Comments on: A Contemplative Gathering http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering Spirituality // Technology // Emerging Ecclesiology Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:45:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: {justin} http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering#comment-547 {justin} Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-547 justin (nice name...) thanks for the post. our fellowship (oddly enough named Mars Hill, but before we had heard of Seattle's finest) is currently in transition and we are attempting to navigate the waters into our new phase. we've been with building since our inception 5 years ago (some were bars and movie theaters, others were leased properties) and we're recognizing we could be much more effective financially without the expense of rent. we're a pretty adventurous group and have traditionally been untraditional. i think your ideas for fellowship and interactive experiences are right on and look forward to implementing them. one question i have for you is this: as gifts of the Spirit, what place do you see pastors and teachers having after the passing of the traditional/institutional/paid staff scenarios? justin (nice name…)
thanks for the post. our fellowship (oddly enough named Mars Hill, but before we had heard of Seattle’s finest) is currently in transition and we are attempting to navigate the waters into our new phase. we’ve been with building since our inception 5 years ago (some were bars and movie theaters, others were leased properties) and we’re recognizing we could be much more effective financially without the expense of rent.

we’re a pretty adventurous group and have traditionally been untraditional. i think your ideas for fellowship and interactive experiences are right on and look forward to implementing them.

one question i have for you is this:
as gifts of the Spirit, what place do you see pastors and teachers having after the passing of the traditional/institutional/paid staff scenarios?

]]> By: Rodney Olsen http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering#comment-548 Rodney Olsen Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-548 I like your ideas but one thing strikes me. All the elements you've described are things that people will interact with or participate in on an individual level. What place is there for doing something corporately? I look at my family. We all come and go as we involve ourselves in whatever we need to each day. Even when we're at home together the kids might be playing in their rooms, Pauline might be in her study and I'll be on the computer. However, the things that really draw us together are the things we do together. Perhaps instead of the table with bread and wine you may choose to celebrate communion as a corporate meal somewhere in the middle of that 2 or 3 hour window. The rest of the time people are free to worship using the other elements you've set up. Just a few thoughts. I like your ideas but one thing strikes me.

All the elements you’ve described are things that people will interact with or participate in on an individual level. What place is there for doing something corporately?

I look at my family. We all come and go as we involve ourselves in whatever we need to each day. Even when we’re at home together the kids might be playing in their rooms, Pauline might be in her study and I’ll be on the computer. However, the things that really draw us together are the things we do together.

Perhaps instead of the table with bread and wine you may choose to celebrate communion as a corporate meal somewhere in the middle of that 2 or 3 hour window. The rest of the time people are free to worship using the other elements you’ve set up.

Just a few thoughts.

]]> By: david muir http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering#comment-549 david muir Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-549 Sounds like a really interesting threshold into Christian things. What do people begin to experience once they are through the threshold? Is there a corporate life they can begin to belong to if they want to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus? Fellowship with others who are also exploring this? That is where the real work of discipling will take place. But your drop-in spirituality centre sounds like a great point of contact with people, so that they may want to begin to explore what lies behind it. Every blessing with it. Sounds like a really interesting threshold into Christian things. What do people begin to experience once they are through the threshold? Is there a corporate life they can begin to belong to if they want to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus? Fellowship with others who are also exploring this? That is where the real work of discipling will take place. But your drop-in spirituality centre sounds like a great point of contact with people, so that they may want to begin to explore what lies behind it. Every blessing with it.

]]> By: Justin Baeder http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering#comment-550 Justin Baeder Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-550 David-I like the way you described it as a threshold-type event. To answer Rodney's question, there's no planned "corporate" time because there is no corporate group - it's just whoever drops in. Hopefully we can use the event to meet people that we can develop relationships with, but the time is not intended to be a church worship service. Justin - I suppose I see leadership as both necessary and inevitable, for better or worse. I've been thinking lately about viewing all Christians as pastors - seeing that as our vocation - even when none are paid. We have this phrase "priesthood of all believers," but it's hard to give that much flesh when you don't really believe in priests in the normal sense. Maybe "pastorate of all believers" would make more sense - people who listen, counsel, teach, study, grow, lead, and challenge others by example. I think certain people will emerge as leaders because they are gifted in these areas. Having said that, I think churches should be led with a team approach - the "pastor is the boss" approach is not at all biblical unless you're talking about apostles, which I'm not. Leadership in the early church appeared to be shared, not one-man, and I think there are also plenty of other good reasons to do it that way today. David-I like the way you described it as a threshold-type event. To answer Rodney’s question, there’s no planned “corporate” time because there is no corporate group - it’s just whoever drops in. Hopefully we can use the event to meet people that we can develop relationships with, but the time is not intended to be a church worship service.

Justin -
I suppose I see leadership as both necessary and inevitable, for better or worse. I’ve been thinking lately about viewing all Christians as pastors - seeing that as our vocation - even when none are paid. We have this phrase “priesthood of all believers,” but it’s hard to give that much flesh when you don’t really believe in priests in the normal sense. Maybe “pastorate of all believers” would make more sense - people who listen, counsel, teach, study, grow, lead, and challenge others by example.

I think certain people will emerge as leaders because they are gifted in these areas. Having said that, I think churches should be led with a team approach - the “pastor is the boss” approach is not at all biblical unless you’re talking about apostles, which I’m not. Leadership in the early church appeared to be shared, not one-man, and I think there are also plenty of other good reasons to do it that way today.

]]> By: David http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering#comment-551 David Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-551 Great idea. Even though I regularly attend a traditional church, I wish there was a place like you describe for dropping in to worship at other times. I work in downtown Seattle, and wish there was a good place to go during lunch for a little quiet time, prayer and meditation. I feel awkward dropping in on some of the traditional churches downtown, as if I am trespassing or don't belong. Great idea. Even though I regularly attend a traditional church, I wish there was a place like you describe for dropping in to worship at other times. I work in downtown Seattle, and wish there was a good place to go during lunch for a little quiet time, prayer and meditation. I feel awkward dropping in on some of the traditional churches downtown, as if I am trespassing or don’t belong.

]]> By: Justin Baeder http://www.radicalcongruency.com/20031229-a-contemplative-gathering#comment-552 Justin Baeder Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000 //?p=#comment-552 I think that's a cool heritage that we've lost. Remember in the movies where people go into the church to pray, and a priest or nun is there to counsel them? Isn't that something that should be available in emergent churches as well? We're looking at starting a 24-7 prayer room - let me know if you're interested. I think that’s a cool heritage that we’ve lost. Remember in the movies where people go into the church to pray, and a priest or nun is there to counsel them? Isn’t that something that should be available in emergent churches as well? We’re looking at starting a 24-7 prayer room - let me know if you’re interested.

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