I was able to spend the day with Shane Claiborne today and it was a great encounter. I have read a couple of his books, his stuff has sparked ministry at my church and I was taken aback by his heart. I have a ton to think about and reflect on. I know he is right on so many things.
Here is one thing that struck me. Though conversations today folks kept bashing their church because they were not more like Shane’s community (thesimpleway.org). But, this misses the point. We are not called to reproduce, but use what we have. Shane is a modern day reformer and restorer and is doing GREAT work. He works with community. He is not a church planter he is a community planter.
My challenge is now translating what Shane offered up about the call to minister to the least the last and the lost, into what it looks like for my local church. I would say my congregation does a very good job at this, but I would like to hear thougts about if we (MUMC) are serving the community or being a community that journies and serves together. In other words is there relationship between those who are serving and those who are being served.
Tonight we just had a worship service to send a group on a week long mission trip to fix houses, and I know that they are going to be in community with one another and those they serve. I am excited to hear back from them about the movement of the Spirit.
Just some ramblings as I work through this and process the day (my wife is teaming on a kairos weekend and I am home alone otherwise she would be getting this).
7 Responses
Shane was amazing. I would love to take some more training with him.
yeah. I resonate with so much of what he is about
He has me thinking. I love his servants heart. I actually did not buy a Prodigal Worship Tshirt because of what he said. Its the idea of developing community and being authentic in worship. Reaching out to the prodigals outside of the church walls.
Chris – I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with this – “We are not called to reproduce, but use what we have.” And you’re right – Shane is a community planter, not a church planter. That’s a great way to describe it.
Chris, in response to your pondering.. I do believe (with all my heart) that MUMC serves the community. I love that our church reaches out in so many ways to eeryone. VBS, Moms Club, just to name a few that I have been directly involved with… I fell lucky to be a part of such a beautiful family.
*Sorry for the misspelled words.. can’t get my keyboard to cooperate this a.m.!
he spoke at Urbana 09 two years ago, and I was enchanted by him that day, as were all the 30,000 college kids.