Getting in the Game

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.  ~ Anais Nin

This last Saturday, I joined with others in our Synod for a Get in the Game:  1001 New Worshiping Communities event.  Vera White (GA associate for the initiative) introduced us to a number of ways in which people have begun to embody the call to make new disciples.  Each one was remarkable for its creativity, and its contextual-relational witness to the gospel.  At the end of the day, I was energized and excited with the possibilities.

I won’t go into all of the marvelous detail (you can link to the 1001 website for some of that), but I will share four thoughts/learnings that I took away from the day:

1.  Everyone has a role to play:  Part of the invitation for each of us was to listen to what God is doing in and through this initiative and try to discern whether God is calling us to be SENT orto be a SENDER.  In other words, some of us may be called go and do a new thing, while others of us asked to make room for, nurture and support that new thing.  Given that most of the SENT work is more suited to young folks, many of us will not feel the call to go, but we can still take part as SENDERS, by opening our hearts, our minds, our communities and our procedures to make way for the new things that God is doing in and through the faith community.

2.  No more paint-by-number:  This is a time for great creativity and flexibility; a time to color outside the lines as we try new ways to be and do church.  It is no wonder that many of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities are deeply engaged with the arts.

3.  Contextual and Relational is where it’s at.  It’s not about build-it-and-they-will-come.  It’s not about luring people into our existing churches.  Instead, it is about creating new places in the neighborhood where people can connect… where  genuine neighborliness and community can take shape.  It’s about actively serving and changing the local context from within that context.  New worshiping communities arise from or walk alongside these more “secular” communities.  In this work, and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, neighborhoods, communities, people and the church are being transformed.  I’ve been known to say that New Church Developments are NOT the root of evangelism, but are instead the FRUIT of evangelism.  This seems to be the paradigm that is behind the 1001 Initiative.

4.  Discernment, not decision-making:  This work is deeply shaped by prayer and spiritual practices.  It is less driven by demographics and target markets than it is drawn together by the Holy Spirit’s tugging at the heart strings of those involved.  Since it is not driven by demographics that seek a target market that has great affinity for the Presbyterian Church (educated, powerful, well-to-do, white-collar), we are discovering some of our idols and re-discovering some of the jewels in the Presbyterian & Reformed storehouse.

In parting, Vera left us with some questions to ponder as we seek to answer the question of whether we are being called to being SENT or SENDERS.  I’ll leave share them here for your contemplation.

How do we:

• create a culture of innovation

• listen to voices on the margin

• explore new ways of being church

• move from regulatory to permission giving ways of working

• embrace our diversity

• invite new conversations

As always, I welcome your comments, thoughts, and reflections.