Recapturing the Past

I remember reading once about the philisophical conflict of repetition and recollection--the former likened to "trying to re-create or relive the past", the latter "allowing what we know of the past to shape future actions".

How do you react when you realize the definition of your community has changed?

Here's the scenario: A small church that, in the 60's, 70's and 80's, had a phenomenal outreach to the community--high impact, high ownership by the congregation, and less-than-ideal administration of the program. A phone chain was created to communicate needs through the church, and you could at any time get a call to deliver groceries, help out with a Habitat for Humanity project, or get involved otherwise. But it worked, and was a foundational element to the community that exists today. So good, in fact, that they started a separate organization to run the ministry and support it through financial contributions...

Fast forward twenty years and you now have an excellently run program that is at arms length from the average congregant, and a realization that their definition has changed. Though the desire to serve hasn't gone away, communication doesn't exist like it used to and so service is now managed and done by a few "Super Volunteers". They want to recapture elements of what they had and use it in a new context to meet needs and build a sense of community.

Then one day a leader in the community stumbles upon TheCommon.org. By registering their community and getting their members signed up and active, the work being done by a few can now be spread over a congregation of 800. The "small church" feel can slowly creep back in as people begin to serve alongside one another and help each other, building relationships and getting their hands dirty (figuratively and/or literally). Needs that have been communicated in informal groups (or not at all) now have a forum, and the Super Volunteers get some much needed reinforcements. And the staff now has a way to see what is going on in their community and see individuals involved in benevolence on a person-to-person basis, rather than just in committee or contribution.

If this post describes your community and what you would love to see it become (or become again), or if you're there and just need a better way to communicate needs and abilities, send us a note. Helping is part of our definition as well!

hello@thecommon.org