Potential, and #4 of the Rule
I don’t know how other ministers do it. It, of course, being “ministry.”
Two things lie at the core of my desire to keep ministering at Dunningville:
1) I strongly believe I was called here and don’t believe that’s changed, and
2) I believe Dunningville has tons of potential.
I know there are many who feel the same way about the congregations they serve, but so many don’t seem to. I don’t know how they make it through their weeks.
I’ve preached in a variety of settings and always found the most difficult of them to be those which I cannot discern specific potential in. Many may feel that way about a place like Dunningville - not me. It’s an amazing thing to step into the pulpit with the honest belief that the congregation actually can be what you’re about to preach about. (They may not actually respond accordingly, but at least there is still that foundational belief in such potential.)
Sunday, I found myself stating (during the Adult Sunday School Class) that I believe Dunningville has the potential to transform our community (despite being under the “requisite” limit of 700)…indeed, I think a congregation like ours can actually make world-wide impact. Yes, world-wide.
“Can” is the operative word. We can…if we actually embrace the dynamic reality of true, Christian faith (as shown in the scriptures). The problem is, I don’t think most congregations actually want that. It’s a reasonable proposition…or at least one that I feel safe making, Why? Because I’ve never seen the concept proven wrong. Of course, I’ve never seen it proven right either…but only because I’ve never seen it tried.
The question becomes, then what the true, Christian faith is, huh?
I can’t answer that completely. But there’s one thing that the Iona Community does well that most of us do not: action. I won’t pretend that anything about my faith depends on my own ability to “do” (thank goodness!), but I also won’t pretend that faith without “doing” is true faith. (hmmm…a little Jamesian, I suppose.)
Here’s what they (Iona) do better than any other group/church/community I know: they expect real, intentional, sacrificial action from every member. To what focus? In part at least, the focus arises out of the belief that “the Gospel commands us to seek peace founded on justice and that costly reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel.” Similarly, “work for justice, peace and an equitable society is a matter of extreme urgency.” (Both statements from the Rule of the Iona Community)
Every member needn’t get “approval” from the community for their work…indeed, the community, as a whole, may or may not completely agree with any member’s particular “thing.” The point is, they must act for justice and peace in society; they must live out life with similar priorities as Jesus’.
The Iona community is obviously different, in many ways, from a local congregation. Yet, I’m beginning to believe that it’s this (#4 of their five-fold rule) that makes them so…well…so “Christian.”
Can it work locally? Yep, I think so.
Can it transform the community and the world? Yep, I think so.
Can a “real” church embrace it? Well…I think so.
If not, what good are we?!
Grace and Peace,
`tim
2 Responses to “Potential, and #4 of the Rule”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:51 am
Can a “real” church embrace this rule? Yes, I agree they can, and I think they must.
WILL a “real” church embrace this rule? I’m not so sure . . . some will, no doubt, but I think this world-changing self-sacrifice is what most of our U.S. congregations (I almost wrote “American,” but don’t want to indict our Canadian brothers and sisters without evidence) DON’T want.
May 20th, 2006 at 1:17 am
“Costly reconciliation”: exactly what is needed!
I pray regularly for our congregation, for justice and peace among the nations and in our own personal lives.