MC500 – day five

Three particular items stood out to me from Friday’s class discussion.  First, the significant change from “church” as People of God to “church” as happening when Bishop is present.  I have to say I’m still a bit befuddled by this.  I can appreciate the need for increased organization and, even, some moderate buearcracy (hard to believe I just typed that), but such a core essence change is amazing.  Second, the growth of the church pre-Constantine from AD 100: 10,000 Christians to AD 300: 6,000,000 Christians is astounding and a bit convicting.  Third, the insight from Donald Miller (I want to get his book Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity in the New Millennium) that whenever the church has grown it has been when the non-clergy, non-leaders become “fans” and bring their friends to faith/church.

Four Areas of Ministry Focus – UMC.org

What do you think of these 4 areas of focus?  Are they too broad?  Too specific?  Is it possible to focus on 4 things at once?  Can a large institution initiate focus for the whole machine from the top down?  If so, how would it go about doing it (i.e. saying so doesn’t make it so)?  Are these even the right things to focus on?  Comment your thoughts, if you please.

Four Areas of Ministry Focus – UMC.org

The Four Areas of Focus express the vision and yearnings of the people of The United Methodist Church. Over the next quadrennium, the church will seek to focus the work of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world around these areas of ministry:

• Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally.
• Creating new places for new people and revitalizing existing congregations.
• Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.
• Engaging in ministry with the poor.

Thinking about Modalities and Sodalities

(PDF link)

The harmony between the modality and the sodality achieved by the Roman Church is perhaps the most significant characteristic of this phase of the world Christian movement …

The first structure in the New Testament scene is thus what is often called the New Testament Church. It was essentially built along Jewish synagogue lines, embracing the community of the faithful in any given place. The defining characteristic of this structure is that it included old and young, male and female. Note, too, that Paul was willing to build such fellowships out of former Jews as well as non-Jewish Greeks. …

Thus, on the one hand, the structure we call the New Testament church is a prototype of all subsequent Christian fellowships where old and young, male and female are gathered together as normal biological families in aggregate. On the other hand, Paul’s missionary band can be considered a prototype of all subsequent missionary endeavors organized out of committed, experienced workers who affiliated themselves as a second decision beyond membership in the first structure.

Note well the additional commitment. Note also that the structure that resulted was something definitely more than the extended outreach of the Antioch church. No matter what we think the structure was, we know that it was not simply the Antioch church operating at a distance from its home base. It
was something else, something different. We will consider the missionary band the second of the two redemptive structures in New Testament times.

From The Two Structures by Ralph D. Winter

Christmas reflections

I suppose with a title like that you’d assume this was some profound spiritual or theological pondering on the meaning of the incarnation and God’s missional call to incarnate in our contexts and locale.

Nope.

I can’t sleep.  It is 3:46 AM.  I think it is a combination of acid reflux and Christmas excitement.  And before you feel sorry for me, I have slept – from 8:00 – Midnight.  Lately, when I put the kids to bed I fall asleep too then get up at midnight (which is nice because I get to welcome Sarah home from work).  Usually I am up for an hour or 2 and then go back to sleep.  Not tonight.

This is all exacerbated by a general feeling of malaise.  Not sure I can pinpoint it… and I haven’t even been able to articulate it this much for months.  I think it is a combination of starting a new job/ministry venture (www.nkuwf.org), lack of exercise, and lack of personal spiritual discipline.  Let me be clear, the new gig is great.  It feels like a great fit for my call and gifting.  It really is nice being back in the United Methodist Church orbit again – something of a homecoming.

And at the same time, I’m basically starting from scratch at NKU.  It is a lot like church planting.  A lot.  This is good and exactly was I was hoping for and expecting…. but it is still hard and tiring.  It feels a lot like driving in a new city without a map.  If I’m honest, I’ve been in a funk about it the last couple months.  It is hard to know where to start, what works, what doesn’t work but we should do anyway, what patterns are we initiating that will form the DNA of this ministry, what bad habits are we starting (and how do we recognize them before they turn cancerous!), who do I spend most of my time with, etc….?  We’re truly starting with a blank slate – no structures, buildings, programs, and very few people.  Every student I’ve met with this past semester (and there were many) is interested in what we are doing, they would like to be involved, but it seems like life gets in the way more often than not.  I don’t think I’ve ever met a busier group of students!

I need to reflect more on all this…. I think I’ve even been afraid of reflecting or lamenting.  I think I’ve lived under the weight of (and myth of) if I’m starting something I need to be enthusiastic and positive at all times!  That is categorically dumb.  I need to fess up. Maybe, just maybe, that’s what the incarnation is about…

Timothy’s awake.  Gotta go.

The Bish

I met the new Bishop of The Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church today at a clergy pow-wow. Lindsey Davis is his name.  Here are some notes from the gathering:

Pastoral Effectiveness evaluated by:
- number of professions of faith (making disciples)
- worship attendance increase

Expectations
- Godly character
- To be a spiritual leader
- Practice the disciplines of our faith
- pray
- scripture study for the feeding of your soul
- worship
- acts of mercy – daily contact with the poor, an advocate for the most     vulnerable among us (children, the addicted, the prisoner)
- Uphold and actively teach the doctrine and theology of the UMC
- Accept the authority of those who supervise your ministry
- Itineracy
- Be an evangelist (Luke 10.2)
- Work hard, take care of your health
- Take care of your family
- Don’t take yourself too seriously (take the work you are called to do seriously, but not yourself.  It’s not about you!  It’s about the Kingdom!)
- Use good pastoral judgement
- Finish the race

152,000 members of the UMC in Kentucky
300,000 people of Kentucky say they are a member or affiliated with the UMC

- We are a Sent Ministry (we need to learn to go and learn to let go)

3 areas of focus:
- Planting new churches (650 churches planted this quadrivium, 3 per year in KY)
- Leadership Development (of clergy and laity)
- Extraordinary Mission Outreach (local and global)

Primary task of a local church is to make disciples
Primary task of the conference is to develop leaders for the task

Only 6 elders under age 35 in KY conference
Inquire:

- What is the average retirement age of Pastors in the KY conference?
- What are the age ranges of Pastors in the KY conference?

How then shall we live

So, there’s a bit of a conversation afoot.  The Reverend Marshall started it off with this post, Brother Evans elucidated in response, The Bishop pondered prophetically(?), Co-Conspirator Steve used the “E” word (as in “Empire”, of course), and Marshall expanded his thinking thusly.

Which brings me to my own mental wanderings on the topic.  How then shall we live?  For me this question assumes a few things (which, I submit, that you – dear faithful blog reader – may or may not agree) …

1)  the present way in which we “do ministry” is less and less effective and not sustainable given the increasingly complex, pluralistic, and shifting society in which we live.

2)  the current funding approach for ministry and ministers is beholden to a system that is built on a modernism (industrial, mechanistic, “cog in the wheel”) that is increasingly non-functional or a postmodernism that is highly consumerist (“what have you done for me lately”, “have it your way”).

3)  the expectations placed (internally or externally) on leaders is often unhealthy in the current system (whether that system is accommodated primarily to modern or postmodern sensibilities).

If I am correct in these assumption (and I may not be) then I am caused to wonder if perhaps God is leading some into a new mode of ministry.  A ministry that is born out of a relationship and Relationship rather than a program established in order to produce relationships (human or divine).  Certainly such a ministry would be more sustainable in the long run, because you already have the final product of the ministry – the relationship – when you begin.

Nurturing, fostering, tending that relationship would of course require transformation (no relationship with God involved could do otherwise), but it would not intend for something wholly different to result in the offing.  In other words, a program initiated (either one based on one’s “felt-needs” or a theological maxim) in order to draw one into relationship with fellow humans or with Christ is only successful if a relationship is the result.  But the input into such a program is not “relationship” (or at least not necessarily) it is “method”, this “method” may or may not result in “relationship”.  If it does not have the intended resultant relational outcome then we call it a failure, or we say that God is not “blessing it”, or that we’ve done something wrong, or that “those people” don’t get it and they are wrong.  I don’t know of any ministry that isn’t intending some relational outcome (divine or human).  That “relational outcome” may be defined as – people in the seats, decisions for Christ, baptisms, confirmations, leaders in committee positions, percent in small groups, number of people serving “in ministry”, etc….  The problem with beginning with something other than relationship is that you often end up with only more or less of that with which you started.  So if you begin with the intent to start really great programs (so that people would know Jesus or love others) you may only end up with a lot more programs – and a bunch of people that may or may not actually know Jesus or love others.

What if ministry was defined as beginning and ending with the relationships that already exist in our lives?  Of course, we would begin new relationships – some intentionally so – but they are not a means to an end.  We take on the role of friend as opposed to director, parent or mentor as opposed to expert, brother or sister as opposed to business partner.

Such a ministry would necessitate a different understanding of finances.  Since the intent is not to build a mechanism by which to get Jesus (or get people to Jesus) or a commercial by which to promote Jesus, then we are freed to use our funds for community growth and development.  By which, I mean, of course – “Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”.  The growth and development of the community of faith blessing and serving the world is an inherently relational project.  However that community of faith is by its very nature bound by the laws of relationship (i.e. knowing and being know).  The result being that the need for managers and administrators for that community is decreased.  Whether or not it is decreased to the point of zero may be open to debate, but it is at least decreased to a sustainable number.  By “sustainable”, I mean something that the community can support for a long, long period of time.  Note I didn’t say anything about leaders – I’m pretty sure that is a whole different issue all together.  The point I’m attempting, probably unsuccessfully, to make is that money IS important within the life of a community of faith.  It is important how we spend our money, how we serve with our money, how we save our money – in sum, how we steward our money.  And not 10% of our money with which we pay our obligatory membership dues – no, 100% of our money, which really isn’t ours but belongs to Jesus just like the rest of our lives.

So, the money issue is truly a discipleship issue.  And it becomes more than about how we pay (or if we pay) a pastor.  How does the life of our community get financed by the resources (consumer credit is not a resource) of our community?

Lastly, the assumed expectations we have for leaders moves from providers of “spiritual goods and services” (thank you, GOCN) or programmers or constructionists.  As leaders we move into the role of spiritual parentage.  Or, to use another metaphor, we become gardeners in the plot of God (get it, double entendre…).  Maybe we’re sowing, watering, or reaping (thanks, Paul) – God does the growing bit.  Our role moves from one of control to openness and stewardship.  A steward doesn’t hold on to things tightly because she knows it doesn’t ultimately belong to her anyway – she will care for it, tend it, nurture it, and release it when the time is right and the owner calls.  As such, the expectations we place on ourselves and our leaders moves from one of demanding success as a matter of course to a relational accounting of faithfulness.

I’ve surely gone on way too long.  But I am compelled to say that this is not mere idealistic theory bubbling in my brain (at least I hope not).  This has real, lived implications for how Sarah and I are choosing to live.

One of the prevailing themes of this blog has been our discernment process on planting a church.  Sarah and I finally had some time to chat about such things last week (part of the problem – but that’s another conversation, though a related one).  We feel like we’ve gained a bit of clarity on the matter.

The long and short of it is this:

- I continue to believe that God is up to something in Cincinnati and in Pleasant Ridge (our neighborhood) specifically.

- I continue to believe that whenever God is up to something (i.e. the Kingdom is breaking out and in) that God will form a people, a community, a church (1 Peter 2:10).  And I believe that something like that is/will form in Pleasant Ridge.

- What I’m growing to believe (or what is growing within me) is the conviction that starting a thing (a church) is not my job.  It might be somebody’s job somewhere (I’m not making an absolute statement), but for our present context and the mission to which God is calling our family, I’m convinced that we are to tend and attend to the relationships we are cultivating.  I would not at all be surprised if a church forms in the process, but the intent is Kingdom-mission.  In other words, we don’t have a mission to plant a church so that the church can have a mission, rather we are part of God’s Kingdom mission (missio dei) that births communities of mission.  The financial off-shoot of this is that we are not bound by our amount or mode of income.  We don’t have to do fund-raising for this ministry.  We already have what we need.

For me, this last point has been terribly liberating and terribly unsettling (funny how those 2 go together).  It is freeing to step back from the producer mentality and pressure of thinking it is my job to “make something happen”.  But it is unnerving to consider the sacrifice and unknowing-ness that this implies.  What does it imply?  For me it implies not being noticed as “legitimate” in the world’s eyes, being small and seemingly insignificant, being slow and painful (because we’re dealing with real people and real life), and being tossed into uncharted waters.

Ok, enough already!  Comment as you see fit.

New Beginnings

Yes, I really do blog.  Life has been overfull of late (as evidenced by the mound of dirty dishes on the counter…. umm, maybe they’ll get washed tomorrow).  I really like keeping a clean and organized house, but with small children I find it increasingly difficult, if not approaching impossible!  So needless to say I haven’t had much time for writing and planning, but I have been thinking.

Here we are at the beginning of 2008 and, I must admit, I’m very excited.  I anticipate that 2008 will be a year of new beginnings, hope, and change.  Chief of those for me is the dream of a new community of faith birthing in Cincinnati.  So how do we get there?  What are the first steps?  How does this all work with the rest of a full life?  What is the “time-table”?  Good questions.  I certainly don’t pretend to think these sorts of things “just happen”.  I’m reminded of Dallas Willard’s helpful little acronym V.I.M. from Renovation of the Heart (link to article about VIM).  Applied to church planting it looks like this:  What is the Vision of life in the Kingdom for this neighborhood?  What do we Intend to do in birthing this new community of faith?  What are our Means by which to accomplish our intended church plant?

Honestly, I feel like I’ve been held up in my articulation of these things for a deeper reason.  True, life has been full these last few weeks of holidays, small children, and a lingering cold that fills my head with too much mucus – but I think I’ve been stymied by an unseen specter of “You’ve got to get this just right”.  I’m going to do my best to ignore those voices in my head and just try to tell it as I see it….

The Vision of life in the Kingdom for this neighborhood is one that lives within the heart of an actual community of faith.  A small community of 150 folks or so that intentionally follow Jesus together.  The Kingdom of God – or to borrow Greg Boyd’s phrase, “the dome in which God is King” – is evident in this community of faith as a sign pointing the way and illuminating Emmanuel, “Christ with us”.  It is evident as this community works together and with others to bring the Kingdom  – God’s extravagant Grace and Reconciling Love – to bear in our homes, streets, schools, and workplaces.  It is evident as this community lives its life together in the Way of Christ, loving the least, the last, and the lost.  Kingdom life is a life lived in accord with one another and with the Triune God.  Simply put, we envision a community of faith living a Kingdom-life together.  And just to be clear (because I don’t want “Kingdom” to sound jargon-y), “Kingdom” means that “dome in which God is king”, in that “dome” is a life of deep grace, true love, and real peace.  But, it is not a Utopian, pie-in-the-sky life, but a life lived in concert with the Creator and Sustainer.  Kingdom-life takes suffering seriously, believes that healing is real, and works towards reconciliation with God, humanity, and creation.

We Intend to birth a new community of faith in Cincinnati.  This community of faith would a People of God on God’s Kingdom Mission in our neighborhoods, homes, schools, and workplaces.  We would be a Jesus-centered community.  We would be a real community – in that we would intentionally live our lives together (not just see each other once a week at a religious gathering).  We would “do life together” – in our neighborhoods, in mentoring relationships, in small groups/house churches, and in larger corporate gatherings and projects.  We would be around 150 people who would meet together weekly to worship together.  We would meet throughout the week in one another’s homes, coffeeshops, bars, and chili parlors.  We would live within proximity of one another and share food and resources (and childcare).  [There are questions here, I'm sure.... how is this different than Vineyard Central?  And what is our current/future relationship with VC?  Why 150?  What happens if we get to 151?  Would we pay staff/pastor/leaders?  Would we buy a building, own property, rent/lease/borrow space to worship?  Who let the dogs out? I'm not going to address these questions here, but they are all things I've spent time considering.  Leave a comment or send an email and I'll address the ones that you are curious about or ask me other questions]

The Means by which we accomplish this intended church plant are as followed (based on current standings):
1.  Pray (something I want to get better at doing)
2.  Write out Vision, Mission, Values, and relevant Issues pertaining to church planting (so as to facilitate being on the same page!) and complete New Church Plan for RCA
3.  Propose intention to our House Church
4.  Enter a month of sabbatical and prayer as a House Church to discern next steps
5.  Form a planting team of folks committed to seeing the new community birthed
6.  Initiate an advisory board of wise folks to help us navigate the waves and decisions of the first year

Well, that’s all I got right now.  Sarah just got home and I want to post this and email it some folks (I suspect my readership is way down).  Peace.

Pondering yourself…

 From blog one another. Which of these describe you best?

Entrepreneur
- Pioneer, Strategist, Innovator, Visionary
- Groundbreaker who initiates an organization’s mission

Questioner
- Disturber, Agitator
- Upsets the status quo, challenging an organization to move in new directions

Recruiter
- Passionate communicator of organizational message
- Recruits to the cause

Humanizer
- Carer, Social cement
- Provides organization glue by caring for the individuals in it

Systematizer
- Philosopher, Translator
- Organizes the various parts into a working unit and articulates that structure to the other members

Session 4 – Mission, Vision, Values

Doug McClintick

Mission - we all have the same mission (God’s).

Why do we exist?

Vision is a Process – with people. Vision is a preferred future of where we are going.

Where are we going?

Values are the DNA, the atmosphere, not right or wrong, unique

How are we going to do it?

Strategy – What are we going to do?

Book: The Power of Vision by Barna
Quote from Barna: “Vision for ministry is a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to his chosen servants and is based on an accurate understanding of God, self, and circumstances.”

Session 3 – Natural Church Development

Randy Weener

8 Quality Characteristics

• Empowering Leadership
• Functional Structures
• Passionate Spirituality
• Loving Relationships
• Need-Oriented Evangelism
• Gift-Oriented Ministry
• Holistic Small Groups
• Inspiring Worship

All 8 must be functioning well – water can only rise to lowest plank of the barrel.

Response to Natural Church Development: A Strategic Comparison by Gerald Shenk, Professor of Church and Society, Eastern Mennonite Seminary