There are many congregations out there that have good intentions, and yet are dying. Many times pastors and DSs have tried to turn that congregation around without success. Sometimes it is obvious what the needs are for the congregation, sometimes it is not. Too often trying to turn the congregation in a healthy direction feels like trying to turn the Titanic.
I was inspired yesterday by reading about a church in South Africa in The Teaching Ministry of Congregations. This church had a transformation as it owned the need to act out its faith against Apartheid. It wasn't a leading church against Apartheid, but it changed its entire trajectory with the help of a pastor who was only there for 18 months!
Anyone who's interested can check it out, I don't want to summarize his method here, but I want to highlight the inspiring point that given proper leadership, an understanding of a congregation's underlying theology that is assumed, and a solid direction to turn the congregation toward; it is possible to "turn the Titanic." It's amazing, but the underlying ethos of that congregation did change. What hope for those struggling to do a similar task.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Faith Metaphore
well, I haven't posted in a while mostly because I've been too busy with papers and exams to process much of the insights I gain in my studies. Oh well, some will stick and others will pass by.
Tonight I celebrated Earth Hour which is an hour to stop using electricity to raise awareness of environmental concerns. We had a really nice worship service on campus during which I had an image, a metaphore, that was meaningful to me. We each took a candle and went somewhere in the chapel for 10 min. We could sit in silence or pray or whatever we wanted.
For a long while I sat bowed over the candle with my eyes closed. I could see the imprint of the light on my eyelids and the brightness of it covered me. At some point I sat up and raised my head upward with my eyes still closed. The darkness settled over me quickly. I was struck in that moment by what a metaphor that was for my life. There have been times when I have been so engulfed by the presence of God that I could see it clearly just as when I was facing the light. But many other times, probably more times in my life, I've felt that the darkness is all that I could see. It seemed so real. Yet the amazing thing in that moment as I sat with the candle is that I knew that the candle was still there and still blazing. I could feel the candle in my hand even though I couldn't see or feel it's fire. That is what my faith seeks to do. When the darkness is closing in I grasp hold of that which I cannot see. I know that it is real even when I'm scared, even when I doubt, even when I don't understand.
I'm sure it's not a new metaphore, but I want to remember it.
Tonight I celebrated Earth Hour which is an hour to stop using electricity to raise awareness of environmental concerns. We had a really nice worship service on campus during which I had an image, a metaphore, that was meaningful to me. We each took a candle and went somewhere in the chapel for 10 min. We could sit in silence or pray or whatever we wanted.
For a long while I sat bowed over the candle with my eyes closed. I could see the imprint of the light on my eyelids and the brightness of it covered me. At some point I sat up and raised my head upward with my eyes still closed. The darkness settled over me quickly. I was struck in that moment by what a metaphor that was for my life. There have been times when I have been so engulfed by the presence of God that I could see it clearly just as when I was facing the light. But many other times, probably more times in my life, I've felt that the darkness is all that I could see. It seemed so real. Yet the amazing thing in that moment as I sat with the candle is that I knew that the candle was still there and still blazing. I could feel the candle in my hand even though I couldn't see or feel it's fire. That is what my faith seeks to do. When the darkness is closing in I grasp hold of that which I cannot see. I know that it is real even when I'm scared, even when I doubt, even when I don't understand.
I'm sure it's not a new metaphore, but I want to remember it.
Monday, March 9, 2009
spheres of influence
Just something I wrote for a class. I wanted to preserve it here.
There are various parts of life that have the potential to be centers of authority and organizing principles for living. These various parts each have their own sets of rules. In former times, these various parts of life had to contend with one another. Religion had to contend with politics which had to contend with family and extended family. School had to contend with charity and morality and hobbies. These various spheres had to be aware of and work with or against others. One example is the way that many stores (business) interacted with religion by closing on Sundays.
Today, these various things seem to be almost isolated. Each sphere acts with autonomy as if the others didn’t exist. I think this is what Scharen means by Compartmentalization in Faith as a Way of Life. Today, many sports and stores no longer care if they are demanding Sunday morning time because they function in isolation from religion. There is thus, also as spreading effect. The interaction between spheres that used to exist in effect created some boundaries of influence. It was expected that schools and businesses wouldn’t function on Sunday mornings because this was the boundary where school met religion.
This reminds me some of spheres of influence. Whereas market principles used to only exert influence over the spheres of market exchange, those principles, devoid of the boundaries created by the interplay between spheres, has been claiming ground in other areas such as the way friendships function or how hospitals are run.
The conflict between the spheres, however, does not go away. The difference is, that instead of the spheres contending with one another and creating boundaries and spheres of influence, it is now up to each individual to contend with these spheres in each aspect of life. Now on Sunday mornings each family must decide if they will live into the sphere of children’s sports demands, the sphere of work demands, the sphere of religion and many many more. This ongoing struggle between spheres that are compartmentalized and not interacting is what I understand as fragmentation. Each aspect of our life is pulling us in various directions. Our lives are fragmented because we must choose between activities, priorities, and passions that constantly conflict. It is not only time constraints that cause this fragmentation. These various spheres demand from us different characteristics. We therefore are pulled to become different people with different priorities in different places. When people talk about wearing different hats I believe this is what they mean.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Lord of the Rings meets Apostle Paul
I've been so busy and stressed recently that I've been unable to absorb, let alone sit down and blog, new insights. But as I finally picked up reading, and laid aside my stress, I was confronted with a new book, and a new cool image!
In The Teaching Ministry of Congregations Rochard Osmer describes Paul's thoughts as parallel, yet linked, story lines. He uses the story The Lord of the Rings to describe this. The major battle is going on with Gandolf and humans and elves, and yet it is the other seemingly humble and simple storyline of Frodo and the ring that ultimately leads to the downfall of the Saurumon. Similarly, for Paul the life, death, resurection, and second coming of Jesus is what ultimately will save the day, and yet all Christians are part of this other storyline that is also important.
What made me go AHA! was the memory of a certain scene in the Lord of the Rings, well actually two. The first was when Gandolf and Aragorn are talking in the third movie "The Return of the King." They have no word from Frodo, but their hearts tell them that Frodo is still alive.
The other scene is the decision to draw out the armies of Mordor. To give Frodo the advantage he needs, they risk everything to do the unthinkable.
Like Gandolf with Frodo, we cannot now see clearly the working of Jesus. We sometimes doubt how He can still be working in this broken world 2000 years after his life. But it is through hope and faith that we continue. But our faith means risks. The Fellowship could have waited, but their faith in Frodo's journey caused them to do the unthinkable. Like Noah who spent 40 years doing the unthinkable, building an ark, sometimes our faith requires us to do the unthinkable. We must act out our faith to be part of the storyline that brings victory.
In The Teaching Ministry of Congregations Rochard Osmer describes Paul's thoughts as parallel, yet linked, story lines. He uses the story The Lord of the Rings to describe this. The major battle is going on with Gandolf and humans and elves, and yet it is the other seemingly humble and simple storyline of Frodo and the ring that ultimately leads to the downfall of the Saurumon. Similarly, for Paul the life, death, resurection, and second coming of Jesus is what ultimately will save the day, and yet all Christians are part of this other storyline that is also important.
What made me go AHA! was the memory of a certain scene in the Lord of the Rings, well actually two. The first was when Gandolf and Aragorn are talking in the third movie "The Return of the King." They have no word from Frodo, but their hearts tell them that Frodo is still alive.
The other scene is the decision to draw out the armies of Mordor. To give Frodo the advantage he needs, they risk everything to do the unthinkable.
Like Gandolf with Frodo, we cannot now see clearly the working of Jesus. We sometimes doubt how He can still be working in this broken world 2000 years after his life. But it is through hope and faith that we continue. But our faith means risks. The Fellowship could have waited, but their faith in Frodo's journey caused them to do the unthinkable. Like Noah who spent 40 years doing the unthinkable, building an ark, sometimes our faith requires us to do the unthinkable. We must act out our faith to be part of the storyline that brings victory.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Expect more!
So I just had to share how much I love the Practicing Congregation!
I remember in Middle School that my parents talked about the kids in Confirmation class. The church was struggling over the fact that many of the kids came just for Confirmation, went to church at one of the Non-Denominational churches, and then never came back to our church after they finished Confirmation. Part of the discussion was the baffling fact (to most) that these large and growing NonDenom churches had such high expectations/requirements of the people that attended! I also remember working at a church in college and wondering why we make people take a pledge when they join, but do nothing to really hold them to that standard after they are in the church.
The dominant idea for years was put forth in 1972 by Dean Kelly in his book: Why Conservative Churches Are Growing. The conclusion was that Religiously demanding (aka strict) churches grow. Diana Butler Bass counters: "Kelley equated 'conservative' with 'demanding,' or religion that had to be engaged with rigor and purpose...No one expected that old mainline churches would - or could- ever reject the low-demand, establishment ethos of the early twentieth century." The point is that churches that focuses on an intentional faith are growing!
I love it! The studies seem to indicate what I've been feeling all along. Why don't we expect more, instead of less, from our congregation? from our new members? We seem to cheapen God's grace when we fit it neatly into our existing lives. "While still being politely mainline about it, they nevertheless 'demanded' certain things from their members - not in terms of doctrinal assent, but in terms of stewardship, spiritual growth, ministry, mission, and practice." !!!!! This is exactly what we need to be calling people to! This is exactly what we are called to!
I remember in Middle School that my parents talked about the kids in Confirmation class. The church was struggling over the fact that many of the kids came just for Confirmation, went to church at one of the Non-Denominational churches, and then never came back to our church after they finished Confirmation. Part of the discussion was the baffling fact (to most) that these large and growing NonDenom churches had such high expectations/requirements of the people that attended! I also remember working at a church in college and wondering why we make people take a pledge when they join, but do nothing to really hold them to that standard after they are in the church.
The dominant idea for years was put forth in 1972 by Dean Kelly in his book: Why Conservative Churches Are Growing. The conclusion was that Religiously demanding (aka strict) churches grow. Diana Butler Bass counters: "Kelley equated 'conservative' with 'demanding,' or religion that had to be engaged with rigor and purpose...No one expected that old mainline churches would - or could- ever reject the low-demand, establishment ethos of the early twentieth century." The point is that churches that focuses on an intentional faith are growing!
I love it! The studies seem to indicate what I've been feeling all along. Why don't we expect more, instead of less, from our congregation? from our new members? We seem to cheapen God's grace when we fit it neatly into our existing lives. "While still being politely mainline about it, they nevertheless 'demanded' certain things from their members - not in terms of doctrinal assent, but in terms of stewardship, spiritual growth, ministry, mission, and practice." !!!!! This is exactly what we need to be calling people to! This is exactly what we are called to!
Friday, February 13, 2009
1 Corinthians Part 1
So two great insights from my reading this evening. No relation other than they are both from the Epistle of 1 Corinthians.
The first insight is in 1 Corinthians 10:13b. The Bible says "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide for you a way out so that you may endure it." -- Previous to this the first part of this quote has been used in my life. As in: God won't test you beyond your strength. But that interpretation begs the question of honest, good, everyday Christians who are not able to endure sufferings but actually do break under them. They are crushed by death, unfairness, change, etc. These seem to contradict each other.
The point isn't that our trials can't crush us if we're good Christians. The point is that God will "provide for you a way out so that you may endure it." Somehow in our trying times there is a way to shift so that we can endure.
It isn't necessarily obvious or natural. It takes the eyes to see, perhaps the training to perceive, perhaps the assistance from good friends. If we are not looking, we may cling militantly to our trials hoping to endure. It is not always just our steadfastness, but also our willingness to see the way out, or I might say forward or toward comfort, that allows us to endure trials in Christ.
The second insight is more academic and it's late, so good night and God bless :)
The first insight is in 1 Corinthians 10:13b. The Bible says "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide for you a way out so that you may endure it." -- Previous to this the first part of this quote has been used in my life. As in: God won't test you beyond your strength. But that interpretation begs the question of honest, good, everyday Christians who are not able to endure sufferings but actually do break under them. They are crushed by death, unfairness, change, etc. These seem to contradict each other.
The point isn't that our trials can't crush us if we're good Christians. The point is that God will "provide for you a way out so that you may endure it." Somehow in our trying times there is a way to shift so that we can endure.
It isn't necessarily obvious or natural. It takes the eyes to see, perhaps the training to perceive, perhaps the assistance from good friends. If we are not looking, we may cling militantly to our trials hoping to endure. It is not always just our steadfastness, but also our willingness to see the way out, or I might say forward or toward comfort, that allows us to endure trials in Christ.
The second insight is more academic and it's late, so good night and God bless :)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Growing Through Brokenness
I'm not sure how well this fits in as lessons I'm learning, but probably is an area where God is going to be working on me.
I'm in two classes this semester that are challenging me. One is Leading Formation. This past week I stopped reading because I was upset. It brought up all these old hurts and tied them nicely to the present. Instead of helping me heal the past, and distance it from the present, it made me feel like the person I was back then. I felt very vulnerable in class today and I'm not sure where this vulnerability will lead. I want to leave myself open to God challenging me, but dang it hurts.
Then there's my Gospels in a Consumer Culture class. I'm really looking forward to it, but I also know that it's going to make me intentionally examine my relationship to a consumer culture. I may have to change because of it. I've had several experiences in the past that have almost led to change in this regard, I partly hope and partly fear that conviction that I feel may be coming from this class.
So overall, the last couple of days have left me feeling like this semester may be more challenging than I had planned. Not that you plan the kind of growth that breaks you open at your weak points and forces you to rearrange the pieces as you heal. I guess my hope is that I can trust in God to bring me through the process completely. I don't want to get stuck in the middle without a good healing process.
I'm in two classes this semester that are challenging me. One is Leading Formation. This past week I stopped reading because I was upset. It brought up all these old hurts and tied them nicely to the present. Instead of helping me heal the past, and distance it from the present, it made me feel like the person I was back then. I felt very vulnerable in class today and I'm not sure where this vulnerability will lead. I want to leave myself open to God challenging me, but dang it hurts.
Then there's my Gospels in a Consumer Culture class. I'm really looking forward to it, but I also know that it's going to make me intentionally examine my relationship to a consumer culture. I may have to change because of it. I've had several experiences in the past that have almost led to change in this regard, I partly hope and partly fear that conviction that I feel may be coming from this class.
So overall, the last couple of days have left me feeling like this semester may be more challenging than I had planned. Not that you plan the kind of growth that breaks you open at your weak points and forces you to rearrange the pieces as you heal. I guess my hope is that I can trust in God to bring me through the process completely. I don't want to get stuck in the middle without a good healing process.
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