a missional church network
This episode is the audio from the Friday evening session of the 2012 Missional Learning Commons: “Cruciform Leadership: Paradigms & Practices.”
In this first recording (55 min) JR Woodward discusses polycentric leadership and organizing communities for mission. Woodward is the author of “Creating a Missional Culture.”
More ways to connect with JR Woodward or MLC:
I’m excited to see the Midsouth region of Ecclesia taking shape. When we began church planting in Austin in 2008, we were a small dot in a large gap between two coasts on the Ecclesia map. In the time since, we’ve seen more dots appear on the map, but of special interest to me have been those here in Texas, giving meaningful proximity to the relational emphasis between churches in Ecclesia.
To celebrate and announce our emerging presence in this part of the country, we hosted our first Ecclesia regional event, which was co-sponsored by the Missio Alliance on October 5-6. The event was held at Space12, a community center in East Austin which is managed by Vox Veniae, and hosts ongoing non-profit and local community events.
The event was built around the theme of Everyday Theology. Dr. Roger Olson, of Truett Seminary and the Missio Alliance, began our time together with a lecture on the nature of, and the need for, everyday theology — recognizing how a robust theology relates to the activities that fill our daily schedules. Following Dr. Olson’s lecture, twelve practitioners gave 15 minute presentations on how theology informs particular practices and cultural artificats. JR Woodward joined us from Hollywood, while the remaining presenters represented eleven different church communities from San Antonio and the greater Austin and Dallas areas. This was a similar format to previous Ecclesia events in the western region, and served just as well to give space to hear many different voices.
As I hoped and expected, the event was marked by thoughtful presentatations and rich dialogue. But the most encouraging thing to me came out of the conversations in the moments after the event and in emails to follow. Former strangers were making plans to connect, to meet face to face to learn more from mutual experiences or scheduling phone calls to continue conversations began over our Asian fusion lunch. Seeing churches and leaders from many backgrounds and contexts finding common space to learn from and encourage one another resonates with what Ecclesia is about, and it was a beautiful beginning for this budding region.
John Chandler
Austin Mustard Seed
On October 13th the churches of the Northeast Region of the Ecclesia Network came together for a one day training with author, speaker and church planter JR Woodward:
You can read more about the Northeast Region of the Ecclesia Network on the Northeastern Region site.
Ecclesia Thinks and Links is a monthly publication of The Ecclesia Network that highlights articles, blog posts and publications from members and friends of the Network.
by Bob Hyatt
In this three-part article Bob lays out a model for discernment. In this series of posts, you can also get a good look into Evergreen’s story.
by Geoff Holsclaw
You might notice that this is an older post, but Geoff addresses the question of leadership in a missional context – particularly how leadership and co-leadership works out at Life on the Vine.
by Gary Alloway via J.R. Briggs
J.R. Briggs posted a great story from Redemption Church of Bristol in Suburban Philly.
7 Questions with Scot McKnight
by Dave Kinnaman
Scot McKnight talks about his book One.Life, The Blue Parakeet, Women in the church and women in leadership.
by JR Woodward
This isn’t really a post, this is a whole book. JR’s book was released by IVP in July. Check out his new website and be sure to get a copy of his book.
My Journey with Apostolic Ministry
by Bob Roberts, Jr.
Bob talks about his jouney in discovering his apostolic gifting.
by Winn Collier
Drawing on the story of Lazarus, Winn reflects on the trajedy in Aurora, CO.
BCC hosted a free Kids-in-Motion sports and arts camp” for the children of Easton! This was our 3rd annual camp and we were blessed to have over 120+ 1st through 5th grade campers and 50+ Jr. and Sr. High youth as camp counselors! It was awesome! Check out the vid and pics at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kids-in-Motion-Easton/289671614414211?ref=hl.
Our church is gaining traction in terms of a few more people joining our group lately. As we’re rather small at this point, this is very encouraging. We have built a steady a corporate rhythm of gathering each week for communion, prayer, worship, and teaching.
I have recently started blogging at the recommendation of a few other Ecclesia members. It’s an new experience for me, but I find it really is a spiritual discipline, and very helpful for working out thought processes. You can find my thoughts at www.worthwheeler.com.
We just completed a trip to our partner church in San Pablo la Laguna, Guatemala. You can get a complete trip recap at http://swern.com/2012/06/22/guatemala-trip-recap/. We have been building this partnership over the last two years and would be open to talking to other churches within Ecclesia who are interested in contributing to this ongoing partnership. We do at least 2 trips per year.
A small team from A New Community got back home yesterday from a mission trip to Bungoma, Kenya. Our church has partnered with a pastor from Bungoma in the construction of an orphanage that opened last November. There are 35 orphans who live at the orphanage in a nurturing environment. They are fed three meals a day and a school at the orphanage opened last January with 5 teachers and has an enrollment of 55 children, from the orphanage as well as the community. Our team delivered new shoes, clothes, and letters written to each orphan from their sponsor in America. Textbooks and supplies where purchased for the classrooms as well as newly constructed cabinets for the teachers. the cooks at the orphanage were excited to received new cooking utensils and supplies for the kitchen. Bulk food was bought and distributed to the widows and orphans living in Western Kenya through our association with the churches in the outlying mountains.
Through this connection, A New Community is involved in God’s work internationally as well as locally.
Always Enough: A Sermon for the Discouraged: A 10-minute sermon Ben gave during our May 6 Celebration Meal gathering from Mark 6:30-44. http://christchurchfw.org/2012/05/always-enough-a-sermon-for-the-discouraged/
We’ve been doing discipleship huddles based on the 3DM model since January 2012. Every one of our members save one is involved in these right now. Last week one of the gals in the huddle my wife leads came up and said to her, “I’ve grown more in the last year at Boise Mustard Seed than in the rest of my life in the church leading up to now.” – What a great confirmation and testimony to the calling God has given this little church start! 🙂
We have lots going on this summer in the area of outreach. We currently have a team from church in Northern Uganda ministering to kids with an organization called Mercy’s Village. We also have members of our church doing other trips and serving all over the world with projects they initiated.
But back here at home one big thing happening this summer is the International AIDS Conference. Its being hosted in the US for the first in 20 years. In preparation we are working together with local churches throughout the city to raise awareness about the extremely high HIV rate locally in our city and the need to get tested.
Below is my article in today’s Washington Post where I am trying to lead by example in encouraging people to get tested. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/national-hiv-testing-day-why-i-got-tested/2012/06/20/gJQAjGlkqV_story.html
Welcome to a new publication of the Ecclesia Network: Ecclesia Thinks & Links. What follows is a collection of some recent articles, blog posts and news from people within and outside the network. As I’ve been collecting links over the past few weeks, I was reminded that we have some amazing voices that are part of our community.
Of course, a disclaimer is necessary: While the articles below will be mostly written by Ecclesia pastors and leaders, not all of them will be (Those with an ** on articles written by people directly connected to Ecclesia). Obviously, there are some really helpful writers and thinkers outside of Ecclesia and we’re excited to highlight them too. Of course, nothing we link to below shows our complete endorsement of whatever is said in a post or whatever they have said elsewhere on their blog, on facebook, twitter or while they were talking on the phone last night – hopefully this goes without saying.
If you have read or have written articles or blog posts that you think could be included in upcoming issues of Ecclesia Thinks and Links, please forward them to Todd Hiestand (toddhiestand@ecclesianet.org)
by J.R. Briggs
A great look at the nature of the church through the metaphor of church dinners by the pastor of the Renew Community in Lansdale, PA
by Matt Tebbe
Matt reflects on how we are discipled through parenting.
Who Imitates You? 9 Ways to Invite Others In
by 3DM
A great list from 3DM in the UK about mentoring and discipling others.
by Aaron Graham on the Exponential Network Website
Get to know a bit more about Aaron, a pastor in Ecclesia, and his churches mission. Aaron was recently interviewed by the Exponential Network.
More Than a New Color
by Lance Ford
“Missional doesn’t visit the neighborhood. Missional moves into the neighborhood.” A great short reflection by Lance Ford.
by David Fitch
David Fitch, pastor at Life on the Vine, recently had this aritcle published on Christianity Today. Provacative as usual, he asks hard questions about being rooted locally.
by Winn Collier
Winn, pastor of All Souls Charlottesville, reflects on why he became a pastor and, more importantly, why he stays one.
by Ben Sternke
Ben, pastor at Christ Church in Fort Wayne, recently published a series of excellent posts on his philosophy and practice of discipleship. Very, very well worth sinking your teeth into!
Again, if you have any questions, please send them Todd’s way!