All eight members in attendance—a first! I’m sure it had nothing to do with the Korean home-cooked meal, courtesy of Jin Kin’s mother. (Thank you, Mrs. Kim, you warmed our bellies and our hearts.)
Dinner began casually, with “oohs” and “mmms” over the food, conversation about moving from a Modernist to Postmodernist approach to ministry (light dinner chat!), and questions about my recent return from Istanbul and Cairo.
CAN Parish Interns
Tonight’s meeting, by request of Margie Boosalis, was devoted to exploring the Resident Parish Intern Program at Church of All Nations: How is the CAN Intern Program pivotal to the identity of Church of All Nations? How has the program impacted its alumni? Is such a program—or simply the core values it fosters—feasible for Aldrich Church? Where are those core values already present (or seeding) at Aldrich?
The CAN Resident Parish Intern Program was founded to prepare recent seminary graduates for ministry because (as quoted in their Purpose Statement available here):
In an increasingly multicultural, multiethnic, multigenerational and post-denominational age, we sense a compelling need for congregations that will call and nurture pastoral leaders into the ministry of reconciliation….
Our concern for diversity is not rooted in aesthetics, but about intentionally engaging deep-seated socio-historical divisions and fractured interpersonal relationships with the reconciling power of the Gospel. As a result, we address issues head on—from politics, racism, the economy and war to generational dysfunctions, sexuality, and relational insecurities. In the process, we have discovered that what is fundamentally needed is not the development of new knowledge, skills and techniques, but congregations that will form courageous pastoral leaders with the Christian character necessary to confess boldly, discern rightly, speak the truth in love, and testify fearlessly to the liberating power of the Spirit over the long haul.
At the risk of oversimplifying, the final sentence might be summarized: The key to healthy church congregations and leadership is not the best new knowledge, abilities and programs, but leaders courageous enough to be deeply, communally Christian.
This issue of courage is a peculiar one. I would not rate Americans and American Christians generally high on the courage meter, myself included. To develop, courage must be demonstrated and practiced, but our society has normalized and encouraged complicity. No institution can eradicate apathy, fear, or enforce truthfulness in the human heart, but smart guidelines—for example a monastic rule—can help. The CAN Parish Intern Program fosters courage in its interns by enveloping them in the “love and hospitality of the church community.” Vulnerably receiving that love and hospitality is in fact their “primary job.” Some interns carry no further responsibilities at the beginning of their internship (which can last 1-4 years). Ultimately, it’s out of that receptivity that they are called to love and serve the church—and ultimately discern a longer-term vocational calling. It is in a sense a short-term monastic call in the context of contemporary church life—complete with vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In the freedom of their vows and the enfolding love of the church community, CAN Interns have “less to lose.” Interns are free to abandon themselves to the discipleship process.
Submission through Confessing Boldly
“We fight for the legal right to privacy—but in the church we willingly give that up” declared Jin Kim. Submission is not particularly popular in the contemporary American church, which makes that quality at CAN feel almost exotic. All CAN members are called into “exotic” vulnerability with the community, but CAN leaders—including the parish interns—set the bar. “Occasionally issues of Intern favoritism have risen among the larger congregation,” said Pastor Jin, “but generally the church is hugely supportive because interns give so much—sharing honestly and vulnerably.” From my personal observations last night, the striking asset of the CAN Interns is not the hours of service they offer to building church program and ministries, it is the vulnerability they demonstrate—which tilts the scales of courage for the entire congregation.
Let us to return to the CAN Intern Purpose Statement which expresses the conviction to “form courageous pastoral leaders with the Christian character necessary to confess boldly, discern rightly, speak the truth in love, and testify fearlessly to the liberating power of the Spirit over the long haul.” CAN obviously assumes this call on a broad sociological level but begins it on the practical personal level, convicted that hiddenness debilitates moving forward in discipleship. Parish Intern Hiraki Nakane testified to this last night. Revealing her financial mismanagement to Jin and CAN enabled her to deal with the shame that impeded her financial recovery. There is little freedom in saving face outwardly, but inwardly living in shame. “CAN helped me lose my lameness,” said Hikari, “I was ‘clever’ in seminary, but I never submitted myself to the process of learning.” For many at CAN the process of learning begins with being loved and confessing boldly.
I was struck by the dichotomy of shame Hikari felt on her own, but freedom when she shared with the CAN community. Though she spoke of accountability, I detected no shame stemming from the judgment in her community. Pretty impressive for a church. One CAN church member even exclaimed “You interns make dysfunction look cool!” Freedom, through the gates of repentance, is cool. But for most, confession is too terrifying to even approach the drawbridge. Who knows if grace exists on the other side of the walls? What a gift then are these Parish Interns and CAN leaders who lead by infectious example! What can Aldrich learn from this brave community that, through courage and grace, has made confession—the ickiest of Christian practices—cool?
As I consider Aldrich Church’s core values, confession and testimony are present, but timid. I find Aldrich to be a church of deep relationships but not necessarily vulnerable relationships. One lifelong member admitted “After 50+ years at Aldrich, I can’t say I’m deeply open with our church—even those in my small group.”
Are we holding onto our burdens at Aldrich? Do we believe that Christ and Christ’s Body the local Church are prepared to receive our burdens and doubts on Christ behalf? As I consider the freedom of confessing boldly, my mind keeps returning to the words of early church patriarch John Chrysostom:
And see whom [Christ] calls! Those who have spent their strength in breaking the law, those who are burdened with their sins, those who can no longer lift up their heads, those who are filled with shame, those who can no longer speak out. And why does He call them? Not to demand an account, not to hold court. But why? To relieve them of their pain, to take away their heavy burden. For what could ever be a heavier burden than sin? [Jesus says]: I shall refresh you who are weighted down by sin – and you who are bent down as if under a burden, my yoke is light.
In the last two years, Aldrich has begun incorporating testimony more into its services. Last month one service was specifically dedicated to testimony: How is God working in your lives? What are the burdens you cannot carry? A handful testified—with surprisingly strong representation from our newest members/attendees. CAN affirmed that “fresh blood is essential to growing in confessionalism.” Longtime members have reputations to protect. Newcomers, like CAN Interns, have “less to lose.”
The Hospitality of Letting People Be
“When Aldrich gets new people, we think about ‘hooking’ them but we aren’t good about letting people just be” expressed one of the Aldrich committee members. Struggling to maintain our institutional life, Aldrich is probably guilty of shifting our focus off of discipleship. We’re eager to get people involved, less urgent about discipling them into Christ followers. But what does that look like for a church that averages $70,000 deficits every year? We are all so busy with church responsibilities (myself included). How much discipleship can we afford?
The CAN Interns who shared last night spoke of their time with CAN as deeply transformative, as one hopes the church should be. A few comments about their life in the church stood out to me:
• “I [visited a second time] because CAN treated me like a member of the body of Christ. Treated me with dignity. Even in some black churches if you aren’t of status, dignity is elusive.”
• “I had identified as a victim – that’s how I excused my behaviors. My victim mentality as an immigrant and woman of color made me violently defensive, affecting how I related to everyone. I craved truth-speaking. The Church of All Nations community was willing to see beyond my façade and rebuke me.”
• “CAN gave me permission to consider my oppressed place as a minority, but also as an oppressor – I am male, and part of Western society.”
• “My shame had been debilitating – but when I shared with the CAN elders, they simply wanted to ensure that I was going to be okay.”
How would our congregation testify about their discipleship at Aldrich? What would you say? How does our focus, our time, and our love reflect the spiritual spaces where growth is happening at Aldrich? How are we celebrating it? How is our institution an asset—or impediment—to simply loving one another?
Post-Boomers’ Craving for Purpose and Relationship
If Aldrich Church (or a “re-plant” of Aldrich & CAN) grows, our numbers will inevitably increase among ages 20-40-somethings, the post-boomer generation, the generation who will significantly shape the 21st century. At this transformational hinge in church history, Aldrich must re-think what the church is for our time.
I count myself among post-boomers who look at many in generation before us that “did it right”—worked hard at their jobs, raised a family, went to church—but nonetheless found their lives empty. Thus, many post-boomers reject the narrative of their parents. But we lack a replacement. We are a generation lacking conviction, or at the least, confused by too many convictions. In an age of having all we want and nothing we need, who knows what to do with our lives? Our cynicism undermines simple hopes of earning an “honest living” as we’re reticent to trust businesses, government, and anyone with a “horse in the race” –even ourselves. Our generation is over-educated and under-purposed. We live in a globalized world where no education provides enough knowledge, and individual purpose seems dwarfed by the goliaths of mass capitalism, global violence, and polarized societies.
The Dutch Reformed Church identified God as sovereign over all spheres of life. But the spheres were compartmentalized: vocation/work, Christian community, individual spirituality, family, neighborhood, etc. CAN believes we live in all spheres—in varying degrees of intimacy—at all times. That why, when they speak of discipleship, they mean a total (holistic) life plan. Church of All Nations has chosen not to skirt this generation’s confusion. “We [Church of All Nations] love all of you—so every part of you is the responsibility of the Church.”
The blessing and curse of this generation is that we, unlike the boomers, feel absolutely no guilt over cutting church from our lives. Having adequate (even good) programs, preaching, facilities, etc. won’t cut it. If church is to survive in such a context, it must be something truly compelling and holistic—the cornerstone of identity to its members. Accepting the complexities of this generation doesn’t mean feeding us enough “truth” to quell our doubts. We are a generation of doubters. Some doubts are good ones—mysteries that deserve to remain open. Some doubts are wounds we struggle to endure—which perhaps, through love and honesty from Christian community, will begin to heal. If Aldrich continues in some form, authentic holistic relationships will be key—not just because it’s key to discipleship, but because this present age is dying for it.
A final, inconclusive thought as we consider our generationally diverse church: If Aldrich Church accept the realities of this new generation and the transforming identity of the church, what is the role of post-boomers in honoring the generation before us?
One Truth in a Many Truths World
In a postmodern world, claiming truth is problematic, even among many evangelical Christians. Perhaps this is a relief for the church which (historically) has barely flinched at insulting, neglecting, even murdering our fellow brothers and sisters whose theologies part from our own. Christians fling the accusation of “heretic” at one another with ease, but rarely pause to mourn the heresy of division. Was not unity a primary subject of Christ’s longest recorded prayer? (Jn 17)
I’m proud to be part of a church with many members whose theologies differ from my own. I believe it keeps us focused on the heart of our faith: God’s love and new life, incarnated in Christ. I’m proud that Aldrich is a church that looks to scripture, though we interpret the non-essentials differently. Both liberals and conservatives try to squeeze scriptures into an ideology. Admist quarreling voices, devotion to scripture is delicate. Striving to be a “church for this age,” Church of All Nations offers a compelling engagement with the Word: CAN aims to imitate the example of Jesus, who had no qualms about reinterpreting scripture for the times. They view engagement with the scriptures as organic–revering tradition, but inviting the Holy Spirit to interpret for now.
Aldrich Core Values
As Aldrich considers potential partnership with Church of All Nations we are identifying shared core values, as well as values unique to Aldrich community. We named a few last night, noted below. Readers are encouraged to add to this list in the blog comments (you may also share your comments with myself or the church admin, who can post on your behalf).
What aspects of the Aldrich community could make its ministry distinctly compelling, whether currently in seedling form or more developed at this time?
Aldrich is a community:
• where kids are loved—there’s a freedom for them to be who they are
• of generational diversity—and working out how to love across decades
• with shared practices leading to a life of simplicity and stewardship of the earth’s resources for the sake of being a sign of the coming Kingdom.
• that cultivates Life Groups as a starting point for authentic community
• that values parenting as a spiritual practice—parenting for a different world
• that is learning to be vulnerable in its hospitality
• that values testimony and is learning to be confessional in its witness
• that values the arts as a means of opening Christian imagination and interpreting life
• that has a deep commitment to the Word of God as authoritative and as a catalyst to be a prophetic voice in our world.
Whatever core values define us, we must fight for them as a community—crossing the barriers of age, race, gender, even theology—to claim them as common goals.
