Check out this interview with Jack Hitt, the author of a book written in praise of amateurism. This is powerful stuff, with much that is applicable to Slow Church. “Amateurs gather where some discipline is in distress and where innovation is waiting.” I think the Church is in distress. This is partly why I think it’s appropriate that a lot of the early energy for the Slow Church conversation comes from laypeople and not just the professionals (pastors, professors, theologians, etc.)