Ecclesia Spokane

Our next gathering will take place on Wednesday July 7, 2010 at noon at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse.  As we gather we’ll take time to share with one another about the recent happenings of our lives and communities, follow up our conversation about Infuse, float a few ideas including the possibility of a fall / winter prayer and solitude retreat and dialogue on the following:

During our recent trip to Haiti we encountered the deep contrast of beauty and brokenness.  In creation, in people, in systems, in possibilities.  Our first few hours of navigating chaotic and crumbling streets, hiking up eroded mountain paths, breathing in the mixed aroma of burning trash, exhaust and food being cooked over open flame led one of our companions to say, “this can’t be fixed.”  Over the course of our time in country we also met amazing and creative people, experienced hospitality that left us humbled, and began the joyous process of friendship and misison shaped partnership.  As such, the aforementioned companion, and all of us, realized that progress, redemption and change could and would happen.  But it will happen little by little.  Or as the Haitian proverb we learned says, “piti, piti, wazo fe nich li” (little by little the bird builds it’s nest).

I’m confident that all of us would agree, to some extent, that the same is true of our mission shaped work in this time and place, and in all times and places.  But what about our souls?  Would we agree that, to some extent, our souls are formed in the same way?  As I reflect upon the brokenness and beauty mentioned above I find myself confessing that there are days, seasons, where my soul is a crumbling mess, much like the streets of Cap Haitien.  And if I were to expand the story a bit more I’d say that there have been times where I’ve tried quick and unsuccessful fixes, or simply wondered if it could ever be fixed at all.  What about you?  What about those we journey with?  What about those we seek to mentor and develop as future leaders?

How do you assess the state of your own soul?
Have / Are you experiencing soul formation as a “little by little” journey or something other?
Do you see this as an aspect of mission shaped (missional) formation and faithfulness?
How do you foster care for the soul in your church community?
How are you training future mission shaped pioneers in this?
What other questions or issues related to this would you raise?

Rob Fairbanks will be sharing about the recent Infuse process that took place in Portland, OR, as well as helping us prepare to host Infuse this fall here in Spokane.  Take some time to review an overview of Infuse prior to June 2nd as we’ll focus our conversation on activating this collaborative training.

April’s ES Gathering will take place on Wednesday April 7, 2010 at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse.  Please be sure to RSVP, spread the word and read the following paragraph by Eric Blauer, which will be guide our conversation.

Illegal drug & alcohol abuse is a reality within all  of our congregations. It’s a cultural problem that has long lasting consequences for individuals, families, children and our communities.  As leaders who embrace a gospel of grace, and enjoy the freedom it allows, as it relates to responsible use of God given pleasures; I wrestle with what this looks like among the addicted and those in recovery. Most recovery models or programs are “abstinence based”, which isn’t always consistent with the message of learning “moderation in all things” as a gospel value, that I often teach. I also find many other elements within recovery ministries that seem out of harmony with the gospel…i.e. fear based accountability, legalism, law focused teaching, defilement anxiety vs. sanctifying power, habit vs. transformation, works over grace, man focused vs. God focused, determinism vs. new life.

I am interested in discovering a recovery model or program that embodies a healthy balance of truth and grace that enables addicts to truly experience the power of God for change. Helping people find and live in wisdom and freedom that empowers them to not be “mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). How are you approaching these issues personally and within your church community? ,We’ll put these questions and the topic of recovery on the table as we gather in April.

First Things
As we prepare for our next gathering be sure to read Dave’s note below, as it will serve as the starting point for our conversation. Also, please RSVP via the comments section as we’ll be sharing lunch together at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse and will need to let them know how many of us to expect (Note the “Upcoming Events” section on the sidebar.  This will serve as a reminder of when and where we’re gathering).

Into The Question
Most of us work in neighborhoods with mixed incomes. We have people with much and those with very little.  I assume the poor are a part of our communities. I tend to interpret Jesus as being for and with the poor, and take seriously (but maybe not seriously enough) the Matthew 25 passage. The idea that noticing and caring for the marginalized is like caring for Christ himself. Likewise ignoring them is just like we are ignoring Jesus.

The Porch has called West Central home for 2 years now. As we have more and more homeless and semi-homeless(not sure if this is a term, but seems to be a reality) I am learning about a world that has existed all around me. This world includes payees, social services, police, prisons, mental disorders, violence, love, generosity, laughter. . . a whole range of beauty and mess.

At this point we are trying to offer friendship. This seems to be good. The rub for me comes when there is crisis, usually with housing or with the law. Many of our friends are not stable enough to keep a place for more than a month at a time. Others are routinely in trouble with the police, often because of bad choices, but others are targets of police harassment. I wonder how much we should help. I can easily spend days working on one problem like chasing down an overworked pubic defender to find out what can be done for someone who is incarcerated, usually with little result.

How does your community do when it comes to sharing life/ministry with people in poverty? What do you struggle with? Where do you see hope?

Looking forward to the conversation.

Dave Wilkinson
The Porch

Good to see all of you who were able to make it out to The Porch last Wednesday.  Our next meetup will take place on Wednesday January 6, 2010 at Vintage Faith (All Saints Lutheran building) in Browne’s Addition at noon (bring your own lunch).  Finally, here’s the book that Steve mentioned, which is available through The Book Parlor.

As we continue to work together as friends on mission, this site is designed as a place to share resources, upcoming opportunities, invitations for informal and formal gatherings and the like.  if there are features that would facilitate this process that you don’t see, please comment, make suggestions, etc.

Also, here’s the scoop on our next meetup:
Wednesday December 2, 2009
12PM at The Porch
*Be sure to check out Indaba Coffee and The Book Parlor, two friendly organizations just down the street from The Porch.