The Congregation Strikes Back?

Bill Kinnon, at Achieveable Ends, wrote a post that captivated the blogosphere. In it, he plays off of Jay Rosen's The People Formerly Known as the Audience. Titled The People Formerly Known as the Congregation, Bill rants against leadership that leads by 3-point sermons, raises money for building programs, and solicits volunteers to run the various ministries. But more than that, Bill rants against what it means to be a member in a congregation today -- he feels 'used' and writes that he is no longer going to be a passive recipient of all things church. The tone is 'don't do it to me, but partner with me, treat me like an adult -- a co-producer of church.'

Bill sparked a number of follow up posts that piggy-backed on his idea, written from the perspective of pastors and others who agree that the system is not really working. Of course, a passive 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 special class of people to do ministry to and for everyone else.

Over the past ten years or so, the missional church conversation centered around the idea of equipping entire congregations to serve as missionaries to their surrounding cultures. They work with churches who embody this Christendom passivity. They look to help them re-imagine what it means to be the people of God.

I believe Bill taps into another dynamic not addressed by the missional church conversation. Bill speaks for those who already left. They couldn't tolerate being treated as children and opted out. Now located outside "church", these active (as opposed to passive) Christians create alternative ways to worship God, encourage one another, and witness to their faith.

Bill's inspired rant describes the depths to which we need to re-think congregational life in a post-Christendom, postmodern context.

Technorati Tags: church, Jay Rosen, Leadership, missional church, Bill Kinnon, seminary

Comments

[Jamie Arpin-Ricci]

Well said. Bill's piece was really inspiring to me, not only in the article I wrote as a result, but in my commitment to be more aware of the walking wounded around me. If we want to move towards what God has for us, we have a lot of pieces to pick up before we can get there. Thanks for the great reflection.

Peace,
Jamie

[Patrick]

As someone who graduated from Fuller with an M.Div, worked in a church, and then found spiritual rejuvenation after stepping away from it I heartily agree. And being on the outside, outside now of both pastoring and congregation, I've come across all sorts of interesting people who are yearning for God in a passionate way and finding their passion to be stoked only when they let go of the old habits. The walking wounded are everywhere, and they have a lot more wisdom than one would expect, even as they are entirely burned by doing anything organized again.

This has made me begin thinking more about what is really a constant refrain in missional thought. Church can exist for many people in its standard form, and for new Christians or those needing a heavy foundation it still "works". But it runs into a wall, and this wall is often maturity not nominality. The mature Christian is called to step out and become more, to embrace a unique work of the Spirit, and thus is in need of their own wilderness of discovery. Only churches don't allow for that kind of individual quest within their standardized models.

What we need are those churches where people can go, if they so need that, but also churches which are out there. Which are outposts able to be waypoints along the journey. Characterized not by a set model or intention but by a flexibility that gives drink to a traveler wherever they are at and helps them find peace and purpose anew. Missional not just for the lost, but also for those who have been plucked out by God and called to minister to those in hidden places. Waystations for the lost and the thirsty, where mature and wise Christians can provide a safe haven of rest, renewal, and teaching.

In a way like Francis Schaeffer did a generation ago, but more holistic and more readily available.