I just finished reading David Fitch’s take on sustainable ministry for missional leaders and pastors. You can read it here. He explained that the temptation to get pragmatic in our ministries (i.e., tell the people what they want to hear in order to pay for programs/salaries) is drastically lessoned when a missional community (1) keeps building expenses minimal, (2) maintains a multiple bi-vocational/bi-ministerial pastorate, and (3) develops an economy of thrift (free-cycling, meal sharing, etc.) among members. What do you think? Is he being realistic?
Lastly, Fitch recommends some good ol’ fashion spiritual disciplines (i.e., daily long walks, silence, and lectio divina) for renovating the heart of a missional leader out of the grimy hands of fear and/or pandering. Here’s the “Psalm for Missional Leaders” he’s been using (with his own notation):
Psalm 37
Fret not…
Trust in the Lord and do good
Dwell in the land, and cultivate faithfulness (or “feed on His faithfulness” - this line is a mantra for missional pastors)
Delight yourself in the Lord’
And he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord
Trust also in Him and He will do it
And he will bring forth your righteousness as the light…
So, to all my church friends and leaders…do not fret! Let’s get our hands in the dirt so to speak and quietly walk away from anxious reactions. Let’s make a more sustainable ministry for our communities and then see the fruit of joining the lasting missio dei. How else could we expect our lives to become the change we hope to see?
p.s. If I didn’t already mention this, you have to read David’s post. I did? Well, just read it…pretty please!
October 31st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I have written a lot on my blog about the excesses of American Christianity and ways that Christians can live more holistically by minimalizing their costs through community living and things of this nature. To hear that others are writing about it makes me happy.
To address the question, “is it practical?” Well usually subverting the system for something new is never easy. It reminds me of HBO’s “The Wire” which chronicles the life of cops lost in “the system.” There are a few who try to buck the system, but by and large most people just buy into the system while systemic evil still exists and rears it rampant head in so many ways. I want to live a life within the church that tries to move beyond “what works” to what is best for the church.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Hi Danny,
Nice of you to stop by. And thanks for the comment. I look forward to interacting some around your writing as well.
I agree with your point about “what works” versus “what’s best.” Right now, I am constructing a longish post about what I think would be “best” for local Christian communities. For some in my local church, the picture I will paint of community isn’t going to “work” for them. More and more, though, I keep thinking about how important it is to map out the kind of community I would like to see and then to simply invite others with a similar mindset and allegiance to join with me.
What do you think will make a difference with regards to subverting the system in the Christian context?
November 5th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I think that it is extremely important not to do the same things that we have always done in church simply because that is “what works.”
For instance,
1) Why can’t we have a meal together and share communion on Sunday Morning by having enlivening discussions and fellowship instead of having a service with clearly delineated worship, sermon, time to share the Lord’s supper, and then more worship and then fellowship?
2) Why do we have to sit in rows in church with the pastor at front?
3) Why can’t we interrupt a sermon to ask a question?
… I have lots more questions…
November 5th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
me too
November 7th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Jason, you have always been one, who can push the line a little bit farther, and one who is very conscious of the well-being of people. That my friend is a good trait. So many thinkers out there are so set on getting the point across that, well, where did all the people go?
You me and coffee when I return. I will keep Psalm 37 as a stone tablet in my heart to meditate on and find the peace that the scriptures bring. I miss you. We are having a blast and just enjoying one another. Make sure that you too take your own advice, remember your a papa soon. I love you bro, always your communal friend…. Tim
Fret not…
Trust in the Lord and do good
Dwell in the land, and cultivate faithfulness
November 10th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Hey Timbo, thanks for the encouraging words. I soooooo appreciate your friendship and the conversations we get to have. It’s great to hear you guys are enjoying the trip. You deserve it. We’ll meet at the Naked Lounge when you get back!