From where? Doing what?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nicholas Connell on November 4, 2009 at 9:58am

Thanks for sharing, Callid. I believe I share your conclusion that missional community is central to God's purpose for Jesus followers. It's interesting to consider the many ways in which people understand that mission, and thereby develop ways in which to engage in the world, some beautiful and others not so beautiful.

Back in undergrad, I helped form 2 missional communities over a 6-year period of time in Orlando, and I learned a good amount from that experience. Subsequently, I took up residence and work and studies at Fuller Seminary, and rested from my hard labors and with my wife decided to release any hold we had on much of what we knew and experienced regarding theology and our orientation to it, hoping the Spirit would reimagine in us ways in which we could meaningfully live our faith and be true to our questions and desires.

We now live in Ashford, CT (since 2005) and have recently re-entered institutional church (Storrs Community Church; non-denomination) after spending several years on the fringes: trying to connect with others who find themselves in the "emerging conversation" but having minimal success. Tired of being solo travelers and not finding virtual relationships enough, we committed to a band of local believers at Storrs, for better or worse. :) They are good, humble people, and I'm happy to be among them.

My wife and I moved here from Pasadena, CA, to pursue her dreams in child development research/puppetry/children's TV, and doors of opportunity are opening wide for her. We have a 5 and 3-year old, and couldn't be more thrilled to have them in our lives.

I'm keenly interested on learning more about contemplative action, about justice-making and standing in the tragic gaps (of what is...and what could and should be) in which we find our selves in our communities and lives.

I work full-time for Everyday Democracy and find its work supportive of Kingdom moments occurring in communities around the nation (where people connect who would probably never have connected, around issues of public concern, and have opportunities to have a voice and participate in building a stronger, heatlhier community, as well). I find much fulfillment in this work, and in co-laboring with some beautiful people of faith (some Christ-followers, others not).

I work part-time as an intensive adolescent mentor for a human services agency in the impoverished, rural section of the Northeast CT. That work has grounded me, broken open my heart, and crafted for me new eyes and ears. What a privilege to sit alongside adolescents who are struggling and share their pain, and hopefully give them some comfort and provide opportunities for them to develop more confidence and hope and connections in their communities.

I am also eager to hear from others' situations, to be encouraged by each other, and to possibly help each other be more keenly aware of the Spirit's activity in our lives and ways in which we can be faithful to God's mission of healing and reconciliation.

Permalink Reply by Alan G Newton on November 4, 2009 at 12:11pm

Hey Callid and others in the Northeast.

It may seem strange to have a regional denominational executive engaged in missional communities and this network. However, I am not one of those denominational folks who is as interested in preserving an institution as I am in helping congregations be faithful as followers of Jesus.

The challenge I face daily is challenging faith leaders in the churches I serve see the missional challenges God is calling them to; to look beyond the survival of their particular church and focus on being faithful to Christ.

Sadly, so many pastors and church leaders I encounter are so tied to institutional survival that there is little time, energy or passion for missional church. But when I talk to these leaders individually they all seem to have a God-given vision of what could be. They speak of longings for purpose.


Last Sunday a young man whom I recognized as a first time guest sat behind me. As I greeted him and asked a few "get to know you" questions he indicated that he was there because he recognized that he needed something more in his life. I believe that there are many persons likehim who are looking to fill a spiritual hole in their lives. Most churches are not prepared to fill it.

My hope is that I can use my gifts to help church leadaers help fill those holes.

Permalink Reply by Nate Preisinger on November 6, 2009 at 4:00pm

Thanks for inviting me along for the conversations Callid, and thanks for to all the other Northeasterners who've shared.

I'm Nate (rhymes with date,mate,weight, late, kate, fate, and just about everything else) and I'm in Buffalo,NY.

I'm a church planter in the Buffalo area trying to begin an Emerging, Missional community in the Buffalo area. The church plant is being sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the denomination I would call home, although like Callid expressed, I too think the Church is, and needs to become wider than any denomination.

I've been hovering around this emergent conversation for several years with all sorts of random connections along the way. More than anything else I am compelled by the missional focus of communities within this conversation. To me, it seems to hark back to what Jesus seems to be doing in the Gospel. A missional focus means we are followers in The Way of Jesus as opposed to just passive observers and learners about Jesus.

I'm excited about the new directions that the Holy Spirit will lead The Church in the years to come, and for the time being I'm doing my best to get out of the way and letting the Holy Spirit lead me and my community in the Buffalo area.

That's enough for now.

Permalink Reply by Nicholas Connell on November 10, 2009 at 7:18am

Thanks for posting Alan and Nate.

Permalink Reply by Jesse Turri on November 14, 2009 at 10:32am

Hi Callid, thanks for starting the group. Hello to the other northeasters as well.

About a three or four years ago a group of us stepped out and started Valley Mosaic, a creative, missional community in semi-rural Willamsport, Pennsylvania. We came from the Mennonite tradition, and they put a great emphasis on community, so it's something that we've always held as sacred. I happen to think that groups like the Amish, Quakers and Mennonites have a lot to teach us about community.

I also really identified with what one of the people said in the intro video, that community is not a destination, it's something that you're constantly striving towards. We've definitely been learning this along the way.

Permalink Reply by Callid Keefe-Perry on November 17, 2009 at 12:27am

@Jesse If you happened to be interested in learning more about Quakerism than you ever wanted to know, this summer my wife and I made a free web series of films for use in Quaker Religious education. Some if it related to community, but most is other stuff. Just thought you might be interested.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Tatusko on November 21, 2009 at 11:46pm

hi jesse,

i am in duncansville just near altoona. i am an elder in the pcusa and we are engaged in a three year process with partnerwhip for a missional church through church innovations. really cool program, but i am also trying to figure myself out in the process.

the very short story is that i went to princeton seminary, got two divinity degrees, was approved to seek a call in the pcusa, and then backed down. i have been doing instructional desgn for higher edu and project management in academic affairs for a little over three, but with a lot of that coming to an end in june, i am trying to re-boot my call process and to figure out what to do with my life - again. we are rooted here and i am not going to uproot my kids for anyone, so there's a lot of fear there.

at any rate, i would love to hear what you are doing in williamsport sometime! who knows when our paths might cross.

peace.

Permalink Reply by Katie Jo Suddaby on December 23, 2009 at 12:57pm

Hi there everybody,
I'm Katie Jo (I don't think it rhymes with anything) and I'm in Rochester, NY, like Callid and Alan. I'm two-thirds of the way through a divinity degree with a concentration in Early Church History. (I'm the nerd who lives for primary sources found in the desert.)
My husband Ely and I are just about to start what almost counts as an emergent community in Rochester. It's a little different though because it includes, and will be led by, people from many different religions. So, we are intentional about strong community, emergent in the way we think, and missional in that we hope for a deepening of faith in the members and seek that depth in non-traditional ways, but we are a little outside the regular definition because our focus is not just trans-denominational, but trans-religious.
The main purpose of the group is to model peaceful interaction between people who think radically different from each other. Somehow, we hope, this will further pluralism and non-violence on a larger scale. The other component we see emerging (even before the group is in full swing yet) is the use of art as peaceful protest. Though not everyone involved is a pacifist, we have are committed to peacemaking and the end of religion as a weapon of war. While everyone is encouraged to go deeper in whatever faith makes sense to them, it needs to be agreed that any interpretation of your religion that justifies harming someone else is (1) inappropriate for a nuclear age, (2) counterproductive since it harms the very people supposed to be helped by the faith in the first place, and (3) disrespectful to the long history of peacemakers in every religion that have gone before us. Succinctly, we work off the hunch God is a humanist.
So that's what we are up to. Thankfully, we have a church that is very open and supportive. They just agreed to mentor us in this process, but to allow enough room that others from different traditions don't feel squashed. (I've got to give a shout out to Alan Newton, whose forward-thinking leadership makes this kind of thing possible in our region of the American Baptists- Thanks Alan!).
It's great to hear what everyone is up to. I'm encouraged that there are so many good things emerging... (pardon the pun) in the Northeast. I'd love to compare notes with everyone doing this sort of work. Unexpected walls you ran into? Things you wish someone had taught you before you started your missional community? What is the character/culture of your particular community and how does that change how you do ministry? Advice? Thanks guys!
-Katie Jo

Permalink Reply by Alan G Newton on January 26, 2010 at 9:56pm

Katie Jo,

I was wondering if you have read "Spiritual Genius" by Winifred Gallagher. It is a look as spiritual leaders from various religions. It is a book written for those who are focusing on trans-religious work.

Alan

Permalink Reply by Mark Longhurst on July 5, 2011 at 7:17pm

Hi all. I just was pointed towards this network. I'm here to meet/get to know/network with folks in the Northeast. I live in Great Barrington, MA, am a rural United Church of Christ pastor across the state line in Canaan, NY. (Any other Massachusetts folks here?) I'm deeply drawn to the emergent conversation and at the moment feel called into a mainline (declining) denomination. I've worked as a community organizer on multiple justice campaigns, and am also a yoga teacher, passionate about interfaith relationships and practices, and reclaiming our bodies in Christian spirituality. Mark