8. Paradigm

Look at the chart on page 78.


Where do you find yourself?  Where do you find the church?  


Yesterday I had a conversation with a young adult where I serve--we talked about the future of the church and the significant decisions the congregational leadership needed to make about its future.  As I was trying to express the road blocks I had experienced I mentioned that the church's DNA was one of its biggest issue.  This congregation was founded by a group of people (who are wonderful, really great people) who were nevertheless somewhat ambivalent about starting a church.  


Why?  I am thinking it has to do with the very hard and exhausting work of founding a "traditional church " (meaning a church with ordained clergy and land/buildings).  Think about it, these were folks just starting our with young families and working to get a church up and running was one more thing in a very busy life.  I also think the world is just so different than it was when the majority of our churches were started.  Knowing founding members of two churches (one 50+ years old, the other 20+ years old), I see two very different worlds.

I find this to be one of our biggest issues as we look at starting new faith communities.  I keep going back to Elaine Heath'sbook where she talks about alternative models for faith communities.  One model that struck me was a group of clergy are leaders at the church and also work other jobs.  The offering goes to mission and to support those who go to seminary so they can become prepared to lead in a local church.  I am liking this model more and more as I think about change, church and success in today's real world.
-Nicole