sojourn stories...

on leadership...

Caroline Ramsey has been blogging about leadership...a fantastic and interesting discussion that has spilled over into other blogs...

in her latest post, Wes posed the following question about presence:

"Having lunch today with one of the young emerging business leaders of our community, what you wrote was part of the topic of our conversation. "Presence" is a significant missing element in the development of many relationships...especially, it seems...among many leaders. My friend today asked, since were on the topic even before reading your blog, "Can 'presence' be taught...or only modeled, experienced, and thus taught?" What would your answer be if you had been in on the conversation?"

and I responded with the following comment:

"imho, i think presence mus be modeled... that is the Hebraic way as talked about in Deuteronomy, "as you sit, as you walk by the way" as well as the way that Jesus, the Hebrew, taught and led his disciples and followers during his time on earth. I think that "presence," our truly being aware and engaged in the moment with another's life, story, journey, thoughts, ideas, struggles, etc is the fundamental part of leadership that makes mankind essentially not a machine! Presence is the offering of the soul, of the senses and what causes people to want to follow and to share..."

How would you answer Wes' question? 

I wonder about the church today, if we can really make the shift from the top down hierarchical structure that has become familiar and accepted, even "ordained"  as inspired, divine, and thus right. 

Can we shift from this to something that honors the reality that the Divine indwells each of us and that the Body is interdependent, without any part that does not need to follow at some point in time?  Interdependence assumes a fluidity to leadership, an ebb and flow that fits each circumstance.  Will we be able to meet the changes that are already shifting the sands of time and culture and restructure our churches to minister, to be salt and light in the midst of the changes rather than resist them in fear of the unknown and the untried?

As I read the gospels, I see Jesus often doing the unconventional, challenging the "way we have always done it" but not getting bogged down with doing it only one way.  For example, once He said to the blind man, "Be healed!"  And the blind man was healed.  So does this mean that each and every time there is a blind man, that healing comes according to this formula, quick someone write this down!  ;)

Except, another time, when a blind man was brought to Jesus , he bent down and spit in the dirt, (yes, Jesus spit, my son loved this verse as a kid;)  and then Jesus made a paste of mud and spit and put it on the man's eyes... Then he told the blind man to go to the water and wash it off...(i am assuming that the friends who brought the blind man to Jesus took him to the water, if they were hoping for the quick two word healing they were surely disappointed).

Here we have a three step process for healing the blind:  1) spit on the ground & make a mud paste 2) smear mud paste on blind eyes  3) send blind man to wash off paste... Which method goes in the healing manual? If we include both, how do we know when to use which method?

I love that throughout the Gospels there are many stories where Jesus was confronted with similar situations, that he often did not handle in the same way.  imho this is so that we could not come up with a formula for How to: ____  and forget that we need to be present to the moment, to the person who we are engaged with, and most of all forget to be involved in a relationship with Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, so that we might know how to best serve in any given situation. 

I know that the term "servant leadership"  has become popular, and i hope it does not become so overused that it loses its profound meaning... that in laying aside our rights, our position, our rightful place, we can be present to another and begin to really hear, see, discern their needs and by the grace of G-d, we can serve them... this is leadership after the way of Jesus and it requires a profound ability to be present in body, mind and soul...

emergent post by Brian McLaren addresses issues of Diversity and Justice

There is a weekly update, the Emergent/C, that can be sent to you via email scroll to btm of page and sign up) or appears on the website, and directs you to the emergent-us blog.  This week's update is written by Brian McLaren and addresses the issues of diversity and justice as two arenas that emergent is committed to focusing on in the coming years.  His reflections on the summit begin:

"I left the June 05 summit with renewed excitement about the direction and potential of emergent.  We all sensed a growing passion in two areas that are especially important to me.

First, we have been increasingly concerned about diversity for a few years.  Fortunately, there has been denominational diversity among us since the beginning - and it has grown steadily in recent years as emergent has become a "post-liberal/post-conservative" common ground. But the "white maleness" of almost all Christian leadership networks has been of concern to us." (read more)

What follows Brian's post is a series of comments that digresses into mudslinging all to soon and does not remain on track to discuss the issues of diversity and justice or suggest and entertain ways to engage in these issues.  I posted the following comment:

"I was invited to the Summit in Minnesota, and I listened to and partcipated in the discussions regarding diversity and justice. They grew from a desire to live after the way of Jesus, who gathered a myriad of diverse people around him and asked them to love each other in the way that he loved them. Imagine a Zealot and a tax collector sharing a meal, living in community and serving together!

Jesus was always aware of "the other," the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized. This same awareness drives the growth in emergent's efforts toward diversity and justice. As a minority woman, I experienced a welcoming and inclusive tenor in the voices and hearts of the "white men" of emergent. There existed such an acceptance and equality, toward all the women present, that it in terms of equality and input it was a non-issue. However, because of the groups awareness and wisdom regarding this vast and important issue of diversity, the discussion regarding how to expand the way emergent address diversity ensued. (And believe it or not a diversity of age, gender, and faith traditions were represented within the room). Diversity was undertood to include differences within race, gender, age, socio economic, cultural, and faith, as well as other arenas.

I was reminded of the teachings of Levinas, regarding the importance of "the other," as I reflected on how the disciples learned about Jesus, a life of faith and the way of love as they lived in community. Embracing diversity affords us the opportunity to know more of God and of ourselves in learning and listening to "the other," as well as living in community with one another.

As far as justice issues, the humble attitude of the leaders of emergent regarding our part in historic and global injustice required an increased awareness and intentionally coordinated missional action. This is not a shift, but an expanding of the call and committment to live after the way of Jesus who cleverly and subversively fought injustice as the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Can we please get back to the main issues of doing justice, loving mercy & kindness and walking humbly with God rather than all the mudslinging that serves only to divide and incite further diversion from the work at hand?

Of course, there will be theological differences. However, as I read and teach the scriptures, I rarely see Jesus debating these points, for the sake of argument, but instead would call people to action, to move forward and engage in love. Therefore, what can we agree on? Where can we join one another in the work of God on the earth in these times..."

I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts regarding this discussion and/or ways to engage in these issues with a view towards inclusion and embrace.

Vision for Emergent US- past 5 years...next 5 years

Tony Jones posted some thoughts on Emergent US five year journey on the Emergent US blog.  He talks about the dreams and goals that were crafted at a summit that marked Emergent's formal inception 5 years ago, and he asks for input and feedback for an upcoming summit that will cast a vision for the next 5-10 years. He eloquently states, "We stand at a liminal moment, one in which the church needs thorough revolution if it hopes to stand as God's partner in the Grand Re-Creation." Read the rest of his post, celebrate the journey thus far, and offer your insights and feedback, thus  becoming part of casting a vision for the future.  There is much work to be done and Emergent offers an avenue for participating in the revolution.

podcasts from the EC05 and more

i am late to this party... which figures, because i am usually late, i like to think fashionably late, though ;)  convesatio fide: a podcast has a number of ed sessions to download, as well as the remarkable phyliss tickle evening blessings.  Another treat is a peak into the IKON worship services. so,  check it out!!

changing forms of leadership...

Andrew Jones posted this among other random thoughts:  "emergent leadership is not about removing the leaders, but empowering and elevating the laity into leadership" 

I think it is a timely statement given all that I participated in and observed at the recent ec05 in Nashville, read in the blogosphere, heard in the conversations before, during and after the emergent convention and the growing emergent conversation.  This issue is not unique to the emerging church, but it is increasing in volume as the emergent conversation moves through its first stage of organizational development and begins another.

I perceive an undercurrent of angst, that seems to remain unspoken, which i am going to try  to name and identify.  Andrews words are a springboard for thoughts.  We are a people created to worship. If we do not intentionally and humbly seek to worship g-d, we will worship something or someone. 

One of the burdens that leaders bear is a throng of worshipers who have decided that they possess 'the way,' 'the answer," or 'the solution' to the questions, confusion, or even woundedness and emptiness in all of our lives.  It is in our nature to seek and we seek to quiet the inner ache.  We seek and hope to find someone who will have "the answer," and far too often we pin these hopes on the leader of the day.

While i am not denying that leaders may have an answer, or a way that will offer insight, help, direction or lift our burdens for a bit, i am concerned at the elevated place they are given, and the pressure and burden this places on identified leaders to be all things to all people.  Even more troublesome is the way such leader worship excludes the many other "unidentified" leaders/laity who may offer a wise word, a solution, path or  insight as well, but remain unseen and unheard.

Leading is a double edged sword.  I do not want to deny the need for leadership. I do want to challenge the use of power and position on both ends of the leadership spectrum, leaders on one side, followers on the other.  Leaders are often criticized for how they lead, why they lead, and where they fail.  It is easy to criticize leaders (I have read many critiques, some are accurate, some harsh and cruel).

But rarely do '"followers" examine their role in the equation.  I want to address this side of the spectrum, that part of us as followers that first creates and then reveres leaders to the point of "leader worship," thereby, creating an imbalance of power.  It is this imbalance of power that can fuel both our worship and our ultimate disappointment.  Then, we eventually and invariably turn and attack, as harmful and unfair, the power the leader possesses, without acknowledging our part in its creation.

We give away power by not valuing the input and words of the laity, of the "unknowns," or even our own words with the same measure as the identified leaders.  Thereby, we participate in creating the system that we rail against.  Some of the angst and anger that has been communicated in the wake of the ec (and other gatherings for that matter, as it is not a phenomenon unique to the emergent conversation), is our insatiable desire for more, coupled with our created nature to worship, and these longings must be addressed in the context of our relationship with g-d. 

Will we ever be satisfied?  i don't think so, not this side of heaven, even in our relationship with g-d, because we have left the garden, where we could walk and talk with g-d in the cool of the day and we have not been restored to full fellowship.  we are divided by the finiteness of this world.  We have glimpses of heaven, tastes of fullness, moments of being satisfied and then... they are gone!  Are we able to savor them, be present to them and enjoy them?  are we content with the wonderful remembering? Or are we off for the next fix? 

Needing feel good again, wanting to dull the existential ache, longing for that which is greater than us, quite often these desires are the fuel that have us seeking the next leader, hero, answer man or woman?  Our longing to escape this angst exists at such a such a primal level that we follow those who touch it, who speak to it, who promise, even unintentionally, to fill the hole.  In our refusal to live in the brokenness of our finiteness, we seek the one who will ease our pain.  and thus far to often we worship identified leaders...who invariably disappoint, for they are all to human, and then we criticize, vilify and condemn them in their failings. 

We, who have placed leaders on a pedestal, are disappointed, become disillusioned and rip it out from under them...but sadly, we do not deconstruct it or destroy it realizing that the pedestal is the problem, not the leader... no, far to often we frantically search for someone new to put upon it...for a while, until we are disappointed again... and the cycle continues...thus there is an ongoing need for new conferences, best selling authors and "must see" speakers.  We secretly hope that maybe they will have the answer, maybe they will show the way, maybe they will fill this cavernous void...

Maybe, as Andrew says, we need to "elevate the laity" to a place where there is a common ground, a level platform where many can offer their wisdom and insight gained from experience, and without the pedestals that elevate some and silence others. But this level ground will not come apart from addressing the idolatry in our hearts.  It will only come as we admit that we do not seek G-d first, and far too often, we do not see Jesus everywhere, in each image bearer, in all of creation.  Leveling the ground of leadership in the realm of power requires us to look at our hearts, and examine the motive for our elevating some and ignoring others. 

This is the underbelly of idolatry.  We want to blame leaders for failing us, but rarely do we look at how we have dishonored both the leaders and the others that we have refused to hear.  It is humbling to look at our idolatry, my idolatry.  (Just as it is humbling to write this essay, as it reveals part of the darkness within my own heart and the path of my own story).  We are all capable of abusing power and privilege, not only in our roles as "identified leaders," but in our roles as creators of power structures by placing people on pedestals and valuing one person's thoughts and inputs over anothers. 

The abuse of power and position exists in part because we seek to illegitimately fill an unfillable void.  For true change to occur, we must each face the void in our own life.  The void is both the problem and the answer, for the void is our thirst, our hunger and what can compel us to seek the presence of g-d...the only One who can touch the ache in a manner that sustains us, offers rest, and ultimately provides the way to live in this fallen world. 

Worshiping G-d allows my soul to be open to impact from leaders and laity and from the least of these, because i am no longer searching for a fix, a filling, or someone to follow/worship other than G-d.  G-d offers a rest and a peace in the midst of the void that enables me to engage, both to give and to receive, but most importantly to see Jesus in the words and work of many fellow sojourners, whether they are identified leaders or not.  Then, the pedestals are dismantled and the ground becomes level, not because there are no leaders, but because there ceases to be leader worship, as we intentionally value each person's gifts, input, experience,  and wisdom and begin to truly live as the body of Christ.

a feminine lens on the ec...

it has always been a treat for me to bring people together, to 'broker' meetings (as it has been called), but for me it is as natural as breathing...introducing people to one another, making connections between people that i am sure will bless one or both of them, and loving the hospitality of having them sit at my kitchen table, drinking coffee/tea and forming the bond i just knew would be there... so here in the blogosphere, this passion of mine is bound to surface... and so... i realize that i have been reading others notes and posting them on my site to take you to places/writers/gifts way beyond mine...and i have found another!

lynette davidson offers a wonerful feminine lens on the ec.  Her notes begin here on the emerging women's critical concerns course and continue to her insightful synopsis of the various sessions that i am yet to summarize...thanks lynette!

another set of EC05 notes...

shane mullin, a new friend, also took great notes on different seminars at the mergent convention.  here is the link to the beginning of his posts, and you can follow them...thanks shane;)

i will not be posting specific session notes, but rather overall impressions and i may take a few sets of notes and interact with them on my blog over the next few weeks.  Would love to hear your thoughts on what you read as well...

levinas, cixious, heidegger and belfast...

one highlight of my time at the ec05 was a lengthy conversation with pete rollins of ikon, will sampson and dj chuang, that unfolded for most of friday afternoon.  it started simply, as will and i were talking about alternative models of learning, as an important arena for the emerging church to address, and dreaming about the idea of cohorts of other biblio-holics like ourselves who longed to learn in community, but may not be able to pursue conventional academic paths...pete rollins came up to chat, (briefly;) and suddenly we found ourselves reflecting on the ikon service regarding tannebrae, and the idea of the absense and presence of g-d.  (this was a huge topic in my MDiv studies) and then pete, who has just finished his doctorate, began to talk about his the myth of lilith (which begins his dissertation).  that threw us into the naming of different issues surrounding "new theology... " and spurred one converstation trajectory after another...

by this time, after taking heiderggers name in vain a number of times, dj chaung, who had joined us as well, asked about books/authors to read in order  to gain a better understanding of the 'french' that pete was spouting, (in his lyrical irish tongue of course).  And then the  names really began to fly, iragarey, cixious, heidgegger, (him again), derrida, and then to the gentler buber... pete and i got stuck in our mutual admiration for levinas and kristeva, delving into conversations about the other and the idea of absence/presence, and the reality of the theological constraints resulting from the limits of language...(and how to address them as theologian sin the 21st century).

the four of us flew all over the map, in and out of books/authors and ideas, with great questions, challenges and insights throughout the conversation.  i don't know that we settled anything, except how fantastic it is to learn, discuss, dialogue and think in community... and i was hooked!  not since seminary have i enjoyed such diverse thoughts and conversations about deep thological issues and questions.  there was a mutual listening, learning, deconstructing and re-forming as the sun moved all to quickly to the lower third of the sky as the dinner hour approached . 

I missed all my seminars for the afternoon, but this rich time was priceless and a highlight of my week.  Rachelle Chuang, dj's wife, joined us briefly, and shared a bit of her art.work.  It was a refreshing divergence from all the words that still hung in the air, waiting to be formed into thoughts, conclusions and further dialogue, but all of us welcomed the break.  as if to allow our thoughts time to simmer... a breather, another round of beers and a mutual enjoyment of creativity. 

I am sure that for these few moments time slowed as we lingered over the feast of words and ideas, knowing that this delightful afternoon was drawing to a close... we wondered aloud about how to continue the conversations, would we be part of the unfolding new theology, would it invite others to jesus in ways that we have not imagined, would the deconstruction turn toward a constructive theology that would resonate with the changing world?  we wondered how to invite others in, how to listen and to learn in an ongoing and larger context... what is the role of the emerging church, what are our roles both individually and in community, we wondered aloud...?

All too soon, the sun crossed the edge of the table, as a shadow fell, others were entering the eating area as the dinner hour arrived, and the final interruption of new people to greet and introduce broke the spell of our afternoon revery... and with those last interruptions the page turned, our foursome dispersed, the evening continued... i am left curious about the next discourse:  where will it occur?  how will it unfold,? and where will it lead...? but more importantly, i was profoundly aware that this conversation would shape the way i engaged in a missional lifestlye at home and i was grateful.

ec05 notes-pt. 2...

wrote an *amazing* post last night, trying to get in a few more tidbits while my eyes were propped open with toothpicks... and then closed the window without saving it!  so it is lost.... will try to recreate it in some form...

each time i had a few moments to reflect on the *wows* of the ec05, i would realized i forgot  something, so i will write another *wow* post and couch the fact that i am writing a third one in some trinitarian metaphor ;D  (which will give it the illusion of intentionality;)

these are a few words/phrases, people and events that struck me as blog-worthy in my state of utter weariness...

intentionality:  one of my favorite words and one that permeated the ec05 dialog.  What does it mean to live, love, serve, practice hospitality with intentionality?  This is far more interesting and expansive than 'doing church,' WWJD, lighting candles, reconfiguring, reforming, re-everything...  (which is gaining prominence as a phrase, similar to post-everything).

new monasticism:  an order of living or rules for communal life after the order of old monastic orders that risk the wild adventure of living in community with intentionality and hospitality among the margins.  their website is a great entree into understanding this idea (i am reading a book on this so more later, but the idea of living with others committed to the same set of principles and practices, without legalism, but with kindred hearts and minds intrigues and draws me). 

integrated experiential worship:  hands on experiential artistic expressions that complement and deepen the worship experience.  lilly lewin set up stations that enable us to 'do art' regardless of artistic ability, with prayer stations that invited engagement with and in the worship experience.  this is an integrated means of worship and far more engaging than simply listening to lesons taught  (see her posts on the WALP conference). 

learning communities:  this manner of teaching, learning listening, integrates old and new.  We were invited to both listen to and learn from the expert's but form each other as well, rather than assuming that only the expert's had something of value to say.  This format invited people to speak, teach and ask questions that facilitated learning as well as provides some concrete scholarship and practial applications tried in the crucible of real life. far more effective than talking head seminars.

embracing/expansive church:  jay vorhees, tony peterson, glandion carney and brian mclaren held a critical concerns course on Tues. 5/17, and it was great!  First it was a gathering of people from a variety of faith traditions, ages, and thoughts.  The idea of Church being expansive and embracing is dear to my heart, it resonates with my own story and is an area that must be addressed for the church to grow, but even moreso, for our own hearts to become expansive and embracing, thus yeilding a lifestyle that follows... there is more, much more... i loved listening and learning from those who have really lived out the way of Christ in and with those in the margins...

ikon:  the worship service on tennebrae (holy saturday) was remarkable, inexpressible and profound.  this was punctuated by a 4 hour long conversation with dj, will and pete rollins of ikon, on friday, that trumped all of the seminars i had hoped to attend.  i bought the discs so i hope to catch the great stuff and wisdom shared;) ikon is a group intent on becoming christian in belfast and not only engaging culture, but being among and a part as it seeks to walk in the way of jesus.   

bloggers forum:  what a treat to see almost 40 bloggers figuring out who was who, regarding to URL, being known more by blog name or URL than given name.  The oh/ah's that accompanied the spontaneous applause as claudia was identified as ragamuffin diva was delightful!  Thanks to will, dj and american bible society for the lunch, tshirts and books!  Check out the list of emergent bloggers! that monged on yummy food and conversation.  Another favorite moment was shane mullin's "wow, really!" response when i introduced myself and said, "i read your blog." 

meeting and sharing stories with adele from existential punk and ikon, giving adam a hard time, beginning at the luncheon and continuing through the week, coupled with really enjoying his complex thought, humor and obvious smitten-ness with sarah. getting pointers from dj, and just thoroughly enjoying wes.   

wes robert:  i'll end with wes because my ec05 eperience began with wes...who picked me up from the airport, watched over me as a father/brother, was willing to teach me as well as learn from me, even as, or maybe especially as he is one of my mentors, and watching him care for, integrate with and engage in conversation with other ec participants was refreshing and insightful  his white hair and twinkling blue eyes, had many wondering if he was in the right place, (not being with the NC) but it was those same things, coupled with his huge heart and vision  that made it clear he must be part of this fledgling emergent conversation that needs the wisdom of years, that is humble and helpful simultaneously... so if you were one of those who got a few minutes, you will understand what i just wrote, but if not then know that he is a blessing to leaders and to the church universal as well!

there is much more to write, but it will wait... three was a humors the variety of interesting t-shirts made me rue not bringing a camera... everything from, "i'm blogging this," to "god does not have a penis."  check abround blogsophere, there are bound to be photos.

check back and there wll be more!  ;D

notes from emergent convention 05...

gavin has posted some great notes from the sessions, as well as clever commentary on the sightings of varous EC attendees...a fun and informational read...as opposed to a "fundy' read. he also includes insightful relections and offers a different lens (read=mainline). check out gavin's blog in general as well!