Resonate

Michael Krahn has been blogging and posting extensive notes of the sessions he has attended, as well as referencing other bloggers who attended the Congress.

One of the more interesting discussions is on the whole question of a “social” gospel as opposed to regeneration as the heart of the issue. Mike quotes from Jonathan Dodson that “social action doesn’t create [the] new community:”

Although social action mission creates community, it doesn’t create new community. Regenerated, new creation is the unique work of God the Spirit (Tit. 2.11; Gal. 6:15) through faith in the Son (Tit. 3:6-7; 2 Cor. 5:17). If we convert people to community and social mission alone, and not to Christ, we offer a very incomplete gospel. Regeneration is both social (Matt. 19:28) and spiritual (Tit. 3:5). The Spirit, not social mission, makes men new.

This is both helpful, and incomplete…

It is helpful because it is important to know what we mean by regeneration, referencing the work of the Spirit in the heart of a believer. It is incomplete, because it tends to push us away from the frame of missio Dei – which is the movement toward shalom, a wholeness of God in action in the world, where there is no “spiritual” gospel as opposed to a “social” one. It is abundantly evident in the Old Testament that justice and economic issues are near the heart of the gospel. It is equally clear in Jesus defining statement of his ministry in Luke 4.

However, Jonathan is right that social mission alone does not produce shalom. It may create the conditions that make shalom possible, and it certainly makes shalom visible. But to say that it does not PRODUCE shalom does not mean that it has no value in this world. These last points are really important. The Gospel becomes visible in the new community, through signs of the kingdom, foretastes of the shalom that God will one day bring in fulness. The new community performs and proclaims the word in its shared life in the neighbourhood.

And this life and work for justice has real value — God genuinely loves and cares for this fallen world, and will love and care for the world in spite of its response. If nothing else, Matthew 25 should instruct us that God’s care for the poor has no conditions attached. God in Godself overflows with self-sacrificing love, pours himself out for this world knowing it might reject him. Ultimately we embody the love of God in our communities not because we know that love will transform the world, but because this is the nature of God. Ultimately mission appears as the self-unfolding of contemplation.

It struck me that there is nothing comparable to this Calgary gathering occurring in the United States. Seven hundred people from across the denominational spectrum and from rural, urban, and suburban settings across Canada coming together for a single missional agenda – to impact our country for Christ by seeding missional communities. And it is equally amazing that nearly half of this group have come to a Congress for the first time. Something is stirring in Canadian hearts — a work of the Spirit.

The Thursday morning session again featured Stuart Murray and Juliet Kilpin — really a great combination of reflecting, wondering, and putting forth theology and frameworks: a great blend of academics and on-the-ground but in-process experience. It leads me to hope that Urban Expressions might publish a book about what they are learning. read more »

This is the first in a series of reports written while attending Renov8. Hopefully others will post their thoughts, reflections, questions and frustrations also.

After a day in meetings with the Forge Canada National Team, and with the first plenary session on its way, we arrived at a restaurant not far from Center Street. We were to meet another group which included Stuart Murray and Juliet Kilpin of Urban Expressions UK.

As it turned out, the restaurant had lost our reservation, and we didn’t have a lot of time to spare. Hmm.. isn’t that a pub next door? We checked it out.. no line up and not crowded. Why not?

It’s surprising how consistently good the food is in pubs, and the portions seem generally larger. I ordered one of the best chicken club sandwiches I’ve ever had. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get BC Cider in Alberta, and I don’t like beer 

I sat at a table with Mike Frost, Glenn Smith and Anthony Brown. Mike was first up last night for the plenary last night and did a great job sharing his heart for the kingdom and God’s redeeming work in the world. At the pub I heard about his fondness for the beer produced by the micro-brewery in his home town of Sydney in New South Wales. read more »

Cultivate is a learning party which is taking place on Saturday, May 16, 2009 in Hamilton, Ontario, featuring missional practitioners like:
Steve Taylor – pastor / author / blogger
Pernell Goodyear – church planter / trainer, speaker & coach
Jared Siebert – growth director / thinker / blogger
Joe Manafo – church planter / filmmaker / resourcer
More coming soon…
Cultivate is for anyone who is interested in missional church, and is happening because of numerous conversations between different people, organizations, networks and churches in Canada that long to see new forms of church thrive and relational networking happen. We are tired of the same old, same old conferences and just simply want to be friends, inspire each other, and swap stories, ideas, and encouragement.
Cultivate has taken place twice a year (in the Spring and in the Fall) since 2006.

The Evolving Church: Amidst the Powers will seek to identify and wrestle with the powers, and forces of oppression in the world. Inspired by Ephesians 6 and Paul�s claim that our battle is not against flesh and blood, we will seek to answer the question: how can the Church exist as a distinct faith community that does not succumb to the powers that surround her, but instead offers a different way of being amidst the powers?

The Conference is coming to Oakville on March 21, 2009.  You can find out more information at www.epconference.net.

Bill Kinnon has let me know about The Windrider Forum at Wycliffe College. It’s taking place September 9, 10 and 11 during Toronto’s International Film Festival.  You can watch a couple videos and find out more information at the Windrider site.

I ramble on a little more about this over on my blog, but here’s a quick heads up for everyone.

It looks like a variation on Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change Tour is coming to Canada in the Fall. The dramatically expanded line-up of speakers looks outstanding. Mark your calendar for September 19-20 in Oakville, Ontario for Why Everything Must Change, hosted by The Meeting House.

A Conversation on Future Directions of the Mainline Church, with Diana Butler Bass

July 11-12, 2008

Vancouver, British Columbia

Diana Butler Bass, author of the book Christianity for the Rest of Us, will lead a two-day conference looking at some of the foundation-shaking change happening in mainline Christianity across North America, and reflect on where this emerging kind of Christianity might take us.

For more information, check out the website.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines parallel parked in downtown Nassau.  Not sure how much it cost to plug the parking meter.

Brennan Manning giving a workshop.

Rita Brock’s main session.

New Providence Community Centre’s Garden where the church has a greenhouse to research agriculture for the island.  Bahamas imports 99% of their food and the cost of food is incredible.

An art garden at New Providence showing the history of slavery in the Bahamas.

Jim Schoch and Father Richard Rohr on the deck of the Soularize HQ.

The view that I woke up to each morning

Bishop Tom Wright speaking in his main session

Mark Scandrette and Kyle Martin chatting on the boat ride back from Rose Island

Dwight Friesen relaxing on the way home from Rose Island.

The Beach Bar on Rose Island.

There are literally hundreds of other photos over on the Soularize Photo Pool on Flickr.

November 17th, Resonate and The Freeway are hosting Cultivate Gathering in Hamilton, Ontario. Tim Baily, Joe Manafo, and David Fitch are among the speakers. The cost is $50 which includes a fine lunch as well.

If you are in Southern Ontario or the Northeast United States, you will want to make sure you are there.

Spencer Burke sent this out as a part of TheOozeletter today.

This year Soularize is a counter intuitive relational learning party

There are three important reasons why we chose the Bahamas;

1. This is the first international venue for the missional / emerging conversation. I am surprised how many people in the USA are unaware of how difficult and expensive it is for our international friends to come to US. It is only 60 miles off of our coast but it makes a world of difference for many desiring to engage on neutral ground.
2. We are always connected to a local ministry and spend a year or more working with them on the event to ensure this is not a “road show”. All of the creativity and experiences are in collaboration with Clint, Tim, Kelly, Gillian, Christian (New Providence Community Church) and local artists, musicians and families. You should check out all of the spaces we are using to create the conversation and learning experiences Soularize, (no hotels or conference centers).
3. It is hard to fight the perception of the Bahamas – cost was one of the factors (although it is cheaper to fly from NYC, Minneapolis, Seattle and Canada, stay in our host hotel and pay the registration fee for Soularize than it is to fly to a San Diego conference). Soularize has been the one safe place for those who have left the comfort of the established church and their conference budgets. Many have to take time off of work as well. But this has become more than a conference, for some, it is a family gathering. It is always great to see the friendships pick up from last year and new ones begin. The key to Soularize is relationships. Online 24/7, in person Oct. 25-27, 2007.

Below is some Soularize Resources, please pass the word on and I hope to see you on the sand with the rest of my friends Frank Viola, Becky Garrison, Karen Ward, Mark Scandrette, Kristyn Komarnicki, Michael Dowd, Barry Taylor, Dwight Friesen, Jim Palmer, Gareth Higgins, Ron Martoia and more being added weekly.

Spencer’s Description of Soularize 2007 on YouTube

Update:
Passport Application Required for travel to the Bahamas!

Regular (today) – $249
Late (after Sept 1) – $299

Register Today
http://www.theooze.com/store/details.cfm?item=10006

Myth Busters

Myth #1 – The Bahamas is too Expensive
Fact – October is the Off Season with great deals on airfare and hotels

Myth #2 – The Emerging conversation is limited to the USA

Fact – We chose the Bahamas because it is an International venue, it may be a short flight from Miami, but it is a huge leap towards our friends

Myth #3 – Conventions are talking heads in stuffy rooms
Fact – Soularize includes a Private Island, Art Studios, Swimming w/Sharks, Social Networking website, Beach Reclamation Project

Myth #4 – Big name speakers equal big impersonal crowds Fact – We limited the event to 500 attendees, with a key note line up of the decade (N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Fr. Richard Rohr)

There will also be some Canadians there. We will be the ones playing road hockey on the private island while swimming with the man eating sharks.

Two Years in the Planning – Less Than 90 Days to Register
Host Spencer Burke has popped the creative cork off Soularize the original /catalytic emerging church gathering

Key Note Line Up of the Decade
N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Fr. Richard Rohr

International Conversation and Venue – Nassau Bahamas
Take advantage of off season rates and ease of travel for our international friends

Five Learning Modes of Engagement
Keynote, Small Groups, Extended Experience, Reflective Time, 24/7 Web Collaboration

Varied Relational Environments
Private Island, Art Studios, Swim w/Sharks, Social Network, Lecture Hall, Limited to 500 attendees

Totally Wired Conference
Free T-1 wireless access, Live Web Interface with polling, chat, webcams, whiteboard

Most Progressive and Diverse Workshop Facilitators
Frank Viola, Becky Garrison, Karen Ward, Mark Scandrette, Kristyn Komarnicki, Michael Dowd, Barry Taylor, Dwight Friesen, Jim Palmer, Gareth Higgins, Ron Martoia…

Knowing that all have limited budgets to invest in annual learning opportunities, we hope you take opportunity to compare the Soularize learning experience with a few of the other national learning opportunities happening this coming year. Perhaps you’ll be as surprised as we were that an event in the Bahamas is actually cheaper than attending an event in San Diego (see comparison chart) . So if you’re looking for a more progressive, independent, and cost-effective learning experience in a tropical setting, perhaps you should consider joining us for the Soularize learning experience.

What makes Soularize unique is the learning environment. We create a casual, safe and interactive place where you can wrestle with issues your church and faith are facing today. You’ll engage in a wide variety of learning experiences like facilitated groups of less than 50 people, hands-on learning experiences, main sessions with keynote speakers, and workshops. Open times in the schedule offer chances for you to reflect and refresh in a hammock overlooking the Caribbean.

Come and lend your voice, your experience, and your dreams as we explore the Evolving Church – rethinking and reinventing what the Church could be in years ahead. Learn more – http://www.soularize.net/

Update: Passport Application Required for travel to the Bahamas!

Register Today

Here are some of my photos from the Soularize 2007 planning gathering and some photos from Boston in 2003.