the people formerly known as the congregation...and the " church "

It's interesting when a good rant shows up in the blog-o-sphere, its like the band wagon wagon coming to town everyone can't wait to line up and jump aboard.

One such rant made it's appearance a few weeks ago over at Bill Kinnon's space, " Achievable Ends ", titled, " The People formerly known as the Congregation."  Bill's post comes mainly out of his own experience, but I'm sure what he articulates could be voiced by many who find themselves no longer part of a faith community. I don't want to water down anything Bill is saying, Bill's inspired rant describes the depths to which we need to re-think congregational life in a post-Christendom, postmodern context.

Bills rant covers such topics as...

3,4,5...no point sermons/ perhaps God does have a plan for our lives...it just doesn't seem to jive with yours

Money

Edifice Complex Pathologies/ Building Projects

Music/ Happy Clappy tunes bear no witness to the reality of the world we live in, the powers and principalities we confront, or worthy of the one we proclaim as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

the myriad of church programs

Really nothing there we haven't heard of before. For the most part the " church " has traveled the same path along the corridor of history. Sort of one behind the other, oblivious to what was going on beside us as we labored to push the institution forward through time. Of course, a passive sedimentary congregation is not particularly the pastor's fault, the congregants' fault, or even the seminaries fault. Our entire church system is built around a Christendom model of church where we pay a professional of people to do ministry to and for everyone else.

It seemed just when everything was " emerging " a new buzz word started to popping up in conversations on the fringe. " Missional " stuck like crazy clue...becoming the new direction of being and doing church. It's obvious in Bills rant, he loves the " church "...and has a heart for it to move to be more missional , by addressing the obstacles that prevent the modern church from moving in that direction.

The problem I have with most rants is they offer lots of critique without much talk of solutions. From experience, it is an easier road to construct something outside the church, or the fringe...than it is to deconstruct / renovate an existing church model. I can remember being part of a leadership team in a traditional church that spent well over a year talking about change, transition to a more missional approach of church. The reality, oh yeah we want change, we understand the reasons why...but in the midst of change, transition...we like it about as much as the Israelites liked the desert. Change will not happen over night, and leaders bold enough to move in that direction will likely die in the desert before they see the new land.

Again, I'm speaking from the perspective of existing established churches, but, how many Bill's are there in congregations that are ready to get out there in the neighborhood and actually do missional church. Again, I can only speak from my experience of teaching on spiritual gifts, but, I suspect the percentage in most congregations is quite small. And, no doubt, we have done a poor job in teaching, equipping and releasing people in what ever there gifting is. I have always believed as Bill has stated, and as the apostle Paul has stated...we are the royal priesthood...we are all priests. It is time, to release the " church " to live that reality.

The other thing that needs to happen is " GRACE ", lets pour that out abundantly on the leaders in existing established churches who are moving towards a missional model of church. I suspect most have come out of seminaries, Bible Colleges where teaching around missional church was no where to be found. The reality again...Our entire church system is built around a Christendom model of church where we pay a professional of people to do ministry to and for everyone else. Most have come out of that cookie cutter approach of making preacher/teachers. So the question...will the preacher/ teacher go the way of the dinosaur...frozen in time, and fossilized.

How important will sound teaching be to the missional church, and is this something that it is willing to pay for?

Again, still from the prospective of existing established churches, lets look at leadership. Again, can we have some more grace. I know there are leadership stories of the one man band, the dictator that lords over his community, the guy who has his finger in absolutely everything that the church is involved in. How much of that comes from their expectation, and the expectation of the congregation. Again, the reality from most I talk to, they would rather not be involved in everything. So there is no doubt the model of leadership in existing churches needs to change. For awhile in " emerging " conversations, there was the thought that leadership could actually happen without leadership. Can you imagine a sailboat where everyone has a rudder...you get the picture I'm sure. So there has to be some kind of leadership. I suspect it might be like the director of a huge theatrical play. Where everyone in the community has a role, and knows there role, and a part in the play...where the community lives out it's missional story. Although the director is there he is not the most important person...it is the all the actors in the community living out the story. It is his job to make sure everyone has a part, and that the missional story of the community is lived out on the stage of the neighbourhood they find themselves.

Again, will the missional church consider this a professional position...something it is will to pay for?

Boy I'm getting a little long winded here, but, one last thing I want to bring up...OK, two...money and buildings. Having been involved as a treasurer in a church for a couple of years I know the two are a constant balancing act. I don't want to list everything here such as...staff, office supplies, heat maintenance, etc...the bills add up. It takes allot of money these days to own a building.

So I leave you with this question. How many existing established churches that are struggling to keep afloat would consider abandoning the sinking ship and enter life boats to explore other models  of doing community. Is it possible to meet in homes, link to each other via the web, blogs...keeping each other up to date as what's going on. Maybe getting together once a month in a rented hall around an agape meal, fellowship and sharing missional stories. Sort of reminds you a bit of the early church in the Book of Acts.

Again, the question...how attached is the church to buildings, and can the missional church exist with out buildings.

Comments

[Jamie Arpin-Ricci]

Regarding the fair critique of needing to be constructive with a solution, did you happen to catch my Part 3 to Bill's post "The Community Coming To Be Known As Missional"? I wrote it in an attempt to reflect in the positive, hopeful direction what Bill had expressed in angst. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Peace,
Jamie

[Bill Kinnon]

Interesting commentary, Ron.

Check out what Allelon is doing with the Missional Schools Project - working with 24 Seminaries in Canada & the US. Carrey in Vancouver is one of them. (Link: allelon.org )

I'd also echo Jamie - please read his piece and that of Emerging Grace and John Frye.

[ron]

Bill, Thanks for dropping by, I did visit Jamie's post and left a comment, and did read the post at Emerging Grace. I whole heartedly agree what everyone is saying. I'm just twisting things abit, and looking at it from the perspective of folks trying to work the missional thing out in existing established churches. Trying to get communities that have collected allot of baggage in their journey, to unpack and just take what is absolutely essential...and then move into the land of transition on their way to be a " missional church "...is a different journey of starting fresh on the fringe or outside the church.There are people trying to work it out in existing established communities...and it is work. You really get a sense of how Moses must have felt in the wilderness.

[grace]

Ron,
I really appreciated your thoughts here and agree that the biggest challenge, whether in existing institutions or outside of them, will be in overcoming the Christendom model that is ingrained in our understanding of church.

I also agree that missional as an ideal is much more appealing than missional as a lifestyle. On my more cynical days, I think that most of the average joes who are comfortable in the pew won't embrace the nitty-gritty reality of a Christian lifestyle that requires more than showing up at church.

As far as buildings, I would like to see them used for redemptive purposes within the community rather than as a shrine to our sunday service, unless they are complete distraction and hindrance. I can also see where the lack of a building would force a different model and method of developing community.

Great thoughts Ron, lots of stuff to think about.