JPMc Thoughts on Church Transformation

April 27, 2011 Newsletter Article

2011-04-27T06:12:00.001-07:00

…According to John The Lenten Season and Easter Sunday are past and what a glorious time it was. Thank you to all the people who rehearsed and performed music, who decorated the church, who led us through the “Journey to the Cross”, who participated in the All-Church Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt, and who participated in our Lenten Morning Prayers. I truly believe the Holy Spirit was experienced here. I have been reflecting on my Lenten Journey and have written about it on my blog. You can access it there if you are interested. On a personal note, I want you to know this has been one of the most spiritually moving Lenten seasons of my adult life. Now where do I go? Where do we go? A few months ago I sent Don Johnson and David Eck to a workshop sponsored by the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation entitled “Creating a Congregational Culture of Generosity”. The basic premise of the workshop was the more connected congregants become, and the more involved they become, then the more generous they are with their talent, time, and treasure. To me the connectedness and participation comes as a result of increased spiritual depth. Everything changes when we grow in our relationship with God through the Risen Lord. As we, collectively and individually, focus on our Walk, then old concerns pass. Members are passionate and eager to serve. Participants intentionally invite and welcome others into our community. There is a joy and hope that is palpable, so much so that others want to experience it. Negativity and criticism are abated. There is a profound desire to serve God through participation in the faith community. How are we fed? First, it is individual initiative and action. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. No one else can open it, but you. The discipline of daily prayer and Bible reading is a priority only you can establish. I send out daily emails and scripture readings. Perhaps that is a start, but the “still small voice” speaking is always a personal experience. Second, we participate in corporate worship…regardless of the “style”. In corporate worship we stand before God with our praise and thanksgiving. The efficacy of worship is not determined about how we feel about it or “if our needs were met”. The power of worship is that one chooses to praise and worship God, regardless of life circumstances. Third, we are fed when we seek to feed others, to teach children, sponsor youth, call on the sick and homebound, make evangelistic calls, pray for our neighbors, work for the poor, seek justice, etc. Too often we equate depth of spirituality with busyness. Numerous meetings, obligations, and scurrying do not lead to a more profound relationship with God. Increased spiritual depth leads to increased involvement. Can one see that on the outside, which it is? Yes. Our involvement is an expression of our devotion to God. We do our “work” joyfully, not complaining or commenting on others “lack of commitment”, their “lack of participation”, or “the way they did or didn’t do their job”. We serve, not out of obligation, but out of love.Grace and peace, John McLemore

Personal Reflections on Lent 2011

2011-04-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

For the last two Lenten seasons I have initiated a discipline that has benefited me and hopefully others. In 2010 I began a morning email to interested parishioners that included a prayer along with a few joys, concerns and announcements. The prayers were not original, but they were meaningful. While not a major undertaking, it did require about thirty minutes each morning. This practice added depth to my personal journey and the response from the recipients was very affirming, so much so that I continue the practice to this day. The email list expanded to over 200 email addresses which included between 225 and 250 members of the church. I am told that some also forward these emails to other family and friends. On June 25, 2010 I decided to also post the emails to a blog which can be accessed through the church website . Later in the summer of 2010 I decided to write my own prayers. Such an endeavor has challenged me to be more appreciative of God’s “still, small voice” within me, a voice that directs, when I am receptive, my thoughts and actions. As of this writing I have posted over 300 days of prayers, joys and concerns. The blog has had over 3,300 “hits”, averaging a little over ten a day. A few months ago I added another feature. In the back of the Chalice Hymnal there is a suggested reading list of scripture passages that will take the disciplined reader through the entire New Testament and through most of the major events and personalities of the Old Testament in three years. Beginning with Advent in 2010, I have included these readings in my emails and blog posts, yet another activity that undergirds spiritual journeys, mine and others. Today we are on week 22 of year “A”. Of course, I have no idea how many recipients actually read these emails and blog posts, but the practice has made a huge impact in my life, one that words are inadequate to express.Now to Lent 2011, a few months ago I talked to a family member who was engulfed in despair and spiritually bereft. My church and most protestant churches offer opportunities for holy encounters in chapels and sanctuaries, but not daily, not contemplatively, and not anonymously. At the same time, I remembered major public figures, namely the judge killed in the Arizona shooting and Sargent Shriver, when he was able, who lived their Roman Catholic faith by attending Mass on a daily basis. Almost reluctantly I considered a daily practice at Central Christian Church during each day of Lent 2011. What would it look like? Would anyone attend? I finally decided to offer daily Lenten Prayers at 7:00 a.m. each of the forty days of Lent, Monday through Saturday. I would use our Chapel, have subdued lighting, lots of candles, play Taize music and print a daily bulletin which included scripture readings for the day to be read in silence, an opening responsive prayer, brief meditation, prayers of intercession and a closing prayer. The whole experience would conclude by 7:15 a.m. I found a Roman Catholic website and used much of their material, editing and changing certain parts. I announced to the congregation that this would be a part of my personal Lenten discipline. If others wanted to join me, they were welcome. As it turned out there would be as few as four and as many as thirteen each day. Some came daily, others once a week, some only once or twice. Over thirty different people participated, and that was good. The real impact, however, was personal. Getting up at 5:30 a.m. is not my usual practice, but I did it. Spending time preparing the bulletin, the candles, even the music, was in addition to my normal routine, but I did it. Sitting in the Chapel each morning of Lent in silence, listening to the contemplative Taize music, reflecting on the scripture readings, clearing my mind of the clutter that normally lives there, reading the responsive prayers and focusing on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the cross moved me to a spiritual place that I have seldom visited. Certainly I can pray and reflect of the Mystery of the Divine in my office, in my study at home or while driving, but this was a different and much more profound experience. Others responded similarly. I am changed.Will I do this again? Yes, absolutely. Will I find other opportunities to provide this experience for congregants and myself? Definitely. Will I continue the daily emails? Certainly. Will others continue to be impacted by these practices? I don’t know. Have these practices impacted my spiritual journey and will they continue to do so? Without question!

Enhancing the Spiritual Journey

2011-03-23T05:55:00.001-07:00

According to John . . .

In the book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink the author says: "The paradox of prosperity is that while living standards have risen steadily decade after decade, personal, family, and life satisfaction haven't budged. That's why more people—liberated by prosperity but not fulfilled by it—are resolving the paradox by searching for meaning. As Columbia University's Andrew Delbanco puts it, "The most striking feature of contemporary culture is the unslaked craving for transcendence."

This is the book I am currently reading (on the Kindle the congregation gave me. Thanks again.) I am impressed by the above quote, so much so that I posted it on my Facebook page. Naturally I believe that an experience of the transcendent and ultimate meaning are found in the community of faith, but a growing part of our culture isn't looking there, particularly the younger generations. Issues of worship style and practice are thought to bridge part of this gap, but I am convinced neither old hymns nor upbeat praise songs attract or impact a large number of unchurched "seekers". Somehow coming into a building for an organized service, regardless of the potential "experience" one might have, is not an option. Now don't get me wrong. I strongly support all of our current worship experiences: traditional and contemporary. They are providing opportunities to encounter the Holy and are meeting many needs, but I wonder if we shouldn't consider other options.

Lately I have been considering an outdoor "meditation garden" or something to that effect. It could be a place where anyone could come at any time, either in groups or as individuals, to meditate, pray and seek an encounter with God. I have been motivated by the Lenten Devotional material which we received from the Regional Church, based on the concept of a labyrinth, which is a vehicle to enhance one's spiritual journey. What if we were to develop a "garden" on our property on the north side of Broadway (my preference) or on the lot to the south of the offices? It might include a labyrinth, places to sit, Christian symbols, maybe even a water feature. One could hear and see the traffic of Van Buren and Broadway (or Maine), but it could be developed as a spiritual oasis where one could mediate, pray and make a spiritual walk. There would be materials and instructions available. Certainly it would be open to anyone in the neighborhood or the larger community. The church could have outdoor "services" there from time to time. It could be another vehicle to nurture, support and possibly invite others into a life changing, life transforming relationship with God. Think about it. I would appreciate your response.

Grace and peace,

"Christian" vs. "Disciple"

2011-03-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

"We might say that Christians are people who have entered a certain sedentary membership or arrived at a status validated by some group or institution, while disciples are learners (and unlearners) who have started on a rigorous and unending journey or quest in relation to Jesus Christ. It’s worth noting in this regard that the word “Christian” occurs in the New Testament exactly three times and the word “Christianity” exactly zero. The word “disciple,” however, is found 263 times."

A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith (Brian D. Mclaren)

The Perils of 'Wannabe Cool' Christianity

2010-08-18T15:49:00.001-07:00

The Wall Street Journal

AUGUST 13, 2010

The Perils of 'Wannabe Cool' Christianity

By BRETT MCCRACKEN

'How can we stop the oil gusher?" may have been the question of the summer for most Americans. Yet for many evangelical pastors and leaders, the leaking well is nothing compared to the threat posed by an ongoing gusher of a different sort: Young people pouring out of their churches, never to return.

As a 27-year-old evangelical myself, I understand the concern. My peers, many of whom grew up in the church, are losing interest in the Christian establishment.

Recent statistics have shown an increasing exodus of young people from churches, especially after they leave home and live on their own. In a 2007 study, Lifeway Research determined that 70% of young Protestant adults between 18-22 stop attending church regularly.

Statistics like these have created something of a mania in recent years, as baby-boomer evangelical leaders frantically assess what they have done wrong (why didn't megachurches work to attract youth in the long term?) and scramble to figure out a plan to keep young members engaged in the life of the church.

Increasingly, the "plan" has taken the form of a total image overhaul, where efforts are made to rebrand Christianity as hip, countercultural, relevant. As a result, in the early 2000s, we got something called "the emerging church"—a sort of postmodern stab at an evangelical reform movement. Perhaps because it was too "let's rethink everything" radical, it fizzled quickly. But the impulse behind it—to rehabilitate Christianity's image and make it "cool"—remains.

There are various ways that churches attempt to be cool. For some, it means trying to seem more culturally savvy. The pastor quotes Stephen Colbert or references Lady Gaga during his sermon, or a church sponsors a screening of the R-rated "No Country For Old Men." For others, the emphasis is on looking cool, perhaps by giving the pastor a metrosexual makeover, with skinny jeans and an $80 haircut, or by insisting on trendy eco-friendly paper and helvetica-only fonts on all printed materials. Then there is the option of holding a worship service in a bar or nightclub (as is the case for L.A.'s Mosaic church, whose downtown location meets at a nightspot called Club Mayan).

"Wannabe cool" Christianity also manifests itself as an obsession with being on the technological cutting edge. Churches like Central Christian in Las Vegas and Liquid Church in New Brunswick, N.J., for example, have online church services where people can have a worship experience at an "iCampus." Many other churches now encourage texting, Twitter and iPhone interaction with the pastor during their services.

But one of the most popular—and arguably most unseemly—methods of making Christianity hip is to make it shocking. What better way to appeal to younger generations than to push the envelope and go where no fundamentalist has gone before?

Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, Georgia, created a website called yourgreatsexlife.com to pique the interest of young seekers. Flamingo Road Church in Florida created an online, anonymous confessional (IveScrewedUp.com), and had a web series called MyNakedPastor.com, which featured a 24/7 webcam showing five weeks in the life of the pastor, Troy Gramling. Then there is Mark Driscoll at Seattle's Mars Hill Church—who posts Q&A videos online, from services where he answers questions from people in church, on topics such as "Biblical Oral Sex" and "Pleasuring Your Spouse."

But are these gimmicks really going to bring young people back to church? Is this what people really come to church for? Maybe sex sermons and indie- rock worship music do help in getting people in the door, and maybe even in winning new converts. But what sort of Christianity are they being converted to?

In his book, "The Courage to Be Protestant," David Wells writes:"The born-again, marketing church has calculated that unless it makes deep, serious cultural adaptations, it will go out of business, especially with the younger generations. What it has not considered carefully enough is that it may well be putting itself out of business with God.

"And the further irony," he adds, "is that the younger generations who are less impressed by whiz-bang technology, who often see through what is slick and glitzy, and who have been on the receiving end of enough marketing to nauseate them, are as likely to walk away from these oh-so-relevant churches as to walk into them."

If the evangelical Christian leadership thinks that "cool Christianity" is a sustainable path forward, they are severely mistaken. As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don't want cool as much as we want real.

If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it's easy or trendy or popular. It's because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It's because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It's not because we want more of the same.

Mr. McCracken's book, "Hipster Christianity: Where Church and Cool Collide" (Baker Books) was published this month.

Sing Our Song

2010-08-04T06:33:00.001-07:00

Charles Bayer, in his book The Babylonian Captivity of the Mainline Church, suggests that there are two forces at work in our culture that are squeezing the mainline church, a category that includes the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). One is a burgeoning secularism. The other is growing fundamentalism. Bayer suggests that as we are ageing and dwindling we are also being caught between these two forces. In the midst of concern for this situation he asserts that a "mainline Christian" position will eventually return to dominance. But that return is in the future, perhaps decades away. In the mean time we are called to "sing our song in a strange land".

Certainly we can understand Bayer's analogy. The Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon. In the midst of a strange, pagan culture they continued to sing their songs, pray their prayers and worship God so that they might remain faithful and so that future generations might learn faithfulness.

The question becomes, "What is our song?" How do we critique a secularism that gives ultimate value to appearance, possession, "experience" and pleasure? How do we critique a fundamentalism that is narrow, exclusive, isolationist and judgmental?

The main themes of our "song" are these:

1. Our God is a loving God who loved the world so much that He sent His Son. . .not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

2. Our only requirements for "membership" are Confession and baptism. That's it!

3. All are welcome. We are called to be inclusive, not exclusive.

4. Love is the message. They will know we are Christians by our love. We live the story of God's love for all humanity.

5. Everyone has equal opportunity to work and serve.

6. The ministry of Jesus turned the normal view of things "upside down". Cultural views of power, success and "wealth" are now suspect.

7. Jesus' ministry was "to the least of these"; therefore ours must be as well.

I am sure you have refrains to add to this song. Let's talk about it and let us sing with full voice.

Pilgrimage

2010-07-13T16:54:00.001-07:00

If you have been coming to church or reading my articles for the last few weeks you will know that I have been preaching on the theme, 'Faith is a Journey". I have just finished reading Fragile Hope by Thomas Bandy. The following quote is on page 115:

Everybody is on a journey. The pilgrim is on a journey with a holy purpose. It is not a form of spiritual tourism to revisit the sentimental roots of grandparent or explore the curiosities of other faiths. It is not a form of militant crusade to conquer ignorant or evil people to force them to adopt a particular dogmatic or ideological agenda. It is a pilgrimage. The pilgrim may detour to discover and learn, but soon returns to the holy purpose. The pilgrim may aggressively confront robbers or right wrongs along the way, but returns consistently to the holy purpose. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales gives a humorous, but accurate description of pilgrimage. It can be merry, somber, innovative, traditional, and is a great leveler of class-consciousness. Above all, the pilgrim's progress is companionable as people travel on their holy purpose in good company. Above this, the pilgrim's progress accompanies Jesus, because his companionship is what, in fact, makes the journey holy. Jesus is traveling on the road to Emmaus (or Cleveland or Sydney or Taipei [or Enid]) for a holy purpose, and his companions are with him.

The holy purpose to make and multiply disciples of Jesus is the point of the church. Tactics vary, but the purpose remains the same. It implies change in faith, change in lifestyle, change in relationship, change in attitude, and change of expectation, change of life itself. It would be a mistake to associate the great purpose with residence in any one location or embodiment in any specific cultural form. Discipleship will be expressed in infinite nuances, and the church in Ephesus will undoubtedly and legitimately behave differently from the church in Rome or Athens or Alexandria or Cleveland [or Enid]. The purpose is not to protect a heritage, or create harmonious fellowship, or win victories for sociopolitical causes, but to make and multiply disciples of Jesus. That may imply appreciation for certain aspects of the past, it may lead to harmonious fellowship, and it may cause social change, but the point of the pilgrimage is none of this. The point is to make and multiply disciples.

The point of the journey is to make and multiply disciples.

Grace and peace,

Heroes

2010-07-06T10:36:00.001-07:00

. . . According to John

I am sure we could each make a list of people who have influenced our lives, particularly those who have encouraged us on our journey of faith. I was blessed with faithful parents and grandmothers who had a profound impact on me. My youth minister in high school, Bill Reed, strongly encouraged my decision to serve God in full time Christian service. There are countless Sunday School teachers, youth sponsors and church camp counselors who could be mentioned. When I came to Phillips University there were professors and students who enhanced my journey, but I want to mention one person, in particular. Frank Maybee was the minister at University Place Christian Church when I was a college student. Frank was always on the cutting edge and was passionate about his ministry. He was one of my heroes.

This week in the University Place newsletter, Jerry Galbreath wrote about Frank and his wife Winnie, who are both deceased. Jerry quotes a portion of Frank's last newsletter article:

"Our deep love and concern go with you and the future of the church. My deepest prayer is that you will not return to a "traditionalist" position as a church – now that the "experimental" stage is past, but that you will listen to the voice of the world and the excitement of "revolution" all about you – and dare to continue to find ways to enter life as it really is! Celebrate the good of the past – but don't worship it! Look to the future with hope and joy, for it is the nature of our God to be out ahead of His people, preparing the way for them to go. By faith, then, let's move out into the future with hope and trust in God."

These words were written in 1968. The world is different today, but the sentiment is still true. "By faith, let us move into the future with hope and trust in God."

What To Do At Central

2010-07-02T07:03:00.001-07:00

This is one of those "stream of consciousness" posts.

I am currently reading Harvey Cox's book, The Future of Faith. I think he exhibits remarkable insights which can help us on our journey. His basic premise is that the time of Jesus was the Age of Faith. The era of Christendom (from Constantine until near the end of the 20^th Century) was the Age of Belief. Now, according to Cox, we are entering the Age of the Spirit. I encourage the reading of this book. Cox's analysis of historic and current trends has numerous ramifications for the church in the 21st Century.

What to do at Central?

I am in the midst of a sermon series on "Faith as a Journey". I am going to put all the sermons on a DVD, write a brief study guide with questions and offer the study to Sunday School classes or small groups in the Fall. It should lead to some interesting discussions.

I am going to ask the Elders of the church to participate in a small group Bible study entitled, Journeying the Good News Road. One session will meet during the WWNF class time beginning in late August. If more Elders are interested than one group can accommodate, then we will schedule additional groups.

I am distributing copies of Brian McLaren's book, Church on the Other Side: Exploring the Radical Future of the Local Congregation, to a number of our college students and young adults. Hopefully we can finds ways to discuss his ideas, probably with a few "face to face" meetings and then via "social media".

My Pastoral Relations committee and the staff will be reading the book, Me To We, talking about and hopefully finding ways to initiate the 3 to 5 year change in culture at Central where we can truly equip the saints for the work of ministry.

I am helping to teach the Seekers (Young Adult) Sunday school class. Recently I ordered "DreamThinkBeDo" a DVD based curriculum from the "Living the Questions" group. The promotional material states: "Looking for a springboard to get young adults talking about what Christianity is all about for this generation? DreamThinkBeDo is an engaging new catalyst for conversation among young adults searching for what's next for followers of Jesus. Starting with the foundation of "Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind" (Luke 10.27), DTBD is what Christian educators have been looking for to help college groups and twenty to thirty-somethings build a 21st Century faith." I have reviewed a couple of sessions and I believe they are right on the money. We may even begin an evening "young adult" small group for those who don't want to get up on Sunday morning and use the same study.

Finally, I pray that we can develop a culture of love, compassion, radical hospitality and discernment at Central. The foundation of this culture will be Bible study, mediation and prayer with the expectation that God's Spirit will lead us into being Christ's church in the 21^st Century.

Leadership

2010-06-24T15:10:00.001-07:00

Recently, in sermons and in articles, I have mentioned Brian McLaren's book Church on the Other Side. There is an old saying, "When the student is ready the teacher appears". This student must be ready because I am finding a number of good teachers. In McLaren's book he talks about leadership in the church. He says, "Leadership must once again become a matter of love and spirituality, a place for spiritual sages, not just organizational technicians". "Wow!" and "Ouch!" He goes on the say…

When Ministry is just a professional career for the clergy and church is just another association or club, when huge arguments arise over petty trivialities and huge denial arises over major issues, the church hardly seems worth sacrificing for. The root of the challenge is to see the church as a life-and-death matter for individuals and for our world—as something truly worth the suffering invested to save it and lead it and love it.

He then quotes Henri Nouwen…

It is not enough for the priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?

May the leaders of Central Christian Church, both clergy and lay, seek to dwell in God's presence and listen to God's voice.

Grace and peace,

The Journey

2010-06-20T19:53:00.001-07:00

I have been doing a lot of reading recently on the emerging church movement and I am encouraged by what I read. There is an increased spiritual yearning in our world today and it is a yearning that impacts our culture and, potentially, our church. On the upside, people are seeking an experience of and a relationship with God. On the downside, the

current condition of many churches is that they are ill prepared or even unwilling to consider new and different ways of being church, therefore they are perceived as being anachronistic, stiff necked and judgmental.

One of the metaphors for the life of faith that makes a lot of sense today is that of "journey". The Christian life is not a destination, it is a journey. This was certainly true

With the early followers of Jesus, before the church became mainlined and institutionalized by the Roman emperor, Constantine. These first, second and third generation followers of Jesus referred to themselves as "Followers of The Way". Each seeker and each Christian finds themselves in a different place on that road, and we are called to welcome and love. Each community finds itself in a different place, and we are called to be continually moving, continually pressing on.

The Christian journey in the 21st century doesn't have a road map. We are charting new territory. There are many twists and turns; even times when we need to backtrack to find our way. Our Polar star must, however, always be Jesus. This is how we navigate, but the way ahead is not always clear.

Because we are in uncharted waters it is imperative that the church be in a constant process of discernment, seeking to answer the questions: Who are we? What does God want us to do? Discernment involves Bible study and prayer, communal Bible study and prayer. Discernment is not democracy. We don't take up and down votes to determine God's will. We pray, we listen, we love, we act. We pray, we listen, we love, we act. It is a pattern. We find ways to equip one another to the ministries God calls us to do. And we celebrate the journey, the road behind and the road ahead.

ME To WE

2010-06-08T19:33:00.001-07:00

I have just finished another book entitled Me to We: A Pastor's Discovery of the Power of Partnership by Alan Nelson. Wow! It knocked my socks off. The author articulated a point of view I have held for some time. I just wasn't able to express it very well. His premise is basic, "the congregation's journey for change starts with the pastor changing internally what he thinks and externally how he functions" (p. 26). He talks about training and equipping people for service/ministry. "The church is about the only place in society where you don't have to have any training to be involved in a role" (p. 68). He goes on to say, "Raise the bar . . .Most churches guilt people into service, don't train them adequately, and then they wonder why people don't last long" (p. 68)

If the church is to be vital in the 21^st Century, then we must rethink how we do ministry. It isn't paying the staff to do it while the majority of the congregation seeks to be served. Rather it is the paid staff equipping the congregation to do ministry, following Moses' and Jesus' model.

I am going to use this book in a small group or two. Let's see if others think the author is on to something.

Dogmatism and Faith

2010-06-02T09:42:00.001-07:00

What is the evidence of the Spirit in a vital congregation? Is it dogmatism, strict adherence to doctrine, or faith? Dr. Richard Halverson, a Presbyterian minister, made a profound observation a few years ago. He, by the way, was chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1981 until 1994.

Dogmatism and faith are not identical! Dogmatism is like stone. Faith is like soil.

Dogmatism refuses to admit doubt. Faith often struggles with doubt.

Dogmatism is brittle…cracks under pressure. Faith is resilient, malleable and teachable. Dogmatism is defensive…stereotyped…static. Faith rests…but is never smug, pat or complacent.

Dogmatism is a closed system. Faith is open to reason.

Dogmatism is a tunnel. Faith is a mountain peak.

Dogmatism fills one with pride. Faith inspires awe and reverence.

Dogmatism insists on propositions. Faith knows Christ.

Dogmatism generates bigotry. Faith stimulates understanding.

(Somewhere Inside of Eternity. Multnomah Press, 1978)

One of the beauties of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is that we seek, generally, to be less dogmatic and always more faithful.

Moved by the Spirit

2010-05-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

It is important to repeat that congregational transformation is not a program it is a process. It is a congregational lifestyle. The church seeks to be open to all the things God is doing, both traditionally and in new ways. A transforming church is one that is open to the Spirit.

Thelma Chambers Young, Pastor at University Place Christian Church, shared the following in her newsletter:

"In 1968, at the Ecumenical Council of Churches meeting is Uppsala, Metropolitan Ignatios spoke these words: Without the Holy Spirit, God is far away, Christ stays in the past, the gospel is a dead letter, the church is simply an organization, authority, a matter of domination, mission, a matter of propaganda, the liturgy, no more than an evocation, Christian living, a slave morality."

"But in the Holy Spirit: the cosmos is resurrected and groans with the birth pangs of the kingdom; the risen Christ is there; the gospel is the power of life; the Church shows forth the life of the Trinity; authority is a liberating service; mission is a Pentecost; the liturgy is both a memorial and anticipation; human action is defiled."

May our congregation be open to the mystery, power and guidance of the Holy Spirit!

From a Disciples CD on Transformation

2010-05-25T15:35:00.001-07:00

Those of us who have worked with it for a while, have learned a few things:

There are no experts in the area of transformation. Some things which produce amazing results in one setting seem to be totally ineffective in another. The transformation journey requires people who are willing to be learners, help others learn, try new things and adapt resources to fit the needs. We can't call someone in from the outside and expect them to give us a program or fix our churches for us.

Transformation is a process not a program. In reality no program can promise and deliver certain results, but there are many tools and resources to help us on the journey. The process develops as we continue our journey.

Transformation isn't a quick fix. Most of us would like to think a few minor changes will lead easily and quickly to transformation. Alan Roxburgh, among others, points to the fact that our world, our culture, even our local neighborhoods and churches are living in a time of major upheaval and transformation. So, no matter what, our journey is just beginning. Perhaps that is one of the reasons the story of the Exodus offers a metaphor for the journey we are just beginning. To that, many reply, "We don't have time for such a long journey. Remember during the years in the wilderness, the Hebrew people grew both in numbers and their relationship to God."

Transformation begins with a changing heart. We understand transformation is a gift from God. We can't make it happen any more than we can make plants grow. We do have a part. The rest comes from God. One of the first steps seems to be a return to the study of scripture and developing practices of prayer and meditation.

Courage, Clarity, and Commitment are essential to this journey. 1) Courage – it isn't easy to step off familiar paths and go in a new direction, especially when success is not assured. 2) Clarity – this takes a willingness to listen, explore, test, and focus on the work to which God is calling us. 3) Commitment – We will not know for some time, probably years, whether or not transformation is really occurring. There are some markers we can use along the way. At the same time we have to work and hope and trust that the fruit will come and God who acted in the past and acts in the present, will continue to act in the future. Staying the course requires an abundance of these three qualities.

Books to Read

2010-05-24T07:24:00.001-07:00

These are the books that I am currently reading. They all relate to church, change, transformation, and future possibilities.

The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle

Christianity for the Rest of Us by Diana Butler Bass

A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren

Church on the Other Side by Brian McLaren

The last book, Church on the Other Side, is the one I am digesting right now. It is very interesting and challenging.

2010-05-24T06:53:00.001-07:00

"I am about to do a new thing. Do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43: 19)

At the Elder's meeting on May 2nd I said we might want to consider entering into a process that enables congregational transformation. With new leadership coming on board July 1^st, this might be an opportune time to look at such a process and decide if it is something we want to embrace.

One might ask: "What is congregational transformation? Well, transformation is a commitment on the part of a congregation to be constantly looking for the new things that God is doing in our midst and to welcome and participate in them. Transformation is a process by which these new things can be discerned. Transformation is the renewal the Holy Spirit can bring about as a result.

Why should our church consider transformation? The transformation process can lead to new vitality for a congregation. The transformation process helps congregations gaine an increase in spiritual energy, vision and passion, increase membership and worship attendance, develop new mission and outreach programs, and improve finances.

It is important to note that transformation is not a program. It is a process, even a congregational life style. The church, it's leaders and membership, constantly seek to discern God's will for its mission and ministry. There are models to facilitate the process, and I am in the process of identifying and evaluating those models.

Transformation can take shape in one or more of the following ways:

Inward focus of ministry to outward focus of ministry
Taking care of member's needs to ministering to the hurts/needs of the un-churched & world
Institutional mindset to Missionary mindset
Institutional maintenance to mission to not-yet Christian people
God taking care of us to joining God in the work of caring for God's world
"Bulky" governance structures to flexible governance approaches
People will matter more than buildings and equipment
People will matter more than our customs and habits

Let's consider the possibilities.

Grace and peace,