An alternative to church planting
After almost 30 years in some form of Christianity including evangelical, anabaptist, house church, intentional community and a seminary degree, I have been outside of the "church" for about five years. I would like to consider an alternative to church planting - something outside the institution and without traditional forms, language, and structures.
I would like to be involved in something focused on community building, spirituality (centered on the teachings of Jesus but open - perhaps Quaker like), and mission that includes social and environmental involvement in a variety of ways. I imagine this could take many forms starting with grass roots community organization to the development of co-housing type communities.
I have often dreamed of folks that claim to follow Jesus to lead the way towards social change. I imagine a network that supports and encourages one another while offering resources for new groups to get started.
Is anyone here interested in dialogue?
Ron
I would like to be involved in something focused on community building, spirituality (centered on the teachings of Jesus but open - perhaps Quaker like), and mission that includes social and environmental involvement in a variety of ways. I imagine this could take many forms starting with grass roots community organization to the development of co-housing type communities.
I have often dreamed of folks that claim to follow Jesus to lead the way towards social change. I imagine a network that supports and encourages one another while offering resources for new groups to get started.
Is anyone here interested in dialogue?
Ron
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Sparks on -
Great thoughts Ron! We have begun trying out this sort of thing on the West Coast with a couple dozen groups. This is an important conversation.
www.parishcollective.ning.com
www.parishcollective.org
parish collective on facebook
-
Permalink Reply by Mo Johnson on -
Ron, like your ideas. wish you lived in N. Va --
-
Permalink Reply by Ron Czecholinski on
-
Paul - it would be great to hear more about the collective and its goals.
Mo - I decided to go mobile and travel for a while. I am wide open before I settle for the next stage of the journey. I am mostly interested in meeting folks to network with as well as finding a place to form a community that wants to address life and faith very holistically.
I came across an interesting group doing grass roots community organization at an Earth Day event. It looks like an interesting model that could be a foundation for an alternative form of church planting.
http://www.transitionus.org
-
Permalink Reply by Mo Johnson on
-
cool, so are you coming to the transform conference this weekend by any chance?
how awesome if some group of christians could be break through the public consciousness (in a real way) and become recognized as THE group working to affect positive change for God's kingdom on earth. Seems like an extraordinarily christian message while simultaneously "good" for so many people living in the world.
The problem as i see it though, is that "we" who want to do this have to reach some agreement on our goals. For instance -- are we for real environmental change or not? Are we for real immigration reform or not? Are we for real interfaith dialogue or not? Are we for people of all walks of life, many diverse faiths, various sexual persuasions, etc joining together as a unified group to do God's work on earth today -- or not? How about peace in the middle east? What can we specifically do to affect that? What is our position on what should be done?
Why can't we agree, for instance, that Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, especially the stranger, and treat him or her as we would ourselves. So, can't we agree that as a community, we support comprehensive immigration reform that provides a compassionate road to citizenship most immigrants living amongst us (and generally working hard and contributing mightily to our country in many ways I would add).
And, if we did that, wouldn't that be the kind of strong, clear, compassionate, Christ-like message that many would rally to?
I think we all talk in generalities about our "dreams" and all nod our heads affirming one another -- but, until we can reach agreement on more or less a platform of ideas that we are supporting, affirming, promoting because we think they are consistent with promoting God's kingdom -- until we have a platform of ideas we can coalesce around -- well, it'll mostly just all be talk i'm afraid. Not action. And, "we" will rightly be criticized for not standing for much of anything at all.
But, I could be wrong. I know what I'm saying can be viewed as "divisive" since it pushes for community agreement on important issues which necessarily could result in some people not agreeing...
I'm very new to all this and open to any ideas (thus i should just shut up and listen; but I'm really bad at that...), but it only makes sense to me that if we don't agree on what we should do about the key issues confronting the world; God's kingdom, all of us -- if we can't even agree about that -- then, what really is the point of it all? We meet to talk about some futuristic (nonspecific) dream where we all will one day come together and further God's kingdom in peace and harmony, bla, bla, bla. I think the time is now and the requirement is for specific things to work towards.
When someone asks me -- so what the heck does an "emergent" stand for -- I think I should be able to answer that better than simply saying "we seek to live in the way of Jesus' -- that's great, and true, but not enough because it begs the more relevant question:
what does that mean Mo?
We should be leaders in following Christ's call to take concrete steps to make the world more "Christlike.' not everyone will agree what that means. But, I bet we (as a community) can reach strong consensus on most of it. And, we should do that, then share our manifesto (of sorts) with the world. Many would rally to our cause and real positive change would happen. Who knows where it might lead? If we don't do that, then I fear we are less relevant than we could and should be.
ok, i'm done.
love and peace to anyone who reads this
Mo
-
-
I was hoping to be in DC this weekend but it doesn't look like I will make it. I am in S.C. traveling north but have some other commitments I am not getting out of. Still working on it.
I understand your frustrations Mo but not sure you are going to find political consensus - it might not even be a good idea. Personally I have come to not really wanting to be identified with either political or theological labels. I find life much too complex with theory and philosophy too often a distraction from reality and action.
My interest in an alternative form of church planting is for grass roots action. Rather than claiming correct theological constructs or political agenda, grass roots action can speak louder and have longer term results.
I agree that we do have to have consensus somewhere to move forward, and that your suggestion to love our neighbor, especially the stranger, is a good place to start. I would like to suggest the following for grass roots consideration to flesh that out.
Community Building - considering how we live together to support one another? I think there are many ways we can work on being intentional in our life together - the co-housing movement is a great example.
Voluntary Simplicity - considering how our lifestyle affect one another and our world, as well as how we can free up resources to address the needs of others.
Sustainable Business - considering our work and how we work together and provide opportunities for others. Worker Co-ops are a great example.
Buy Local - support local business and "fair trade" to encourage a sound economy.
Money Management - commitment to low debt and "just" investment principles.
Renewable Energy - commitment to supporting grass roots energy changes.
Environmental Issues - commitment to a small footprint in every way
Holistic Wellness - commitment to supporting one another in physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational health.
These are just examples of how we can flesh out loving our neighbors and integrating our politics, spirituality and mission in our lifestyle. I am sure there are many other ways.
-
Permalink Reply by Mo Johnson on
-
Ah, well enjoy SC. I like your ideas; and maybe in doing those things, some of the more controversial issues would resolve themselves. Maybe.
I do think it would be good if emergents were known for say -- being on the side of the underdog, the stranger, the oppressed -- as (I think) Jesus generally was.
I think it's actually pretty easy to identify who the poor, oppressed, underdog is in pretty much each of the "controversial" issues I mentioned. Maybe we don't side with the oppressed party on every issue -- but, we should usually. I think.
Cheers.
-
Permalink Reply by Angela Harms on -
Isn't this that network?
-
-
It certainly could be. This network seems fairly broad and I was thinking of a more specific and intentional focus on an alternative to church planting. Like other church planting networks, the goal would be to form a core group to encourage and assist community formation.
For example Church Planting Canada is organized to provide coaching and networking for "multiplying missional communities". I am thinking something similar but also something that doesn't necessarily look, act, or sound like "church".
-
Permalink Reply by Steve K. on -
Ron, I think TransFORM could be a great place for your network to start, because you could create your own group for this more specific, focused vision and grow things from there. I think there's already quite a few people here who'd be interested in participating in these discussions, so you'd have a good base to start off from.
But I'd also be glad to help you find ways to connect with people and organize around the ideas you are promoting on a separate Ning network or another platform (e.g., Facebook, BuddyPress, etc.) as well. I'd just love to help you however I can to connect with other like-minded people who are interested in intentional community, sustainable living, eco-justice, etc. Count me in!
© 2012 Created by Steve K..
Powered by
