Listening to the World

Evangelism Videos

2009-08-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

The Diocese of Washington has made available the videos from their recent Evangelsim series. You can find them here.

I don't know about that first guy, but the rest are pretty good.

I also need to inform you that this is my last day as the Evangelism Program Officer at the Episcopal Church Center.

Although I don't anticipate making any new entries, I'll leave this site up for now, for the benefit of those who might want to use the resources links.

Thanks for your support over the last year. I'm sure I'll see some of you around the Church.

May God bless you and keep you, now and always.

Terry Martin

Convening and Supporting Evangelists

2009-08-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Reslution A065 was approved at General Convention 2009. Here is the text of that resolution:

Resolution: A065
Title: Convening and Supporting Evangelists
Topic: Evangelism
Committee: 12 - Evangelism
House of Initial Action: Deputies
Proposer: Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism

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Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention affirm the Church's teaching that all Christians are called to bear witness to Christ wherever they may be and to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, and that this Convention equally affirm with Saint Paul that Christ has given to the Church evangelists to build up the Body of Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life to gather the voices and wisdom of evangelists, and encourage the sharing of information and deepening of relationships among them through all available ways, such as social networking sites, conference calls and meetings at conferences; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses are urged, through their Commissions on Ministry or other appropriate bodies, to identify and call forth evangelists, and to ensure that there are adequate training programs and materials available for evangelism, including web-based resources, appropriate to the demographic, cultural, and theological diversities of their geographic area; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life to support dioceses in the training of evangelists by developing training materials and programs; by creating and making widely available resources in different languages, for example Spanish, French, etc., to identify and develop the gifts and skills of effective evangelists; and by establishing mechanisms for sharing locally developed best practices, experiences and resources; and be it further

Resolved, that the Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life solicit from Commissions on Ministry or other appropriate diocesan bodies information on local programs utilized for the identification and development of evangelists, so that such resources can be widely shared among dioceses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life report on the gatherings, diocesan programs, training materials and resources, and on their effectiveness in developing skills of evangelism to the 77th General Convention.

EXPLANATION

While we are all called to be evangelists-lively witnesses who proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ-some peoples' spiritual gifts enable, even compel, them to cross boundaries and take risks to proclaim the love of God. Using traditional and non-traditional means, these evangelists inspire others with their passion for Jesus, calling others to enter personal and communal relationship with him and to be his hands and feet in mission. They also model for other Christians how to testify more boldly to our faith and hope in Christ.

The proposed Resolution strengthens the ministry of evangelism by identifying and nurturing those with unique gifts and inspiring and training those who desire to share this ministry. The identifying and training process will be different in each diocese, therefore diocesan bishops, "called to be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ's resurrection," should lead the design of processes for raising up, equipping and nurturing evangelists in their dioceses. The Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life would offer strategic support to dioceses by providing resources and materials that may be adapted for local use and by collecting and disseminating best practices and resources.

Regarding "adequate training programs," here are my recommendations:

1. Member Mission - Wayne Schwab, author and former Evangelism Officer at the ECC, is the person behind this initiative. He is already offering a training program that would meet much of the criteria contained in A065.

2. Unbinding the Gospel Project - Martha Grace Reese is the Director of this project. Although it is not exactly what A065 is asking for, it would be a valuable resource. There's the possibility that the lessons learned could be adapted and developed as tools for individual evangelists.

3. David Gortner - David is an author, as well as a leader of seminars and conferences on young adult ministry, evangelism, and congregational development. He is currently serving on the faculty of VTS as Director of the Doctor of Ministry programs, and Professor of Evangelism and Congregational Leadership. Possibly some collaboration with VTS and David could result in some good training resources for evangelists.

Other suggestions?

T.

Evangelism Toolkit for the 21st Century

2009-07-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

There are a number of recently approved resolutions from General Convention pertaining to evangelism. Let's take a look at some of them.

Resolution A066:

Resolution: A066
Title: Evangelism Toolkit for the 21st Century
Topic: Evangelism
Committee: 12 - Evangelism
House of Initial Action: Deputies
Proposer: Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism

------------------------

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention direct the Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life to create a comprehensive toolkit to equip congregations and dioceses to engage in culturally-appropriate evangelism and mission; And be it further

Resolved, that the toolkit support congregations and dioceses in their work to fulfill Christ's Great Commission with special attention to provide resources to evangelize people historically underserved by the church, for example, people of color, immigrants and refugees, youth, young adults, people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, people living in poverty, people with disabilities and/or all others who are alienated from the church; and be it further

Resolved, that the toolkit be presented to the House of Bishops and the Executive Council in their first meetings in 2011 for their comment and review; and then be distributed throughout the church.

As I mentioned last week, my position was eliminated from the budget proposed by the Program, Budget and Finance Committee and approved by the Deputies and Bishops. I cannot identify another office in the Evangelism and Congregational Life Center that might take up the work required to accomplish the goals of this resolution. It is quite possible that, if left to the Episcopal Church Center, the work called for in this resolution will not be done by 2011.

However, I am a firm believer in redemption. All things work for good! So, where is the evidence that this current situation might be redeemed?

As others noted the possibility that this resolution, and others, might get lost when the staff cutbacks were made, a grass roots effort emerged to make sure that didn't happen.

The Rev. Susan Snook was instrumental in launching this grass roots effort. Here is Susan's initial reaction to some of the budget cuts:

This budget gives little hope for future growth. We have eliminated evangelism, funded the terrific Latino/Hispanic initiative (the one we were all so excited about) at less than 10%, and closed down the one office (Mission Funding) that had an excellent chance of raising funds for new initiatives outside of the budget. The Mission Funding office is now devoted to only one thing - archives. We have effectively declared that the glories of the past are worth preserving, but that there is no hope or vision for the future.

Susan has set up a Google Group; Episcopal Evangelism, which is described as "a group for members of The Episcopal Church who are interested in reaching out to others with the good news of Jesus Christ, sharing stories and resources, and networking with Episcopalians who are doing this ministry." There are currently 36 members. I encourage you to join this group.

I'll be adding what I can to the resources gathered by the above group in the weeks (or days?) I have remaining in this position. I'll also be adding to the resources listed on this page.

It is worth noting that "toolkit" and "toolbox" are popular terms today, as can be seen by glancing at the listed resources on the left sidebar of this page. Unfortunately, much of those "tools" are really nothing more than lists of books and links to sites that offer material that is quite dated. Very little is found that shows much creativity or innovation. The existing resources may have worked well in the 20th century, but few seem relevant to the realities of the 21st century.

But, we begin by making sure we aren't reinventing the wheel. Then we seek the Spirit of the living God, which guides us into new paths that will
refresh us and renew us.

Since my time may be running out, I need your immediate help. What innovative and creative approaches to evangelism do you know about? Do keep in mind that the best evangelism tools are developed locally, so our resources don't need to come from some "official" source or a book written by a popular author. What is working in your faith community?

In summation, here's what I'm asking of you:

1. Join the new Episcopal Evangelism group.

2. Help us gather resources for the "Evangelism Toolkit for the 21st Century."

Thanks in advance for your efforts. And a special thanks to Susan for redeeming this situation.

T.

Brian McLaren in Anaheim

2009-07-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

Brian McLaren spoke twice during General Convention. You can find the text of his messages here.

In his homily offered during the Thursday Eucharist, he points out three obstacles to evangelism that Episcopalians face. His second one is worth noting:

...That brings us to the second potential obstacle or distraction, which I would identify as institutional identity. People like you in these times of institutional conflict and stress could easily be tempted to lodge your identity in the saving of a beloved institution. But here we encounter, I believe, a great spiritual paradox. To recall Jesus’ words, what if those who try to save their institutions will lose them? What if the best way to save an institution is to focus on saving something else, something bigger? What if the point isn’t saving the institution but rather leveraging the institution in the saving of … the world, the world God so loves, according to John 3:16? In your simultaneous commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and to true and deep evangelism, you are in the process of choosing this outward, missional focus … leveraging your institution for God’s mission in today’s world. So much depends on this. I hope you see how deeply a commitment to poverty reduction, planetary stewardship, and peacemaking is related to a commitment to evangelism. I don't believe one commitment can be successful without the other.

That means that we can’t afford to have a single one of you, as leaders in the church, to see yourselves as institutional maintenance people alone. From oldest to youngest, from the most seasoned bishop to the most newly baptized disciple, you must see yourselves as leveraging the institution for the mission of making disciples, and not vice versa. Do you see the difference? If you seek to do evangelism for the sake of the institution, I think you will lose ground and experience frustration. But if you align and retool the institution for the grand biblical mission of making authentic, fully-formed disciples of Jesus Christ for the good of the world, I think you will find God’s empowerment and blessing at every turn.

Evangelism is about making disciples of Jesus Christ, not making Episcopalians!

Until we get this point really clear, I think we're going to continue to simply spin our wheels.

The institution can be a means of grace, or our biggest stumbling block. More talk about the mission of God. Less talk about the mission of the Episcopal Church. That's the ticket, folks.

T.

Time to Update My Resume

2009-07-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

A drastically reduced budget has been approved by General Convention. Among the cuts are various programs at the Episcopal Church Center.

I'm sorry to have to inform you that the entire Evangelism program, including my position, has been eliminated from the budget.

Other program officer postions eliminated include Worship and Spirituality, Women's Ministries and Lay Ministry.

All together, 37 positions at the Episcopal Church Center have been cut. No explanation has been offered as to why these programs were chosen for elimination.

One of the most frustrating things about this unexpected development was that it follows right on the heels of the positive time I spent last week with the Evangelism Legislative Committee as they carefully crafted various resolutions. There were plans in place to host evangelism events with our ecumenical partners, create an innovative evangelism "toolkit," and develop training programs for evangelists, among other things. All these resolutions passed both Houses. I was quite enthusiastic about those proposals. But now, since the entire Evangelism program is gone, I'm afraid there will be no one to implement those excellent ideas. How sad.

So, after eleven brief months, I'll be moving on. I have no clear idea what adventure God has in mind for this next part of the journey. But I am a firm believer in redemption, so I know there's a silver lining in this somewhere! The will of God never leads us where the grace of God cannot keep us.

Pray for those staff at the Episcopal Church Center struggling with unexpected transitions.

Pray for the Church.

T.

D025: An Honest Statement

2009-07-15T00:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, both Houses passed D025: Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion. As I suppose one might have expected, the media, hungry for some story, any story, coming out of Anaheim, quickly moved in and have been busy spinning this bit of legislation as fast as they possibly can. The results, for the most part, have been less than helpful.

So far, most of the press reports seem to have leaped to the conclusion that this is a sensational statement. The headlines (with such provocative titles as "Schism Inevitable") suggest to me that either most of the reporters writing these stories did not do their homework, or they were terribly misinformed. Thinking Anglicans has a good roundup of the press reports. I urge you to read the resolution first before looking at the news reports.

The resolution's title alone should have drawn some attention to the intent of the authors. This is a couragously honest statement of exactly where the Episcopal Church currently stands on these matters. The willingness to be so vulnerably honest is an attempt to strengthen the bonds of affection within the Anglican Communion. No double talk. No false promises. Just a clear picture of the situation.

Here's the part that seems to have caught the attention of some of the reporters:

...Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters...

The above is nothing new. It was our stance in 2000, 2003, 2006 and it is our stance in 2009. Let's cut this down even further to the critical bit:

...God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church...

It is God's call, folks. Not the Church's. Not yours. Not mine. In what way is this a shocking declaration?

Also note that resolution B033 from GC2006 is not even mentioned. To yoke this resolution to that one is a pairing that might be obvious to some people. It sure isn't obvious to me, and I would assume it isn't obvious to anyone else who reads those two resolutions with even an ounce of objectivity.

Does D025 remove the call for restraint found in B033? Where is that said in the language of D025? Please point out the text that accomplishes that purpose, because I don't see it. The call is from God, discerned through our process. B033 did not change that process. No changes were made to our constitution or canons. D025 introduces nothing new.

But, try telling that to a reporter with a deadline, or a fanatic with an ax to grind.

You may recall that Bp. Tom Wright of Durham weighed in with his opinion on what the Episcopal Church should and should not do in the eleventh hour of General Convention 2006. Well, he's done it again. This time it's an embarrassingly inaccurate portrayal of the situation by a bishop who has earned a well deserved reputation as an excellent scholar in regards to other matters. If you want the errors in Bp. Wright's essay spelled out for you, take a look at Scott Gunn's response; When Tom Wright Gets It Totally Wrong.

I am quite pleased that the Episciopal Church has decided it is time to deal with the "h" word...which stands for "honesty" of course. Now maybe we can move on to other pressing matters?

Pray for the Deputies and Bishops at General Convention.
Pray for the Church.

T.

UPDATE: It appears that my perspective is not that unusual. Mark Harris has a similar take on D025. According to Episcopal Life, some bishops and deputies also share this perspective. As that last article reveals, there are a few other opinions out there as well.

Live Episcopal Chat

2009-07-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

We're currently hosting a reception for the Evangelism and Congregational Life Center at General Convention. One of the things we're doing is providing live chat for those who attend. For this to work, I need some of you to come to the chat room.

Here's what you do:

1. Go to Stickam
2. Register.
3. Look for the room named "EpiscopalChat2"
4. Password is "TEC815"

The reception is NOW..so please come on by!

T.

D025 Passes in House of Deputies

2009-07-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the resloution in full:

Resolution: D025
Title: Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion
Topic: Anglican Communion
Committee: 08 - World Mission
House of Initial Action: Deputies
Proposer: Ms. D. Rebecca Snow

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church, as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience,disagree about some of these matters.

The passage of this resolution was not easy. There was a call for a vote by orders (which makes passage more difficult), two attempts to divide the resolution, and various attempts to amend the language. In the end, it passed as presented by the legislative committee. It is a carefully crafted piece of legislation, as you can see. To begin to mess with the language could have easily undone the good work accomplished by the proposers and the legislative committee.

And now it moves to the House of Bishops.

T.

Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics Passes House of Deputies

2009-07-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

D038 passed, with no debate against it!

Thanks be to God!

Now we've got some work to do...but can go about that work knowing we have the support and the resources to accomplish it.

T.

Media's Eyes on D025

2009-07-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

The matter that many seem to find most newsworthy, especially the media, is about to hit the floor of the House of Deputies; Resolution D025: Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion.

It seems to be a very carefully worded resolution that one would hope will be welcomed as an honest compromise. There's rumblings that the House of Bishops may once again try to put up road blocks. We shall see.

If you want more commentary on this matter, go read Mark's take on the situation.

There will be a number of resolutions regarding Evangelism that will also most likely be presented to the House of Deputies today. Hopefully there will be enough time to give those matters the consideration I think they deserve. There is no question that D025 is important, but I would hope that we are finally in a place where we can move beyond the debate of who is in and who is out, and so get on with embracing God's mission. But, if exclusionary tactics must continue to be refuted, perhaps that means that those matters are a piece of the mission that we still need to keep in focus for yet another season. If so, then we must press on.

From my personal perspective, there's some other matters that I'm quite excited about, even though the media will most likely give them a pass. Specifically, I'm talking about resolution D038; Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics. I've said more about this resolution here.

Off to watch the show from the gallery.

Pray for the Deputies and Bishops at General Convention.

Pray for the Church.

T.

The Great Western Heresy

2009-07-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

I've got a few minutes today, so I thought I'd highlight some of the more exciting things I've heard so far here at General Convention.

To begin, I want to return the our Presiding Bishop's opening address last Wednesday. Here's the bit that jumped out at me:

...The overarching connection in all these crises has to do with the great Western Heresy - that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God. It's caricatured in some quarters by insisting that salvation depends on reciting a specific verbal formula about Jesus. That individualist focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of all being. That heresy is one reason for the theme of this Convention.

Ubuntu. That word doesn't have any "I"s in it. The I only emerges as we connect - and that is really what the word means; I am because we are, and I can only become a whole person in relationship with others. There is no "I" without "you," and in our context, you and I are known only as we reflect the image of the one who created us...

This is an extremely important point...one too important to get lost in all the things we're hearing in Anaheim. We really need to get this straight:

My salvation is yoked to your salvation!

If we look at so many of the messes made by humanity, throughout history as well as in our current time (economic downturn, for instance), we can see at their root a fixation on the illusion of individuality. The unspoken ethical standard today is no longer classical deontology (focusing on the morality of the act itself) or consequentialism (focusing on the result of the act...seeking the greatest good for all) but instead a hybrid notion of hedonism (the greatest good for me is the right thing to do).

And for too long we've baptism this notion, acting as if there was such a thing as "Christian Hedonism." You don't have to look too far to find it. Is Christianity all about getting my personal ticket to heaven? If so, personally, I'd rather not.

Since that kind of blatant "Christian Hedonism" has made a few folks uncomfortable, it's often masked in various ways...but still amounts to the same thing. My "Christian duty" is depicted as taking care of my family, my neighbrohood, my church, my country first. Let's be honest for a minute. Isn't that kind of rationale nothing more than an expansion of our personal ego?

It's hard for someone raised in the Western mindset to escape this kind of heresy. It's ingrained in how we think. But, as Christians, we are given a way out. We are called to act in the world not as individuals, but in the name of the One who is the Creator of all. When all we do or say is driven by our relationship with that which is bigger than than the self, we can escape the hedonistic trap. When we function as agents of God, altruistic acts of compassion and justice become possible.

There is no longer any "us" or "them." There is only "we." It is when we reject the heresy of individualism that we can become co-creators with God, and get on with the work of transforming this world.

T.

Communication and Evangelism

2009-07-09T23:31:00.000-07:00

The media hub is up. You can find it here.

There will be a number of resolutions proposed regarding Evangelism. We'll be increasing our work with our ecumenical partners and will gather resources from a much more wide variety of places. We'll also be exploring ways to be more intentional about collaborating with the ELCA, specifically in the area of church planting.

The resolution I'm the most excited about is D038; Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics.

You can find the entire Strategic Vision here.

Evangelism is a huge field. So huge that it sometimes seems overwhelming. But, once in awhile, a piece of that huge field comes into sharp focus. I believe that is what has happened in regards to this initiative. A clear vision and realistic plan has been created for building up our existing Latino communities and initiating the planting of new Latino congregations. This is the time for Episcopalians to not give in to the fear of scarcity, but to instead step out in faith, into new endeavors.

As we engage in this strategic vision, may we be led by our desire to proclaim the Good News of God made known to us through Jesus Christ. May we be driven by our abundance, by the grace that overflows from our lives, and so become instruments of God's grace in the life of others.

T.

General Convention Bound

2009-07-06T00:08:00.000-07:00

I'm headed for Anaheim in a few hours. If you want to follow what's going on a General Convention, here's a few places to watch:

General Convention '09 News - This will be the place where you'll find stories from Episcopal Life. There's a "media hub" being set up, which will include live web streaming of events, hearings, meetings, links to secular media and EpiscopalLife Online coverage, blogs, breaking news via Twitter and Facebook news updates. This "hub" should be available before July 8. I'll update you when more info is available.

Convention Daily - If you're looking for a summary of each day's events, this is a good site to watch.

I'll try to post a bit here each day, but I won't be able to offer much commentary, or highlight the stories behind the stories. Such is the nature of living in the belly of the whale. If you want to know what's really going on, you'll have to visit the "unofficial" sites, of course:

The Lead over on the Episcopal Cafe. Although semi-official (attached to the Diocese of Washington), Jim Naughton and his crew of excellent writers will most likely be the first to offer information and commentary on any developments. Other than common sense and striving for civil discourse, they seem to have few restraints on their content, so you should be able to get the straight scoop over there.

And, of course, there are a number of personal blogs that you'll need to check. Here's a few I'd recommend:

Preludium
Telling Secrets
An Inch at a Time
The Three Legged Stool

And now, for those of you who will be near Anaheim, here's a few events going on that you might want to attend:

Tuesday, July 7, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Network of Ministry Innovators Gathering at Bar Louie, 321 W Katella Ave # 212, Anaheim, CA. Some of the most creative personalities in TEC will be at this one. It's not getting much publicity, so spread the word. And yes, if for whatever reason you read this little backwater, highly self-censored blog, consider yourself invited.

Friday, July 10 - Friends of Jake Meet-Up - Meet in the Atrium Bar of the Hilton after 5:00 pm and then move about 6:00 to the promenade outside the Pacific Ballroom. After the Integrity Eucharist (9:30?), the meet-up will continue at Bar Louie, 321 W Katella Ave # 212, Anaheim, CA (yes, we're hitting this place twice in a week...I think we should get free t shirts at least). This event is way off the official radar, so it might actually be fun! Thanks to IT and all the friends of Jake for putting this together. I am deeply touched and honored by your efforts.

Monday, July 13, 5:00 to 8:00 pm - Evangelism and Congregational Life Reception - This will be a chance for you to get a glimpse of what we do within this Center. It'll be at the Convention Center. When I know the exact location, I'll post an update.

Even if you are not in Anaheim, I need your help for the above reception. I want to highlight the potential for real conversations to occur online. I'll be opening a chat room, and really need a few of you to commit to being in the room on July 13 for at least part of the time between 5 and 8 PST. For details on how to get into the chat room, see this post.

So, there you go. Now, I need to finish packing. Got a plane to catch.

T.

Want to Chat?

2009-06-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation, so playing with various things.

One of my ideas for General Convention is to have a chat room available at various times during the day. So, I'm testing out a particular product:

http://www.stickam.com/

Stickam has the advantage of allowing both audio and cams. The other rooms there are mainly made up of young people, some with extremely foul mouths, so I cannnot recommend them.

I've created a room with a password, so we won't have to deal with such folks.

So, if you want to help me out, come visit the room. Here's what you have to do:

1. Go to Stickam.
2. Register. Its fairly non intrusive and just takes a minute.
3. You'll be asked to go to the email account you used and respond to the Stickam email.
4. Once you are logged in, go to group chat.
5. Scroll down to "Episcopal Chat."
6. Enter this password: TEC815

Come try it out. If this works, we'll be using it as a part of the reception hosted by the Evangelism and Congregational Life Center at General Convention, as well as periodically throughout Convention.

Dates and times of regular chat sessions TBA...for now, if you don't find "Episcopal Chat" on the menu, check back later. Once again, I do not encourage you to visit any of the public rooms. They can be quite toxic.

T.

Hey, Bullhorn Guy

2009-06-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

I take the subway to Penn Station every afternoon. Having never worked in New York before last year, this is a new experience for me. Some of the more interesting daily sights are the various street musicians that set themselves up along the route. Some are quite good. Others are rather painful to hear.

Scattered among these artisits are street evangelists who shout their message of fire and brimstone to the passing throngs. I've never yet seen anyone stop and listen to their message. But that doesn't seem to deter them. They'll be back there in the same spot the next day, and the day after that.

These street preachers fall into the category of "painful to hear," at least for me. I have little doubt that their intention is sincere. I'm sure that they go home each night convinced that they have been about their Father's business. But what they are doing is still painful to me. With their harsh message, they are the embodiment of many of the negative stereotypes that have become attached to the label "Christian."

Bosco Peters points us to a video in which Rob Bell attempts to express why some of us find such street preaching to be so painful:

Bosco also introduces an interesting way to break down the difference in the evangelism methods of 50 years ago and those that seem most effective today. He uses the terms "interruption evangelism," "permission evangelism" and "participation evangelism." Go take a look.

T.

Evangelism in Context

2009-06-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

You must go read this essay by Emily Scott. You must go read it right now, because, yes, it is really that good.

So, why are you still here? Ok, if I must entice you further, here's a bit of what Emily has to say:

...I’ve learned something important things about evangelism: in a bar on the Lower East Side in New York City, the most powerful tool of evangelism is not inviting someone to church. In a bar on the Lower East Side of New York City, good evangelism does not have to be about preaching, proclaiming, pamphletting, or proselytizing. It is about relationships.

Return in your mind to that bar stool where I sit talking with some pour soul who doesn’t realize I’m a Christian. He asks me what I do. I drop the bomb. He looks at me suspiciously. I tell him my church is very progressive. I don’t invite him to church. He says, “So you don’t hate gay people?” I say no. I love gay people. I don’t invite him to church. He asks me what it means to be a liturgist. I tell him it’s like being a director and dramaturg in the theatre, but everyone gets to participate. I don’t invite him to church. We get started talking about theatre. I don’t invite him to church...

Now, if you want to comment, I must insist that you GO READ THE WHOLE THING first.

We don't lead with the institution. As a matter of fact, the institution may just be one of our biggest stumbling blocks. Good evangelism is not about recruiting new members. It is about building relationships.

T.

If the Ship is Sinking, Learn to Fly

2009-05-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

An opinion piece appeared in Episcopal Life last month that I missed until today. It is by Mark Edington and is entitled Time to Switch Vessels. Here's part of it:

...The irony of all our nautical talk is that the vast majority of people taking a journey today – business, pleasure or spiritual – are heading to the airport. Let's agree that we've exhausted the metaphor and say it plainly: For more and more people trying to find their path toward God, the means of conveyance we are offering is no longer seen as a good way to travel...

...We might summarize the trends the (Pew Forum) report identifies in a simple statement: The denominational structures that we inherited, those traditions once central to shaping our identity and sense of community, are answers to a question fewer and fewer people are asking.

In this era of spiritual air travel, the giant ocean liners of our traditional denominational polities are seen as inefficient, slow and generally unpleasant means of getting to where seekers – and even a good number of people born into our traditions – want to go.

Whether we are prepared to deal with it on their terms – whether we even regard their questions as valid – those outside our churches are increasingly skeptical of the value of received institutional structures for accomplishing what they regard as the principal purpose of trying out, and being in, a church...

...Is the ship sinking? Is it still seaworthy? Here's a more difficult and more pressing question: Is it time to move on from the age of ocean liners? Are we more devoted to our institutions, to our way of being church, than to our gospel?

The gospel is the message. The church is only the medium. There is a deep, eternal truth to that message that will find a way to be communicated. If our medium can't adapt to carry that message, then it will be passed by – no matter how many ships we build.

Good to finally see someone saying this stuff out loud. The question is, are the right people listening?

T.

What Happened in Jamaica?

2009-05-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

As you may have heard, the Anglican Consultative Council has just concluded their meeting in Jamaica. There is a bit of concern about the way they created a resolution concerning the latest draft of what is being called "The Anglican Covenant." The Lead offers a good summary of the root of this concern, which seems to be the confusion of those of us on the outside trying to sort out what exactly happened on the inside of this meeting. You can find the "official" report of what happened here. There's a few accusations of "manipulation," some references to the proceedings being "illegal," and even a call for a "redo" by a few outside looking in.

Well, that got me curious. What exactly did go on?

Thanks to Anglican TV, you can watch the whole debate, and decide for yourself. Now, note that I'm not endorsing "Anglican TV," nor suggesting that their name is a good representation of who they are. Actually, Kevin Kallsen and I happen to disagree on just about everything. But, in this case, Kevin has provided the Church with a much needed service. Thanks, Kevin. If you go view these videos (note that there are two parts), consider clicking the donation button at the top of the page to show your appreciation.

So, after spending a good part of two hours watching what happened, how would I summarize it?

There was a resolution (Resolution A) being considered to detach Section Four (the disciplinary part of the Covenant) and rework it, while sending the rest of the Covenant to the provinces for adoption.

There was also another resolution (Resolution B), that wanted to send the Covenant out to the Provinces as it was.

Then, a third resolution (Resolution C) appeared. This resolution attempted to combine the elements of A and B, without detaching Section Four.

The confusion came when it was suggested that Resolution C be considered immediately. After a few fuzzy moments, it was decided to do things in order, meaning returning to the debate on Resolution A.

It was also mentioned that resolution C had not even been seen by the Resolutions Committee, which dampened the enthusiasm of some who might have gone for that compromise. It was further mentioned in passing that possibly what could be done would be to amend Resolution B, when the time came to consider it, to include the elements of Resolution C that some seemed to like.

So, the vote on Resolution A was taken. It was defeated. Then followed numerous votes on Resolution B. Those votes were taken clause by clause.

When it came time for Clause C, an amendment was offered to put in two of the clauses from (the now defunct) Resolution C. When the chair suggested that the content was the same as the defeated Resolution A, Dr. Williams spoke up, and suggested that perhaps Resolution A was so soundly defeated because some anticipated that this amendment would be made to Resolution B. With that, the amendment was allowed to be considered.

I was surprised there was not more discussion about that point, as it was clear that the amendment was not the same as the defeated Resolution A. The language that would have detached Section Four from the rest of the Covenant, and added it later as an addendum, had been removed.

Anyway, the amendment was approved. The chair then moved the discussion to the next clause of the now amended Resolution B. Apparently it was assumed by those gathered that the passing of this amendment meant that the content of the two clauses had been sufficiently discussed, and so no further considerations of that content was required.

When all the clauses had been voted on, it was clear from the comments by the chair that the discussions of that Resolution were concluded. As each clause had been approved, the whole was considered approved. It was announced that there would be a break, and when they regathered, they would be discussing ecumenical matters. No one in the room objected.

A bit messy at times. Not exactly good parliamentary procedure. But it is very clear what happened. And I think the finished product is exactly what the majority in that room intended to create.

Not sure that makes things any clearer...but hey, I tried. If you are still unclear, and got a couple extra hours, go watch the videos.

T.

Community Forum in Turlock

2009-05-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

For the last few weeks, I've been helping with a series of community forums being hosted by faith communities in the Diocese of San Joaquin. For some background on these forums, take a look at this previous discussion and this announcement.

Our most recent forum was hosted by St. Francis Episcopal Church in Turlock. Over on Real Anglicans, Fred shared a few thoughts and pictures from the event. Since I'm heading for Washington and then back to California tomorrow, I thought I'd offer a few more pics before I leave.

This is the "big red tent," which is the reason these forums are sometimes referred to as "tent meetings." It's supposed to be an "easy pop up." Yea, right. The frame is 389 lbs, and takes six people to expand. And it took "chief engineer" Canon Mark Hall to figure out how to get the thing to expand the way it was supposed to. No pics of that mass confusion!

The Rev. Kathryn Galacia of St. Francis launched the service providers' presentations with a prayer.

This is Brad Wilson from the Modesto Gospel Mission. They offer a variety of services, including emergency shelter, food, clothes and substance abuse programs.

Beryl Simkins, Senior Warden of St. Francis, offered us information about Aspiranet, a program that provides a variety of services that address the needs of children, families and communities. Service delivery is provided through six categories of programming – Adoption, Foster Care, Family, Education, Afterschool, and Community Collaboratives.

Jeff Woods, of the Turlock Gospel Mission spoke about the innovative ways they provide food and shelter to those in need.

Esther Rosario told us about the CASA Del Rio Family Resource Center in Riverbank. Sorry, Esther, I don't have a pic, but Fred caught a good one of you and that cute little redhead!

Sherry Thayer presented helpful information on suicide prevention.

Here's part of the crowd, who will remain nameless to protect the innocent.

Bishop Jerry Lamb joined us (and lent a hand when we collapsed the monster tent!). He is seen here with Nedra and Paul Voorhees.

I've got some pics from the other forums that I'll post when I'm off the road (next week, hopefully).

Oh yea...the week before, at the Ministry Fair at Christ the King in Riverbank, this strange looking character showed up. Maybe some of you might recognize him?

This Saturday we're in Tracy (1218 Holly Ave...look for the monster red tent). If you're in the neighborhood, we start at noon.

T.

Why Christians Change Churches

2009-04-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Lead points us to a couple of articles worth noting. Both are based on a consideration of a recent study by the Pew Forum entitled Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S. Do go take a look at the study before reading the commentaries. There's some interesting tidbits to be found in the information they've gathered.

Here's part of the summary of this report from the Washington Post:

...Almost three-quarters of Catholics and Protestants who are now unaffiliated with a religion said they had "just gradually drifted away" from their faith. And more than three-quarters of Catholics and half of Protestants currently unassociated with a faith said that over time, they stopped believing in their religion's teachings...

...The results are a "big indictment" of organized religion, said Michael Lindsay, assistant professor of sociology at Rice University and author of a book on evangelical leaders. "There is a huge, wide-open back door at most churches. Churches around the country may be able to attract people, but they can't keep them."

And then from the Boston Globe:

...Among the most striking findings are that most people who change their religious affiliation leave the denomination in which they were raised by age 24, and many change religious affiliation more than once. And the study found that the growing population of unaffiliated Americans are more disenchanted with institutionalized religion than with the idea of God...

..."A lot of the switching is intra-Protestant switching, and I think at this point that's not even switching -- hardly anyone knows the difference between a Lutheran and an Episcopalian, or even a Methodist and a Baptist,'' said Stephen Prothero, a professor of religion at Boston University. "Lutherans hardly know anything about Luther, and Methodists hardly know anything about Wesley, and they don't care. We live in a postdenominational time.''

Gradually drifted away...big indictment of organized religion...disenchanted with institutionalized religion...a postdenominational time...does anyone else see a pattern here? Perhaps the denominations might do better if they stopped listening to the ad men with all their "branding" language, and instead spoke a little bit more about God? Unless, of course, we really believe evangelism is primarily about making more Methodists or Lutherans or Episcopalians. And if that is the case, stop the train, cuz I need to get off!

Maybe we need to clarify the two distinct groups which have traditionally been our focus when it comes to evangelism. The most recent Pews Forum study considered those who had some Christian background...in other words, it was an "in-house" survey. In this one, those who had no connection to the Christian faith were not factored in. This was a study of folks moving around within the various Christian traditions.

That is one group to consider; those who have some Christian background but have drifted away for one reason or another. We used to call them "the lapsed." Not exactly the most attractive label. Although, I'm not sure "the drifters" is much better. To strive to bring this group back to the faith community is indeed a worthy cause. And, possibly the whole "branding" technique will be somewhat helpful when it comes to this group. "Congregational development" is also an important element in attracting the drifters back into the fold.

My concern, which I've repeated like a broken record, is another group which seems to get little attention from the institutions. I'm speaking of those who know little or nothing about the Christian faith, except what they get from the televangelists and the occasional wedding or funeral.

During the 1960s, as the cultural mores began to shift, it became socially acceptable to not go to church on Sunday morning. Before that, your social standing would plummet if you didn't make an appearance at least once a week in your family church. And yes, back then denominational ties were primarily a family affair. You went to the church that your parents, and most likely your grandparents, had attended.

These first "drifters" had children, who learned little or nothing of the former faith tradition of their parents. Those children had children, who received even less instruction regarding faith matters. Consequently, we have at least two, if not more, generations of people who know little about church or the bible. For this group, the attraction model, the "build it and they will come" theory, which is at the root of most congregational development programs, area waste of time. To imagine this group will wake up some Sunday and decide to go to church is absurd, no matter how hard we've tried to make what we have to offer more attractive. It's just not going to happen.

I think that most Christians are oblivious as to the size of this group. For instance, consider the defensive rant of this gentleman, who claims that those who self-identify as atheist or agnostic in the US is one in 62. It may very well be that when asked, many of these two generations will claim that there is some kind of "greater force," but they probably wouldn't be able to say much more about it than that.

In the spiritual conversations I have with members of those two generations, in which we're sometimes able to get past the surface stuff, I find an astounding lack of knowledge regarding any kind of spirituality, let alone religion, to be the norm. Let me give you but one example from a recent conversation.

I met a 35 year old man who is a very successful executive for a well known bank. His children were with him, and I observed that he was a very caring and sensitive father. In the course of the conversation, I made a reference to Noah and the ark. He got a quizzical look on his face. He had never heard that story. A college educated man in a very prestigious position in our society had no knowledge of one of the best known biblical narratives.

We did have an interesting conversation, after I managed to successfully swallow my shock, in which he told me a little about his religious background. It seems his father had never expressed any interest in religion. His mother had gone to Catholic school through High School, at which time she had a priest tell her that all that stuff she learned about religion in grade school was just stories. She understood him to be saying that they lied to her to keep her docile. She walked away and never looked back.

This young man asked me some good questions about my tradition. He showed interest, although was self-assured enough to challenge me on numerous points. We ended that particular conversation by both affirming the importance of community...and so the church was of value. A minor step, perhaps...although, admitting that there was something greater than the self that is important is a good first step. We'll have more conversations, I am sure.

I believe that we are not headed for a "post-Christian" era, but instead, I think it will be a "pre-Christian" era (thanks, Tom). Post-Christians know the tradition, and choose to reject it. Pre-Christians are oblivious to the tradition altogether.

So, although I appreciate the work the Pew Forum has done to help us identify the drifters, and some of the reasons they are drifting, my heart goes out to the second group, those who have nothing from which to drift.

T.

Community Forums in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin

2009-04-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

Last month, I suggested that we respond to the House of Bishop's Pastoral Letter with a series of community forums. I'm pleased to announce that four of these forums will be launched in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin beginning this Sunday in Ridgecrest:

All Souls' Episcopal Church
invites you to a community forum:

Growing Together:

Building Community

in Uncertain Times

What: A forum for the public to inquire about needs and assistance--working together to alleviate the suffering caused by the current economic crisis.

Who: Everyone in the Ridgecrest area.

When: April 19, 2009 at Noon.

Where: Historical Society Building, 230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd., Ridgecrest, CA

A free lunch and children’s activities will be provided
Future forums:

April 26 at noon - hosted by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Madera, CA.
420 E. Main Street (look for the red tent).

May 3 at noon - hosted by St. Francis Episcopal Church, Turlock, CA
Crane Park, 155 E. Canal Drive (red tent).

May 9 at noon - hosted by St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Tracy, CA
1218 Holly Ave. (red tent).

If you're in the vicinity, come and join us for lunch and some good conversation.

Also, I'll be joining two other staff members from the Episcopal Church Center at the Ministry Fairs scheduled for late April and early May in San Joaquin. We'll be offering presentations and workshops.

Ministry Fairs:
April 25 at Christ the King Episcopal Church - 6443 Estelle Ave., Riverbank, CA
May 2 at Church of the Savior - 519 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA

Help us get the word out. All you San Joaquin bloggers, that means you!

T.

The New Generation's Perception of Christians

2009-04-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

The following is a partial reprint of a book review and reflection I wrote last year.

Various reasons are given for the steady decline in active church members over the last fifty years. I disagree with the majority of the claimed causes for this decline, as usually we hear the diagnosis from the "experts," who just happen to be active members of the Church. Uusually what we get is a list of their best guesses, most often fueled by their own personal biases.

No doubt there are multiple causes for this decline. But, if we want to find out the honest reasons why Christianity has lost its attraction to many members of our society, it would make sense to me that we quit talking among ourselves, and maybe do something novel...like perhaps go out and actually ask some folks outside the Church what their objections might be.

David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Group, and Gabe Lyons, founder of the Fermi Project, did just that. The result was the book unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. Their research project involved interviewing "outsiders" (those who are outside the Christian faith) and young Christians, focusing on the 16 - 29 age group (identified as older "Mosaics" and younger "Busters"). The perception that they discovered of how younger generations view "Christians" is a real eye opener. Here's a few of the top descriptions from the "outsider" group:

Question: Here are some words or phrases that could be used to describe a religious faith. Please indicate if you think each of these phrases describes Christianity.

91% - Antihomosexual
87% - Judgmental
85% - Hypocritical
75% - Too involved in politics

Here's some of the responses to the same question from young adults who are church members:
80% - Antihomosexual
52% - Judgmental
47% - Hypocritical
50% - Too involved in politics

The authors appear to bring a more Evangelical perspective to their responses to this "image problem" that Christians have, which was cause for me to disagree with some of their conclusions and recommendations. However, they also offered some good insights, such as the following:

...Gabe and I frequently encountered the idea that Christians should not care what outsiders think about us. After all, Jesus warned that "world" would hate us...

...However, before you dismiss the unChristian perception as "just Christians doing their duty," realize that the challenge runs much deeper. The real problem comes when we recognize God's holiness but fail to articulate the other side of his character; grace. Jesus represents truth plus grace (read John 1:14). Embracing truth without holding grace in tension leads to harsh legalism, just as grace without truth devolves to compromise. Still, the important insight based on our research is that Mosaics and Busters rarely see Christians who embody service, compassion, humility, forgiveness, patience, kindness, peace, joy goodness and love.

Should we care about what people think? Gabe and I began to realize that the more important question was What if young outsiders are right about us? What is missing in our portrayal of the Christian faith to new generations? If we have failed to represent the grace that Jesus offers - if we have been poor representatives of a holy and loving God - then absolutely, what they think about us matters. If we have been unChristian, then we bear responsibility for the problem - and the solution...

I would imagine that these authors might disagree with some of the ways the Episcopal Church is attempting to restore the distorted image of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. No doubt we will continue to pay a high price for our insistence that truth must be balanced by grace. But, it seems to me, that is the cost of faithful discipleship.

May our witness to the healing power of God's radically inclusive love continue to be a beacon of hope for those seeking a safe place where they will be embraced by grace. It is only in such settings, where our human inclinations to judge and condemn are set aside, that we all, "outsiders" and "insiders" together, can anticipate an encounter with the living God.

T.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

2009-04-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

From the Easter sermon of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in St. James, Florence, Italy:

...While we wait, how is that hope sustained? What finally lets us recognize new life in what we’re seeing? The great assurance of Easter is that nothing can finally separate us from that hope, not even death. In Easter, God has reworked the nature of creation. Death is no longer the end of things. We live in the assurance that the deaths in Abruzzi are being turned for life, even though we may not see or recognize it for a long time. That hope is sustained in communities like this one – where the resurrected one keeps that hope lively in some so that it may inflame and infect others’ despair. Mary didn’t find that hope in solitary and lonely grief, she found it in her neighbor, Jesus in the guise of a gardener. Then she ran to tell the others. The Orthodox still call her the apostle to the apostles – the one who first announced the resurrection. We are meant to be gardeners of hope as well, and let the hope planted in us sustain others. That hope transcends the languages we speak and the cultures we inhabit. This hope is for all languages, families, peoples, and nations.

Our Easter joy is to recognize the gardener, and to help others to see the risen one in our midst. Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Read the entire sermon here.

Reflections on Easter from the Archbishop of Canterbury:

Another sermon that some might find meaningful can be found here.

I joined the people of St. Peter's, Medford, New Jersey for their Easter celebration. Standing room only, with chairs in the narthex. Wonderful liturgy. Don preached an excellent sermon. Lots of exuberant kids. A grand morning.

On the way home, I stopped to pick out a few pansies (it's still cold here) and daffodils for our front porch. The splash of color was a great improvement to our entrance:

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

T.

Easter Vigil: Saint Gregory of Nyssa

2009-04-11T21:15:00.001-07:00

Were You There?

2009-04-10T19:29:00.001-07:00

The Way of the Cross

T.