‘Gathered and Sent,’ Mixed Economy Trinitarian Communities an Apostolic Mission

1. ‘Gathered and Sent,’ Mixed Economy Trinitarian Communities an Apostolic Mission 

2. Mission in ‘Meta-Modertity’

3. ‘Did You Know’ (2009) video See: YouTube

4. Mission in ‘Meta-Modertity’ Cultural Traits

5. Iconic / Symbolic ‘the medium is the message’

6. Iconic / Symbolic The Church has deep resources to speak with icons and symbols, and needs to explore new ways of inviting people to experience the wonder of God ‘through the looking glass’ of Christian spiritual symbols and practices

7. Creative beyond industrial technology, beyond ‘information processing’ into a new cultural landscape characterized by creativity and inventiveness

8. Global from nation state empires, to a one world ‘market’ dominated by trans-national commerce and corporations

9. ‘Oscellating’ ‘constant re-positioning between positions and mindsets’

10. Spiritual We live in an Age of New Mysticism or of the new spiritual tourist. Our aim of helping spiritual tourists to become pilgrims must draw on the ancient practices of the church reframed into our current context… Our communities need to be modeling a lived rhythm of spirituality that is viable.’ (Ian Mobsby)

11. Dis-ruptive / ‘Cha-otic’ Financial crisis political polarization and upheavals massive economic inequality environmental degradation rampant consumerism (the defacto religion of the west)

12. Yearning

13. Deep Longing ‘For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in* hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes* for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

14. Deep Longing ‘’The meta-modern longs for another future, another meta-narrative, while acknowledging that future or narrative might not exist, or materialize.’

15. Post Secular Archetypal stories in metamodern culture, echo the meta-narative of mission, in a cultural form

16. People long to be told stories of faith, hope, love and redemption. They long for such to be possible, and to take an active part

17. The Greatest Meta-Narrative ever told, is that God sent Jesus into the world’s longing. Faith, hope, love and redemption are possible, and incarnate in the world, through Jesus Christ MISSION is inviting people to take part.

18. God continues to send Jesus into the world’s longing through us

19. Our great need is to rediscover our primary purpose to live from, and share the meta-narrative of God through Jesus Christ, in and for God’s world, and within today’s culture

20. Ours is a new time of Re: forming the Church, Back to the Future

21. In 2004 the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Council released a report titled ‘Mission Shaped Church, ’which has been commended by the General Synod to all Anglican churches, as a framework for the renewal of the church, and reconnecting the witness of church to today’s culture, so that the meta-narrative of the Gospel can be shared with a world longing for faith, hope, love and redemption.

22. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

23. What is a ‘Fresh Expression’ of Church? ‘Emerging Church’ is a term used in the U.S that corresponds in many ways to the ‘Fresh Expressions’ term from the U.K

24. Definition A ‘fresh’ expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.”

25. A ‘mixed economy’church is needed, to more fully participate in God‘s mission, ‘reaching out’ and ‘reaching in’ to people, within their own cultures

26. 'Mixed economy' church is a term first used by Archbishop Rowan Williams to refer to fresh expressions and 'inherited' forms of church existing alongside each other, within the same denomination, and in relationships of mutual respect and support.

27. Catholicity requires both diversity and interdependence. The mixed economy summarizes a dynamic partnership; where inherited church encourages, and often funds fresh expressions, and where the planting of fresh expressions has in turn brought renewal and encouragement to established congregations (Bishop Graham Cray)

28. cafe church neo monastic network church parish church pub church church arising from community initiatives traditional church plant ethnic specific church cell church church within a church alt worship collective house church base ecclesial communities children and families focused youth congregations In a Mixed Economy, church takes many forms:

29. Curating a Fresh Expressions of Church require deep understanding of culture, in order to speak into culture using resources from the culture itself to express the invitation and calling of Christ to people in their own cultural forms, in so far as the form of culture being explored is permeable to express the Gospel, and not contradictory to it

31. Example Fresh Expression Communities Text

32. Moot, London

33. Home, Oxford

35. ‘Messy Church’ A new form of church for kids of all ages which was developed in the UK See Messy Church Videos on YouTube

36. Inherited / established church and fresh expressions TOGETHER and in PARTNERSHIP express the mixed economy of church “The whole church is needed, to bring the whole Christ, to the whole world” (Bishop Graham Cray)

37. Mixed Economy Church: • Echoes the Trinity > mutuality and interdependence • Reflects creation > being richly diverse • Expresses the eucharistic heart of the church > expressing God’s self giving for the life of the world • Is modeled by the Jerusalem and Antioch churches> with differing ways to reach differing peoples, those raised in and new to the tradition, • but with the same unity of faith • Draws strength from the forbearance of the Spirit

38. Mission Statement

39. Joining the ‘order’ of the Trinity via the Covenant of Baptism Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being Baptism @ Church of the Apostles, Seattle

40. All Christians and Christian communities are co-missioned in the Spirit to take active part in the Missio Dei Chrismation of @ Church of the Apostles, Seattle

41. Trinitarian Missional Communities (whether inherited or fresh expression), have four core functions Koinonia/ Community Leitourgia/ worship/prayer Fotosis / Formation/ Discipleship Diakonia/ Service/ Mission

42. Koinonia/ Community in and with the Trinity, forms and frames our identity and existence. Meaning > experience of the Divine Purpose > engaging ‘what matters’ Belonging > connected & connective Participation > being involved Gratitude > giving thanks Contribution > giving back St. Lydia’s, NYC

43. Leitourgia / worship and prayer, orders our days and deed are in God’s peace

44. Fotosis /trans-formation/discipleship Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice alive, holy, and pleasing to God which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2) Fotosis/ transformation/discipleship is about practicing the way of jesus in daily life.

45. Fotosis /luminatium/ trans-formation/discipleship 5Let the same mind be in you that was* in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited, but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.And being found in human form, he humbled himselfand became obedient to the point of deatheven death on a cross. (Phlippians 2:5-8)

46. Diaconia/ Missio/ Service Trinitarian Missional Communities are gathered, formed, nourished and sent forth into the world to engage God’s mission

47. As a Missional Communities we are gathered and sent to PARTICIPATE God’s Life, SHARE God’s story and ENGAGE God’s mission to restore, heal, reconcile, make new, transform… Church of the Beloved, Edmonds, WA

48. A small but growing number of Fresh Expressions of church are being informed and inspired by monastic tradition Rule of Life, Church of the Apostles, Seattle - Love God and love neighbors- Give invitations and provide welcome- Engage community and practice faith- Share stories and throw parties - Create art and exchange gifts- Renew culture and steward creation

49. Mission calls us to engage God’s future, today

50. Engaging God’s Mission calls for the ‘Faith of Leap’