stop caste now
Saturday, June 30th, 2007Sunil will be at our house, Sunday night, July 8 at 6pm. Bring a $20 donation and something to grill.
Archive for June, 2007
i am not a supporter of house church(es)
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007I have often times been asked why we believe in the “house church”
model. I don’t. In fact, I try hard not to use that phrase any longer.
As a model, it is as full of flaws as any other. But I guess I am
still a strong proponent for this not as a model as much as the result
of my theology and convictions.
There is one reason why I highly value the way we have chosen to
function: sustainability. I mean this in many ways:
- it’s economically more sustainable
- it’s sustainable in the sense that it is not personality dependant
on one individual and therefore can continue to exist and evolve even
as “leaders” and other participants change
- it’s also more sustainable on an environmental level, making use of
space that already exists rather then building/renovating another is
important to me
- it enhances the use of resources for justice and mission by cutting
down, if not completely eliminating, overhead
It’s also more just in the sense that it allows more participation by
many. Because of the economic implications, the marginalized and the
poor can have greater access and more prominent voice. They also have
a greater opportunity to initiate something more “organic” (to use
Neil Cole’s language) themselves rather than be dependent upon an
ecclesiastic system that by and large does not advocate for them at
times. I know this is not true across the board but seeing as the poor
are one of the most mentioned subjects in Scripture their access and
interaction within ecclesiastic structures/models should be a priority
I am thinking.
As well, what my experience in recent years has provided that my
previous experience did not is a slow detoxification of three things:
1-the identity of a leader, 2-our idea of fulfilled mission and 3-the
identity of a congregation.
For me, it has challenged my own dependency on authority and false
ideals of success. It has provided an empty canvas for us to think
more creatively about how we participate with Jesus and his kingdom.
It has also provided ample space for those that have participated in
community with us over the years to consider their action rather than
rely on a leader to meet their needs.
While I don’t always appreciate the term “house church”�the name is a
misnomer for many and implies many things that I don’t necessarily
want to imply�I do appreciate the response it evokes in many. The
phrase itself seems to be received as a threat to many peoples’
system. At first, it took me awhile to get over that. Now, I
appreciate it. I’m forced to wonder, ‘Why is this such a threat to
you? Why does this raise so much emotional reaction?’ It implies, to
me, that there is something prophetic about it. So, I have no interest
in it as a model but I appreciate, still, the implications of being
the church in this way.
…. So, maybe I am a supporter.
abandon the pastoral church
Sunday, June 24th, 2007This last week has been full of conversations with several people sharing painful pastoral leadership stories. The stories have been with friends that are both pastors and lay people. Via Jason Z, I found this Jurgen Moltmann quote on Mike McNichols blog, a professor at Fuller:
If Christianity is to become aware of what it is, we must abandon the pastoral church which takes care of people, which is the usual form of the Western church. Instead, we have to call to life a Christian community church. Either we set about this church reform by ourselves, or it will be forced on us by the loss of church members. (The Source of Life, p. 96)
Seems timely. The rest of Mike’s post is great too.
I’m convinced Moltmann is right. The development of a consumer model of church and it’s corresponding measure of success (achieved by some, not most) is simultaneously bringing about the demise of congregations/communities and the spiritual demise of individuals. While larger, well-funded churches can often maintain the reliance on the pastoral figure to provide the felt needs of a faith community by hiring more staff, most churches can not do this. Therefore, the weight of the needs of a community most often rests on the shoulders of one person, the pastor. The emotional and psychological damage that can result in that person (the pastor) are known (I assume) by most westerners who have attended more than one church in their life.
This isn’t anti-leadership and it’s usually only interpreted that way by those that have masked their insecurities and power appetite in that opinion. Rather, it is a challenge to leaders (ie. pastors) to lead better than they are accustom to. Todd Hunter has often stated that it is the task of the christian leader to learn to lead people towards following Someone Else. It is a much more challenging leadership task to guide people in following a greater ideal than yourself.
Because we have for so long functioned differently and due to the fact that we have by and large began to view ourselves primarily as consumers, most lay people have just as hard of a time adjusting to this as do their leaders. Becoming a mission-centered community is hard work and, to be honest, we’re lazy here in the west.
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007
We offer our prayers to the Simple Way community today.
tonight • concert and art
Sunday, June 10th, 2007Come over tonight to check out the music of The Cobalt Season and the art of Matt Walker. See you there.
the STOP CASTE NOW bbq
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007I sent this e-mail out today…
I’m inviting you to participate with me in becoming a part of a grassroots, international movement of people standing in solidarity with the untouchable castes of India. Together, we want to say to the powers that be in India, Stop Caste Now!
How can you do this?
Socio-spiritual activist from India, Sunil Sardar, is in the States currently promoting his work. Sunil is part of a social-spiritual movement in India that hopes to see the caste system overthrown in our
lifetime, freeing millions of people from mental, if not physical bondage.
While Sunil is in the States, he has a pretty flexible schedule. My friend, Jim Henderson and I are assisting him in scheduling speaking events. We have found that one of the easiest ways to raise support for Sunil, both relationally and financially, are what we are calling THE STOP-CASTE-NOW BBQ.
Here’s how it works:
- Invite as many of your friends as possible that will fit into your back yard.
- Ask everyone to bring $20 and something to grill
- Provide drinks and side dishes
- After everyone has arrived and started eating, introduce Sunil
- Allow Sunil to talk about his work (aprox. 30 min.)
- Additional DVD’s and material can be provided upon request
Pretty easy, huh!? And if we cannot make arrangement to have Sunil at your place for THE STOP-CASTE-NOW BBQ at your place, we can at least provide you printed materials and videos to give to your friends to discuss.
Sunil is also available to speak at churches this summer. If you would like to have Sunil speak at your church this summer please contact me at the information below to discuss the honorarium and logistics.
Below are some links to more information about Sunil and Truth Seekers International, the organization he co-founded. Also, I’ve included some general dates of travel to assist in your planning for Sunil’s visit. I look forward to hearing back from you. Please forward this on to anyone.
Jason Evans
The Ecclesia Collective and STOP CASTE NOW
LINKS:
Truth Seekers Online
Sunil speaking at Cornerstone Fest this year
Video of Sunil’s Work
DATES(flexible):
6/3-6/5/2007: Long Beach, CA
6/6-6/13/2007: Palm Springs, CA
6/13-6/26/2007: Indianapolis, IN
6/26-6/30/2007: Cornerstone Festival (Chicago, IL)
7/1-7/5/2007: Indianapolis, IN (possible in Atlanta, GA for a couple days)
7/5-7/31/2007: West Coast (Seattle, WA)
P.S.
A PERSONAL NOTE… Friends, most of you know the journey Brooke and I have been on over the last seven years. To be honest, we would not have been able to participate in the Kingdom activity we have if not for the lessons we have learned from Sunil and his wife, Pam. These people are real life radicals and just amazing people. If you can help us raise relational and financial support for Sunil in any way, please let me know. On top of his political activism, he has worked with Tom Wolfe in New Delhi in training missional leaders and before that has assisted in starting hundreds of house churches throughout India… Have you heard me use the phrases ‘contextualizing the Gospel” of “redemptive potential”? I got those concepts/principles from Sunil.