Rachel and I were on a road trip to Phoenix a few weeks ago and got into a brainstorming session about the commune-in-planning. Here's a few notes for discussion about what it might actually LOOK like, in no particular order...
- We should be thinking about doing this in phases, something that's already been discussed a little bit. It might be something along these lines... Phase 1) Getting into the same time zone or zip code with outside employment. Phase 2) Intentionally spending more time together in fellowship. Phase 3) Evaluate our gifts and skills; begin to find ways to be co-dependant and supportive of each other. Phase 4) Develop a plan for outward ministry... Etc.
- We may want to have a sort of formal "steering committee", one that would provide initial leadership and help choose a church and community.
- We may want to commit to each attending the same church (of course, not an easy proposition due to variety of faith backgrounds). This would reinforce our internal community, and that relationship would also support the church. Having everyone at different churches might drain our ability to minister to each other if we are also being involved in the local church body.
- Understand that WE would not be a church to ourselves. We don't have the church-planting experience, and I think that we would still need to be a part of a larger body of Christ for accountability and support. It would also be a lot to bite off if we tried to make this community living thing work and start a church at the same time.
- Seek out remote or on-site community advisors (elder mentors) in order to have wisdom from older generation.
- For participation in this community, have a clear agreement on what is expected as well as how and why someone may have to leave. Participation is based on willingness to sacrifice some of your own preferences and comfort for the sake of the body, not based on an enforced commitment.
- At a later phase of the community, we'd have to have an idea of whether there would be financial sharing. This brings up possibility of establishing a formal non-profit status.
- We were thinking that it would be helpful to have some sort of leadership group at a minimum, with input from all adults of the community. Think of maybe a rotating headship, with a president-sort of position to handle day-to-day admin decisions. That position would be part of a committee with the last pres and next pres in order to preserve continuity.
Anybody have comments or other thoughts?
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12 comments:
cool; I'm glad you guys are thinking about this stuff! Hey, how are you two doing by the way?
So. I think the phases make a lot of sense. Of course, the very first phase may well lead us to an immidate impass: i.e. to where ought we move? Andy and Sarah suggest the research triangle area in N.C. I'm still figuring out what I think about that area. But it does offer a lot: there are urban areas, suburban ares and the mountains all within driving distance; there are all kinds of job markets continuing to open. Houseing is still inexpensive. Schools are good, etc. Anyway, it would seem good to brainstorm together about the sort of place we would like to live...
OK, there's too much going on around me right now for me to think further. More later.
So these thoughts aren't incredibly well organized, but here they are.
I like the idea of the research triangle. I would prefer to be by mountains and academic institutions.
I see having all of us at the same church being tricky to do, unless we went to somewhere without a lot of evangelical churches. For example, deciding on a denomination back home growing up was a default of sorts if you wanted to go to a church where the Gospel was preached and the Bible was recognized as God's word. New England would be good in that sense, but to make that work would probably required pooled finances, and I don't want to push this endeavor in any particular direction since I don't know if or when I'd ever be joining you guys for more than a visit.
These days my focus is on trying to get into a Ph.D. program. Then, I'll be there for four years at least. Before I'm done with that, I'm hopeful that I will be married and the decision to follow you guys would have to factor her in, too.
Oh, and despite my previous post. I think it could be really incredible if a bunch of you did something along these lines. It sounds appealing. I'm just not ready.
http://www.theamia.org/
Regarding the "everyone goes to the same church" idea, this is my suggestion. Remember Church of the Great Shepherd and Church of the Resurrection at Wheaton? Those were both Anglican Mission in America churches, a denom start by the Rwuandan Anglican church. Every one that I have attended/visited (4 of them) have been wonderful - full of the word, centered in the history of the church, focused on the social AND spiritual revival, and globally minded. Take some time to visit the above site, find a church in your area, and VISIT. Even if you're not looking for a church home right now, I think that an AMIA church would be a good fit for probably all of us when we ever decide to move to the same area.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the church is passionately liturgical with a contemporary flair in worship.
Um... not all of us are evagelicals...
"evangelicals," that should say
I still don't know what 'evangelical' means when it applies to a church. Coye, I really do think you'd like this style of church. I can't remember if you had ever visited Great Shepherd or Rez.
I went to Great Shepherd for more than 3 years and was a member for almost two.
I liked a lot of the things about Great Shepherd, and I loved a lot of people there, but I don't think I'd like to join another AMIA church, for a variety of reasons. (Including their refusal to ordain women as priests or bishops-- a decision that happened during the last year I was at Great Shepherd.)
Oooh,
do I smell another epic 611 Online debate,
which is what makes 611 so great?
hehe I guess not
Why do you want a fight so bad, Steve? What's wrong with you, huh? You got some kind of problem or something, 'cause I promise you I can fix it!
With my fist!
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