the pandemic, most churches thought only in terms of in-person services, he observes, yet these times demand that churches work with their congregants to understand their needs and challenges. Churches will then be able to offer options that fit with their needs and work schedules. In his book How to Try: Design Thinking and Church Innovation (Church Publishing Incorporated, 2021), Rev. Lebrija offers other straightforward frameworks based on research and interviews, including tools and templates, for experiments in new ministry.

 
 
 
 

“Church is obligated by the temporal necessity to innovate, think, revise, and revisit. In short, the church is obligated to be an organized entity that is constantly ‘trying’ new ideas. . . . This book comes out of a place of deep faith and commitment.”

— The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham
Dean and President, Virginia Theological Seminary

 
Featured
Tony Lin

Rev. Dr. Tony Tian-Ren Lin is a Research Professor at New York Theological Seminary. He is a cultural sociologist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of religion, immigration, race, and ethnicity. He is the author of Prosperity Gospel Latinos and Their American Dream (University of North Carolina Press, 2020), which Publisher’s Weekly praises as a “well-reasoned,” “evocative debut” that “immerse[s] readers in the lives of his subjects.” He was previously a Research Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia where he held numerous academic and administrative positions. Rev. Dr. Lin was born in Taiwan and grew up in Argentina. He holds a bachelor degree from Boston University, a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Master and Doctor of Philosophy in sociology from the University of Virginia. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister who has served churches in New Jersey and Virginia. His work has been featured in The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post, LatinoUSA, WNYC, and other venues.

Featured
Lorenzo Lebrija

Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija is the chief innovation officer of Virginia Theological Seminary and the executive director of TryTank Research Institute, which focuses on advancing theological research to meet the evolving needs of the church in the modern world.  Before launching TryTank, Fr. Lorenzo was the Chief Development Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. He also served as the Pastor on behalf of the Bishop at St. John's Episcopal Church in San Bernardino, CA, and as priest associate at St. Athanasius Episcopal Church at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul in Los Angeles.  

Before entering seminary, Fr. Lorenzo was president and CEO of Seraphic Fire & Firebird Chamber Orchestra, Miami's professional choral and orchestral ensemble. He was also the Miami Program Director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation responsible for the Knight Arts Challenge, and was General Manager for RadioActiva Hispanic Radio and Editor/Director of Operations for Miami's Community Newspapers. 

Fr. Lorenzo holds an MDiv from the General Theological Seminary in New York City and is currently finishing the doctoral program at Virginia Theological Seminary. He also has an MBA and a B.A. from Florida International University, has completed the full training at the Fundraising School at Indiana University, is a Certified Foresight Practitioner from the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, CA, has a certificate in Design Thinking from IDEO in Palo Alto, CA, and is a graduate of Rice University's Executive Education Program. He is the author of How to Try: Design Thinking and Church Innovation (Church Publishing Incorporated, 2021).

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