The Futuring Hub

PLEASE NOTE: The exciting work of The Futuring Hub exists as a part of the greater effort of The MacRae Centre at Acadia Divinity College, and going forward all of our content will be shared via the MacRae Centre's social media channels. Please be sure and follow MacRae Centre to stay up to speed on the important work coming out of The Futuring Hub.

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You and I live at a time where life isn't just lived surrounded by screens and technology--it's lived through them. You're using it right now. As much as we've enjoyed being part of this technological revolution these past couple decades, we can't ignore the fact that it's shaped us... our habits, our relationships, our ability to think, be present, even pray. Maybe you're frustrated by your own relationship with social media, or the constant barrage of news online. I don't think you're alone.

Starting Sunday, we're going to be exploring all these things through a sermon series we're calling "Disciples in the Digital Age." We'll be exploring the way we're knowing or unknowingly being formed by our technological world, and how as disciples of Jesus we can, by the grace of God, begin to live a different and fuller life.

📱Disciples in the Digital Age
Sundays 10:30, Jan 11 - Feb 15
Montague Regional High School

Today we celebrate love made present and a future shaped by hope.
Merry Christmas from The Futuring Hub.

As we look back on the year at The Futuring Hub, we’re grateful for the conversations, questions, and communities that have shaped our work.

This year saw the release of four “Navigating the Future” reports, alongside our monthly Foresight Reports for Christian Leaders and Theological Educators, each one inviting deeper reflection on faith, leadership, and the emerging realities of our time.

We also released Seasons 3 and 4 of Raising the Conversation, continuing to host thoughtful, hopeful dialogue with voices engaging the future of the church and theological education.

And on a personal note, we’re celebrating our Director, Dr. Joel Murphy, who not only successfully defended his PhD thesis this year, but was also appointed Director of The MacRae Centre, a milestone moment worth marking.

As the pace of the year slows and the holidays invite space to pause, we’d love for you to revisit - or discover - these and other resources in your downtime.

📖 Reports: futuringhub.ca/resources/reports
🎙️ Podcast: Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or https://macraecentre.ca/initiatives/podcast/

Thank you for being part of the conversation. Here’s to reflecting well, and looking ahead with wisdom.

Research is changing fast. Elsevier’s global study shows four shifts now shaping the researcher of the future: AI reliance, mobility and collaboration, intensifying pressure, and rising expectations for public engagement. These shifts are already influencing how future leaders learn to seek truth and communicate it with integrity. For theological educators, this is a moment to reimagine research formation. How do we teach wise AI use, build supportive research cultures, and prepare students for public-facing scholarship rooted in hope and discernment?

Which of these four shifts feels most urgent in your context right now?

To engage with our full December 2025 Theological Educators Foresight Report, visit: www.futuringhub.ca/resources/reports

Many leaders today aren’t burning out dramatically. They’re freezing quietly. In this month's Christian Leaders Exploratory Foresight Report we identify a subtle but widespread “normalized freeze” where constant change and decision fatigue make leaders avoid the very choices mission requires. Naming this reality is not failure. It is the beginning of discernment. When we share leadership, try small experiments, and reframe risk as trust, the Spirit reopens imagination that fear has narrowed.

Where might one small step help you unfreeze and move toward hopeful, faithful action?

Find the report at www.futuringhub.ca/resources/reports

Envisioning What’s Next
Check out “The Future Church: The New Landscape of Innovation (Part 4)”, where we wrap up our reflections from the Innovation and Future Church Forum by looking ahead: What could the church of tomorrow look like if we embrace innovation, collaboration, and a spirit of shared learning?

Take a few minutes to dive in.
💡 What innovations do you hope to see in your church or community?
💡 How can we stay rooted in tradition while being bold enough to step into the future?

We'd love to hear your hopes, ideas, or even concerns below.

The Future Church & The New Landscape of Innovation: Innovation & Future Church Forum Insights (Part 4) – MacRae Futuring Hub As this blog series focused on insights from the Innovation & Future Church Forum concludes, one truth has become clear: the future of the church in Canada will not be defined by programs or personalities, but by the ability of Christian communities to learn, adapt, and collaborate amid deep cultura...

Our latest reflection from the Innovation and Future Church Forum,“Signs of Hope: The Power of Openness (Part 3)” explores how openness, transparency, and shared vision can spark new hope and momentum for the church’s future.

This is an invitation to sit with what’s possible.

🌿 Where have you seen openness or vulnerability create hope or change in your community?
🌿 What does a more open, collaborative church look like where you are?

Read, reflect, and join the conversation below.

Signs of Hope & the Power of Openness: Innovation & Future Church Forum Insights (Part 3) – MacRae Futuring Hub In this blog we highlight insights from Dr. Harry Gardner (President Emeritus of Acadia Divinity College and National Convener for Canadian Baptists) and Dr. Jodi L. Porter (Director of Education for Ministry Innovation at Acadia Divinity College).

RENEWAL BEGINS NOT WITH STRATEGY, BUT WITH SPIRITUAL ROOTEDNESS.

In “Rooted Hope, Reimagined Collaboration – Future Church Forum Insights (Part 2)” we dive deeper into what it means for the church to be rooted in hope AND bold enough to reimagine collaboration for the future.

If you're passionate about the future of faith, community, and mission — this is a conversation worth your time.

✨ How are you experiencing hope in your ministry or faith community right now?
✨ What could re-imagined collaboration look like where you are?

Let’s reflect together.

Rooted Hope & Reimagined Collaboration: Innovation & Future Church Forum Insights (Part 2) – MacRae Futuring Hub In this post, we highlight insights from Rev. Dr. Kenneth Foo (Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec) and Rev. Kevin Vincent (Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada). Their reflections hold together two essential postures for the Canadian church: an honest awareness of our present challenges and a h...