Open hands

Dan, you made my day with your post Creational Theology: Why I Love Earth. Thank you.

For some reason, this YouTube clip on the birth of a Beluga Whale in Vancouver deeply moved me. I think I understand why. I love this earth - I love it’s dust, it’s vistas, it’s people and it’s creatures. I love it because something in me tells me I must, and something outside me tells me to try. I haven’t been hurt by it all enough to disdain it (a tsunami or a wild man), but I have been healed by it’s complexity and beauty many times over.

We cheer (like the bystanders in the clip) at birth; we weep or go silent at death. It’s the joy of beginnings, and the fear of unknown endings that seems to be common to us all.

According to the New Testament, the eternal destiny of Christians is not “the sky” or “heaven,” but rather Earth. New heaven’s around us, new earth beneath, all things made new, turned right side up, returned to Edenic glory.

I sing toward that Day.

Thought we needed to lighten up a bit, so here you go.  This made me chuckle.

Is it time for Canada’s largest Protestant denomination to throw in the towel as they ask themselves at a denomination-sponsored gathering? University of Western Ontario law professor Ian Hunter’s op-ed piece in today’s National Post says why he thinks it’s time to close up shop:

The fantasy of attempting to institutionalize Christ’s message in any denomination or church must be acknowledged. Churches are vessels too shallow to hold a story so deep; too trendy to communicate a message that stands athwart time; too timid and bureaucratic too convey a spirit blowing where it listeth.

But when a Church deliberately marries itself to the spirit of the age, when it sets itself the task not of redeeming but mirroring its time, it has nothing left to say that anyone needs to hear. Throw in the towel.

The United Church is at the point that words no longer mean anything, convictions have been watered down, and people are voting with their feet. This malaise has existed for years, and is only worsening. Witness the astounding leadership of United Church pastor Gretta Vosper from yesterday’s Post:

Gretta Vosper, a … minister who recently wrote a book called With Or Without God, [is] a prime example of what is wrong. Ms. Vosper, who disdains the title Reverend, said she does not believe in anything remotely Christian, let alone anything religious: not God, not the divinity of Jesus, nor the sacraments or the centrality of the Bible in Church life.

People, it’s time to be realistic and die with some dignity.

There are 50 bloggers who have committed to grappling with the topic of “what is missional?” next Monday, June 23rd.   The list of confirmed participants is below.   I’m looking forward to using it as an opportunity to share how a missional emphasis will impact our funding priorities in future years.

Alan Hirsch
Alan Knox
Andrew Jones
Barb Peters
Bill Kinnon
Brad Brisco
Brad Grinnen
Brad Sargent
Brother Maynard
Bryan Riley
Chad Brooks
Chris Wignall
Cobus Van Wyngaard
Dave DeVries
David Best
David Fitch
David Wierzbicki
DoSi
Doug Jones
Duncan McFadzean
Erika Haub
Grace
Jamie Arpin-Ricci
Jeff McQuilkin
John Smulo
Jonathan Brink
JR Rozko
Kathy Escobar
Len Hjalmarson
Makeesha Fisher
Malcolm Lanham
Mark Berry
Mark Petersen
Mark Priddy
Michael Crane
Michael Stewart
Nick Loyd
Patrick Oden
Peggy Brown
Phil Wyman
Richard Pool
Rick Meigs
Rob Robinson
Ron Cole
Scott Marshall
Sonja Andrews
Stephen Shields
Steve Hayes
Tim Thompson
Thom Turner

Today’s symposium (mentioned yesterday) was a good day with many moments which are causing me to reflect. About 80 gathered in the Arts and Letters Club just off Yonge and heard an amazing line-up of speakers who addressed topics - from the spirituality of the city to affordable housing and the inclusion of art in public spaces. Questions were addressed, such as:

• How can places of worship contribute to a vital urban ecology?
• What role can faith communities play in leading, sustaining, and innovating new solutions in Toronto?
• Is ownership of a physical asset still an essential condition for a congregation to be relevant in the community? Can a new religious enterprise thrive in a shared space? Can investing in a stand-alone facility be justified in a world of scarce resources?

I mention the most provocative speakers:

Stephen Scharper, religion and environment professor at University of Toronto and columnist in the Toronto Star - erudite and worth the price of admission:

• Unless we have social justice, we won’t have urban sustainability
• The Christian worldview confronts consumerism
• Worship communities engender hope - we realize we have not been abandoned and are not alone
• And, the story of the roaring deciduous forests of southern Ontario from 200 years ago which are 95% gone today

Major Geoff Ryan, from the 614 Salvation Army community in Regent Park:

• we need room for people of faith at the table where decisions are made
• folks with choices are moving downtown (into condos) and suburbanizing it - folks with few or no choices are being squeezed out to Jane-Finch and Malvern

Roberto Chiotti, founding partner from Larkin Architects, and designer of the greenest worship space in North America (absolutely stunning!) - St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church in North York

and over lunch

Calvin Seerveld, professor emeritus at Institute for Christian Studies:

• make room for public art in the city which is a reflection of our humanity in its fulness

Oh yes, and I ran into fellow blogger Darryl Dash who was there too.

I’m looking forward to Wednesday where I will be attending a one-day symposium in Toronto called Planning in Good Faith, that is cosponsored by the Canadian Urban Institute and the Work Research Foundation.

The role of churches (and synagogues, mosques and other sacred spaces) is evolving rapidly as faith leaders adapt to an increasingly diverse urban environment. While some congregations are experiencing decline, some suburban congregations are growing. The traditionally informal contribution of faith institutions to community life has become an essential part of the social safety net provided by municipal authorities. The list of questions is long and challenging. Planning in Good Faith will bring together faith leaders, urban planners and others with an interest in finding responsible solutions to complex questions.

I like seeing agencies such as the Canadian Urban Institute dialoguing with faith leaders, recognizing that faith is a part of our society so how can we get it right?

Bill Kinnon at achievable ends alerted me this morning that next Monday will be the date for a synchroblog by over 40 bloggers on the topic “What is missional?”  This is being organized by Rick Meigs, aka the Blind Beggar, here.  I look forward to contributing, particularly since next Monday happens to be the date of our board meeting, and we will be asking that very question and making a shift which will determine Bridgeway’s future emphasis.

Use of this trendy word in churches and by Christians has diluted its meaning, so much so that it means pretty much whatever you want it to.  We seek to reclaim it to its intended use.

So check back here in a week for links to the conversation.

Welcome Wendy Gritter to the blogosphere.

I’ve been after Wendy for months to get a blog going, and now she has.  I am proud of her - she is launching out into a new area that is bound to be controversial.  The blog is about how to help Christians develop healthy relationships with gay family, friends and neighbours — without feeling a need to preach at them, just to love them for who they are as people created in the image of God.

Her current post is one example of the type of prejudice from Christians which she has to deal with on a daily basis.  She received a letter written by an overtly biased individual, yet their email made all sorts of leaps of logic and was filled with presumptions which may or may not be true - problem was, the individual never bothered to enter into a relationship to find out.

Her blog is one of the outcomes of a project which is funded by Bridgeway, an initiative to create a DVD resource which will help local church members better serve their gay neighbours without condemnation.