A Safe Place to Experiment —Revolutionaries Synchroblog
From Glenn Hager: Some of you know that I am trying to shape a ministry that would come along side these pioneers and revolutionaries and help them through the transition. This desire has grown out of my own experience of being a pastor for over twenty years, struggling find my place, and eventually, losing confidence in the church system that I used to love, but not in Christ or his mission. My questions for you are: [the one I chose to answer] What do they/you need?
In a nutshell, I think the biggest thing people who are being led to re-form and re-dream the church is a safe place to do just that. It will be messy, unpredictable, and often times unconventional, but we need heart-supporters that will give us the space to play with living out faith in the pluralistic, global and postmodern context we find ourselves in. We need elders who, though they are not feeling led to personally re-tool ministry for the droves of people who are not connecting with the modern U.S. church, see the need and who are willing to protect and support the lives and efforts of those who are being called to lead such a change.
Too often the story gets repeated of a church who wants to re-dream a ministry for—as they call them—”those postmoderners”. They hire an emerging leader and initially give them a long leash to experiment. But as the months progress, the leash gets shorter and the collar gets tighter, especially as unconventional methods are being experimented with and more people begin connecting with these “new” ways and less with the “old” ways. Rumors begin to float, meetings take place, hurtful words are thrown (by both), egos get bruised, and the emerging leader usually is forced to self-resign due to the tumultuous environment or they are just out-right asked to leave the church.
It is my judgment that most of the emerging leaders would prefer to work alongside and with existing churches; that their desire really isn’t to break-away from their forefathers of the faith. I really sense that they long for the support, freedom, protection, love, friendship, companionship, and wisdom of those who are leading existing ministries and churches. But for most—not all—emerging leaders, they are slowly (and sometimes quickly) squeezed out of their community of faith, and so they reluctantly go it alone with a few friends to follow where God is leading their heart and passion.
And sometimes you hear of denominations and established churches taking a Kingdom-risk. They see the tide of change, and though they are scared to death at times, they support, embrace, love, partner, and get messy with what God might do through someone very different from themselves. They take bullets. They bite their tongue. They watch backs. They witness mistakes. They glory in success (though not often how they might define it). And together, they set out on God’s mission into a dying world needing God’s love and the message of his undying grace.
So if you were to ask me, What is it that emerging-missional (or whatever you call us) leaders need? Here is my answer. We need a safe place to experiment new paths of mission and theology; and friends who—though they might not “get it” or understand—can support us, protect us, trust us, and ultimately trust God as he leads us.
But safe place and friendship or not, we feel that God’s movement is going to happen—regardless. We’d just like it to happen with all of us unified together in relationship and trust, instead of in banishment and fear.
We are, after all, serving and trusting the same living God. In this, we should stand—together, not apart.
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Links to all of the participants:
Alan Knox: A Revolutionary? Who? Me?
Erin Word: Are We There Yet, Papa Smurf?
Jane: Onward Christian Soldier
Jeff Greathouse: So, You Want To Change
Jeff McQuilken: The Great Shift–and My Unwitting Part In It
Jeromy Johnson: A Safe Place To Experiment
Jonathan Brink: Re-Emerging Church
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More From Glenn Hager: My personal journey, reading, blogging, and conversations with friends have led me to uncover the fringes of a huge group of people who operate under the radar of much of the world. They represent over 20 million people in the U.S. (This is the number of people who are already expressing their Christian faith in ways other than through a conventional church, according to the Barna organization.) who have lost (or, are losing) their faith in the institutional church system, yet have a deep love for Christ, his community and his mission. Many of you are a part of that number which includes those…
- Who have been wounded through serving and separating from “church as they have known it.”
- Who are feeling alone, wondering if there is something wrong with their theology, if they suffer from some personality disorder, or if they are doomed to isolation.
- Who are former church leaders or staff members trying to find a new sense of direction.
- Who eventually want to return to community and fellowship, but not get mired down in the system they left behind.
- Who long for a faith community that is vibrant, accepting, and real, that joins in God’s kingdom in practical ways where they live and beyond.
Some of you know that I am trying to shape a ministry that would come along side these pioneers and revolutionaries and help them through the transition. This desire has grown out of my own experience of being a pastor for over twenty years, struggling find my place, and eventually, losing confidence in the church system that I used to love, but not in Christ or his mission. My questions for you are:
- What do they/you need?
- What did/do you need as you as went/are going through this transitional phase?
- How can a ministry or service help them/you?
About The Author
[...] Jeromy Johnson: A Safe Place To Experiment [...]
[...] Jeromy Johnson: A Safe Place To Experiment [...]
jeromy, i agree with your thoughts, that so many of us would just love to have encouragers, cheerleaders, people who believed in us and would give us safe spaces to experiment, risk, try.
Jeromy ~ It sounds like a place of freedom and support is what the revolutionaries are needing. That’s why I think this is a multi generational movement. It calls for a whole different kind of supportive structure. Thanks for your participation! Let’s stay in touch.
Thanks Kathy.
Glenn, freedom and support seems to be a common thread within this synchroblog…almost like a bell chiming. Thanks for what you’re doing.
It’s interesting that you bring up that most leaders would rather work alongside existing churches.
I would agree.
For me, I know that the people in the church are seeking Christ. To leave them behind feels much akin to leaving behind a younger brother or sister.
It isn’t the people that are the problem, it is the doctrination itself.
I believe in my heart that the Pastor we left serving with really loves the Lord and believes that He is following His will.
I also believe (and he would disagree with me, Im sure) that he himself is a victim of abuse or at the very least a dysfunctional training into servanthood.
For one small example, when he was at seminary, he and his wife left behind a new baby (with her family) who was sickly. To this day they believe that they did so because they were serving God and that they were called to the seminary. They describe training there as very abusive to me but they didn’t think so. Things like being yelled at to wash floors better because if you can’t wash the floor right you can’t serve Jesus- but described in ways that were humilating and abusive.
So I guess I am saying all of this to simply say, I agree with your statement. Those are God’s people in the church- from the leadership to the guests walking in on holidays only.
Its the condition of the Bride and the places that she walks that has me so broken hearted.
Sometimes I wonder if the bride is even belonging to Christ because the very things that they do are so anti to what you see Him doing in the descriptions of the new testament……and yet you know by their eyes that they believe they are serving Chirst……and long for Him.
My wife and I read your statement twice about leaving a sickly newborn child for seminary. Really? Our third is due in July and the thought of leaving her is, well, unthinkable. How was the ministry environment under your pastor?
This post says it so well, Jeromy. Safe space….just the words make me breathe deeper and calmer, you know? Yeah, you know! I’m realizing how blessed I am that I have a small circle of friends that are totally safe spaces for me. I pray our space can be ever-expanding!
Deep, calm breathes . . . sounds peaceful. Thank you as well for helping create a such a space. I think I am the one blessed.
Very good article, thanks for sharing your thoughts.