by Simon
So this is our first foray into the online journal world. This is ecologically sound, a far easier and more cost effective production, enables nice productive commenting/ feedback / conversation starters, and hey... it's a new year, let's try a new thang.
So, thanks to Kingsley for the stylin' header image, all our wonderful contributors, and of course of Lord, for enabling us to explore His created works. To finish my oscar acceptance speech I should mention all the old commonplaces which are available here for the first time (ever). Take a gander, unless you have a dial-up connection, in which case sell something and get broadband, or click and make a cup of English tea.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
From the editor
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Table of Contents | January 2006
Mark: The Story So Far...
~James P gives an overview of our weekly study of "the Good News According to Mark"
Mysterious Dimensions
~Paul T takes a look at how inner formation, authentic community and journey combine to create a dynamic kinetic faith.
Theodicy and Salvation
~Narrowgate questions the profileration of apparent injustices and rampant evil
Sonnet - "Little Song"
~Sherry O offers a sonnet.
11 Commandments for a Healthy Spirit of Consumption
~An avant garde list straight from the pages of a book you might want to read.
Place Retreat Refelections I
~Katie S muses on social barriers and their aversion to Thetis Island
Place Retreat Refelections II
~Tally H recollects the defining moments of...
Mini-Miracles
~Kristjan B reflects on the little things and the Big Guy
An Honest, Creative Church for a New World
~A blast from the not-so-distant past: A visitor chronicles his introduction to the Place circa 2003.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Mark: the story so far...
by James Prette, teaching pastor
We are almost in the middle of our seven-month journey through “The Good New According to Mark”. Mark shows us Jesus bursting on to the world scene establishing a new Kingdom. This Kingdom is not based on the values of this world. In fact, it clashes with every other kind of rule one might find in this world.
In chapter three, Randy showed us that there is a profound picture of the Kingdom in the very group that Jesus called around himself to be the first members of his new community, the twelve disciples. His choosing of twelve men was an obvious, deliberate sign of a renewal of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. There were twelve sons of Jacob (who’s name became “Israel”). This new community, the Church of Jesus Christ, is a new tribe, a new nation, a new race, and a new family.
One does not choose one’s birth family. One finds oneself growing up among these strangers whom one may or may not like. There is a common feeling among human beings when one thinks, “Maybe I was adopted” Some people think, “Please tell me I’m adopted!” But we are in the family we are in, whether we like the other members of our families, or are like the other members of our families.
These disciples, these first members of this new family, called “Christians”, were a community like a nuclear family. They were a community not based on being alike or necessarily liking each other. This new family included Peter (the rough country fisherman who was always making brash mistakes) and Nathaniel (the refined, intellectual Israelite snob). There was Matthew (the rich, big city tax collector capitalist) and Judas (the radical Zealot agitator). There was also James and John (the impetuous “Sons of Thunder”) as well as Thomas (the cautious doubter). I like to imagine them being at some of their early gatherings. Maybe Judas the Zealot sidled up to Matthew around the campfire. They are wearing their “Hello. My name is…” stickers. Judas says, “So, you’re one of those Roman collaborator, eh? You know, we killed a lot of you guys back in ‘04. Are you sure Jesus meant to pick you?”
This new community was not based on anything we might associate with a group getting along. It was not based on them liking each other. It was not based on them agreeing with each other. It was not based on a common morality. It was not based on them all being good at following Jesus. It was not based on their never making mistakes. It was not based on certain shared qualifications. It was not based on them looking alike. It was not based on their common age or economy. It was not based on their shared taste in worship music.
This is a picture of the Kingdom of God: A bunch of people who do not naturally belong together, being together, actually loving each other, because they are circled around a common centre. We are circled up around our common centre of Jesus Christ. This is what makes us God’s children - receiving Jesus Christ. This is what makes us brothers and sisters - believing in Jesus Christ. This is what gives us our common tribal calling - to circle up around Jesus Christ, learning to know, love and serve him together.
After Christmas we will circle up back around Mark’s portrayal of our Lord until Easter, that other great recognition of his work of revealing himself and reconciling the world to himself. Remember, we are doing this to get to know him better, and learn to be his family better as we learn to love and obey him more, and learn to love each other more.
Mysterious Dimensions
by Paul T
My thoughts on faith in the past have been quite linear. Sure, we say that our faith is in Jesus Christ, things hoped for... not seen ( Heb 12: etc ). But what do you think that means, how do you envision that to help you live a life of faith ? We have Scripture that conveys a lot about it. But I think that due to various reasons we lose the impact and connotation that was obvious to the original readers. Sometimes I think we need the stories in Scripture to be re-DJ'd in a sense. Remixing familiar elements of our cultures, theologies, sciences, histories, and 21st century daily life. Use those elements to season Scripture and create new interesting juxtapositions of understanding and depth. The following are some non exhaustive postures or dimensions that I hope will inspire toward a more dynamic kinetic faith.
The first dimension has to do with our inner formation. Someone once said that, " in-' FORMATION ' is more important than assimilating data for later regurgitation ". One beautiful picture of that is Mary the mother of Jesus, the vessel of the incarnation. This is a great picture for both men and women because if we are the bride of Christ, then, as my friend Doug Farr postulates, " are we not all, in a sense, ' female ' in Christ " ? We have Mary who had Christ conceived in her, growing, changing, invading her space, rearranging her insides, creating times of periodic illness. Her body's chemistry fluctuating to accommodate a new life that would eventually be birthed. The term Christian means ' little Christ ' but I wonder if it would be useful also to think of ourselves as ' little Mary's ' ? Where Christ has been conceived in us, impregnating our lives with his goodness, rearranging, invading, fluctuating our inner regions, the womb of our being. Periodic times of dis-' ease ' is to be expected, vomiting out that which we don't need. It's not always comfortable but eventually comfort comes. What kind of Christ are we birthing in to the world ? Is it attractive, peaceful, vibrant, something that makes people pause with wonder ? or is it sickly, deformed, irritable, suffering from a kind of worldly withdrawal syndrome ? Spiritual fertility verses religious barrenness, do you know the difference ?
The next dimension has to do with community or as I like to convey ' biotic* community ', metaphorically speaking. I'm not talking so much about going to church, people do that all the time and are not necessarily experiencing community. I'm also not talking about being in a group that's ' circling the wagons ' adopting a defensive posture and creating a ' them ' and ' us ' thing - producing exclusive, conformative cliques. I'm exploring the idea of faith communities being more like tribal hunter gatherers as opposed to settled, castle building, compartmentalized suburba-rites. Tribal individuals grow (mature) from dependence to independence to interdependence as a goal in creating a healthy fluid society. Everyone has a role to play in the survival and well being of the community. They're always exploring and relying on what the environment will give accepting that danger is never far away. In contrast, suburban attitudes tend to seek its own space, security, and privacy. Where individual rights and rigid legal strata bylaws are more important than communal 'give and take' for the greater good. Where neighbourhoods can have a more exclusive nature than inclusive and independence is more the norm, in fact the goal. I'm intrigued more with the hunter gatherer's way of life when it comes to my understanding of faith community - Hunting for the truth and gathering those who are lost or just lonely. In the past we've talked about 'relationship' as being most important in Christianity. I think that we need to take it a step further where corporate words like 'accountability' and slogans like 'unity not uniformity' fade into communal intimacy ( in - to - me - see ) in our pursuit of Christ like tribalism. Does the idea of commonality scare you ? If so, are your communities of Faith more corporate/organized or biotic/kindred, Legal ( strata ) or fluidic, more suburban or tribal in nature ?
My final dimension has to do with journey. Faith is more about journey then it is about destination, In fact I would speculate that journey is the destination. It's more about asking questions than having the answers, taking risks than seeking security , exploring faith not squelching with inquisition - things hoped for but not seen...yet. When Bono of U2 sings out, ".... and I still haven't found what I'm looking for !" It resonates to me of faithful nomadic pilgrimage, not settling for the here and now but always understanding there's more to learn and re-learn, more to imagine. Let the pursuit of faith lead you to a kind of undiscovered country. New possibilities and perspectives, where the valleys lead us higher and the peaks make us a little deeper - the 'Terra Nova' that you didn't know about. Oh, by the way, I'm not explicitly talking about geographical movement or change but at the same time I'm not ruling it out as part of the Itinerary either.
So, we have Inner formation, authentic community and journey as destination. It's a kind of triune posture of being, they are interlocked or overlapping each other. Inner formation would be hard pressed to occur without the midwifery of authentic community. Community without journey would become stagnant, self centred, inbred. It would have a tendency to pollute its own environment. It must continue a nomadic life of hunting for truth, gathering the lost, gleaning from others and exploring new frontiers. And journey without a people incarnated with Christ would be more like a crusade motivated by fear, hatred, indifference and religious bigotry. So these are some of my ponderings that are more inspirational than directional. These thoughts don't give practical, formulaic, step by step applications. But are meant to inspire diverse expressions for people who embrace a life of Faith.
* n : (ecology) a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other
Theodicy And Salvation
by narrowgate
“The Lord hasn‘t forgotten His promise to return like some people think. He‘s just waiting patiently, because He doesn‘t want anyone to go to hell; He wants everyone to turn to Him. But, He is coming.....” (Letters To Street Christians - 2 Peter 3: 9)In 1710, Leibnitz, a theologian, created the word “theodicy” for something that most of us have battled in our minds at some point. The Funk & Wagnall’s Standard Dictionary defines the word as: “the justification of Divine providence by the attempt to reconcile the existence of evil with the goodness and sovereignity of God.” To put that in simpler terms, it is “the defense of God’s goodness, and nature of being all powerful; in light of the existence of evil.”
When we read the newspapers or watch the telly, we are bombarded with a world gone beserk. We can easily get upset at God when we see the pedophiles preying on young children, violent abuse of others - even for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, wars, AIDS and HIV epidemics, or global warming. Most families in North America either have someone affected by some sort of cancer, or know others that do. The papers this week are talking about the cross between crystal meth and ecstacy hitting the streets, one of the scariest drug combos yet. Where is this all going to end? Why doesn’t God reach out and do something about this? How can God, who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, tolerate such apparent injustices and rampant evil?
Maybe God is even more upset about it than we are! Since God is omnipresent (everywhere at once), He can see when some young child is taken and abused; a girlfriend or wife that is beaten up; children becoming orphans because of disease, war, or starvation; people affected by other’s greed and lust; and the results from temptations young people find themselves in as the result of peer pressures. If God was sick of the Israelites after He led them out of Egypt, and wanted to wipe them off the planet (Ex. 32: 9-10), what must He feel about our generation? He wants to destroy the earth and bring judgement because of what people do to others. Yet, He holds off. And people keep suffering and dying.
As you nod your head in agreement, here is something for you to consider. Both you and I owe our salvation to Him for holding off!!!
God has been ready to wipe out the human race longer than any of us have been alive. It is only because of His mercy that any of us are still here after so many decades of evil. I became a Christian on August 10 (a few years ago). But, what if His patience had run out on the world on August 9? What if His patience had run out the day before YOU became a disciple of Jesus? One day He is going to pull the plug. He is going to draw a line in the dirt, and whoever is on the wrong side of that line is going to be in BIG trouble. I was raised in a Christian home, went to Bible camp every year, and attended church three times on Sundays. Yet, I balked at making a committment until I was nearly 15 years old. What if God had pulled the plug before I’d committed to follow Him?
When I hear of thousands in China becoming Christians every week, and whole villages turning to Christ in India, Africa, and Indonesia, I know that there are millions of people out there who might come to Jesus is they were given just “one more day.” When we hear about terrible things and we throw up our hands and wonder why God didn’t intervene, we need to thank Him for everyone who has heard the good news and found Him - today.
I am against making “New Year’s Resolutions,” as I am very aware that they last a few hours at the most. However, we daily need to ask God to mold our lives, making us more like Christ in our language, our conversations, work ethics, and inteaction with others. In doing so, we will be reaching others for Christ - while there still is time.
Sonnet - “Little Song”
by Sherry O
Though faltered speech betrays the trust,That you will listen and accept my heart,
Or perceive in the pulse behind its thrust,
The intent it stammers to impart,
And what strength it takes to dissect
The meaning from a lifetime spent - afraid to speak,
For this sensitive soul still yearns to connect,
But sharp edged words have spliced too deep,
More safe then, to carefully sketch and try
With soft lines to express each small gift of choice,
To come to a place - to one day imply
On your ear; the shape that will become my voice,
That if patiently tuned to my attempts to learn and be clear,
Will return in pure song the compassion you’ll hear.
11 commandments for a healthy spirituality of consumption
submitted by Paul T; from 'The out of bounds church?' by Steve Taylor
Consume No Logo.
Consume Ad Busters.
Consume no meat.
Consume fair trade.
Consume using your own shopping bags.
Consume recyclable packaging.
Consume second hand clothing.
Consume at sales.
Consume no pirated software.
Consume no CFCs.
Consume the body and blood of Jesus.
Place Retreat Reflections I
by Katie S
The longest Place Retreat ever! To be honest, I didn’t really notice the extra hour, but I think I slept through it so that may be why. The place retreat is always an interesting experience. It’s a place where you feel socially awkward, surrounded by people you don’t know but wish you knew because you see them every Sunday and they seem really cool but you’re just too scared to talk to them. In my case that might be a direct result of me being a dork and knowing that if I talk to those cool people they’ll find out. But that’s a different story all together. Then there are the people who you swear you’ve never seen before and you find it hard to believe that you’re members of the same community. And if you’re like me and you’re scared to go anywhere without someone you know, one or many of your good friends are there too. With these people you laugh, learn and act just plain crazy. You’re a mixing pot of creativity and enthusiasm.
The thing that is most amazing to me about this annual event is that social barriers are torn down. Our community is a giant farrago of people who come from different places and are passionate about different things. That’s something that makes the Place beautiful, but I personally find it challenging. I’ve heard more than a few times that our community can come across as exclusive or cliquey. It’s outright scary to walk through those doors for the first time on a Sunday night, into a motley mass of unfamiliar faces. I’ve been going to the place for over five years and sometimes it still freaks me out. But in a group of people as large as us, it’s impossible to really feel a sense of community if you don’t break up into smaller units. The Place Retreat proves to me, and I hope others, that we are an accepting and welcoming community. When there’s a slightly smaller number of us from all different social circles, making yourself vulnerable to people you don’t know by letting them know you is so much more tangible. I wouldn’t say that the retreat makes fewer yet larger Place pods; our social groupings don’t necessarily change. But it sure creates a lot more friendly faces on a Sunday night, and that in itself makes the Place feel more like home.
The longest Place Retreat ever! To be honest, I didn’t really notice the extra hour, but I think I slept through it so that may be why. The place retreat is always an interesting experience. It’s a place where you feel socially awkward, surrounded by people you don’t know but wish you knew because you see them every Sunday and they seem really cool but you’re just too scared to talk to them. In my case that might be a direct result of me being a dork and knowing that if I talk to those cool people they’ll find out. But that’s a different story all together. Then there are the people who you swear you’ve never seen before and you find it hard to believe that you’re members of the same community. And if you’re like me and you’re scared to go anywhere without someone you know, one or many of your good friends are there too. With these people you laugh, learn and act just plain crazy. You’re a mixing pot of creativity and enthusiasm.
The thing that is most amazing to me about this annual event is that social barriers are torn down. Our community is a giant farrago of people who come from different places and are passionate about different things. That’s something that makes the Place beautiful, but I personally find it challenging. I’ve heard more than a few times that our community can come across as exclusive or cliquey. It’s outright scary to walk through those doors for the first time on a Sunday night, into a motley mass of unfamiliar faces. I’ve been going to the place for over five years and sometimes it still freaks me out. But in a group of people as large as us, it’s impossible to really feel a sense of community if you don’t break up into smaller units. The Place Retreat proves to me, and I hope others, that we are an accepting and welcoming community. When there’s a slightly smaller number of us from all different social circles, making yourself vulnerable to people you don’t know by letting them know you is so much more tangible. I wouldn’t say that the retreat makes fewer yet larger Place pods; our social groupings don’t necessarily change. But it sure creates a lot more friendly faces on a Sunday night, and that in itself makes the Place feel more like home.
Place Retreat Reflections II
by Tally H
Imagine a place where ocean, trees, and mountains meet, where time is set aside for conversing over coffee and for canoe rides and jaunty forest strolls, and everyone pitches in to help clean up at the end of the day. The soundtrack is amazing, and all join in doing the Lord's work feeding the season's last mosquitoes.
Such was the Place retreat. To spend a weekend among friendly and interesting people eager to talk, to listen, and to raise their voices in every kind of joyful noise imaginable (the cowbell had not previously occurred to me as an instrument of praise) was a delight and a privilege. Much time was spent in conversation over mugs of hot caffeinated beverages, the only drawback of this being that one was also prone to spend a great deal of time in the washroom. But even there I found opportunities to meet people!
And the craft - that's when I knew I was among like-minded folk, when the adults were given an opportunity to do a craft. It was like getting to be in Sunday school all over again, but this time with fingers better coordinated to handle the scissors. (Tissue paper never gets any easier to deal with.)
All in all it was a fantastic, restful experience. I came away from the retreat praising God for putting such great people in my life - in all of our lives - and for coffee, music, Amy Grant, and even tissue paper.
Mini-Miracles
by Kristjan B.
I got a daily devotional calendar from mom and dad this past Christmas. You know, like the Dilbert or Far Side ones where you peel away the previous day’s witty retort or cynical insight to reveal your next chortle. Only these ones are about inspiration…
I’ve never been very comfortable with open devotion or spiritual inspiration. I smiled and thanked mom and dad kindly (no kiss or hug like for a big gift) and thinking, “Now for the real gifts…” started digging under the tree like a schoolboy, without another thought about the calendar.
Turns out, it was the best gift of all. Can’t even remember the other ones right now. I’ll get back to you on that.
But a little talk at The Place on a recent Sunday (not the sermon, though it was great) got me reflecting on the little things. The mini-miracles. The stolen moments from other commitments and pressing engagements. The odd happenstances when the little neck hairs jump up and tingle and you know The Big Guy is saying something.
The moment hits you. And it can be easier to push it down. “I’ll deal with this later…maybe…” you think. And maybe you will. Not everyone does. Nor are you necessarily ready at the time.
…grade 5 art class and the teacher, whom I had the equivalent of a 10-year-old boy crush on with her resplendent, swollen belly asked me to whip up to the Zellers on Shelbourne for a can of black paint.
With vigour and freewheeling speed I pedalled my heart out wanting to impress, but missed the turn and tumbled out into traffic smacking my noggin on the blacktop; seeing a brilliant white light. I opened my eyes and was staring at the underside of a chrome bumper with a women crying on her knees next to me.
With embarrassment and not a word, I remounted and fulfilled my duty…carefully. Took me a long time to figure that one out.
…early years of university and feeling black and lonely, I visited my childhood church on a weekday, when I should have been doing something else. With no one around but the secretary, who smiled and recognized me but said nothing (though I hadn’t shown my face in ages), I wandered into the sanctuary and randomly chose a seat.
I noticed a Bible in front of me, directly in line with my sternum. I picked it up and flipped randomly to something in the Gospels, then simply read the passage where my eyes fell and was immediately awash in a message that spoke to me at that moment.
With a prayer and a smile, I replaced the Bible. Looking left and right, I noticed it was the only one in the pew. I smiled, thinking that's silly. Then, with an odd suspicion, stood and walked the length of the aisle checking the other pews. It was the only Bible in the whole church not carefully returned to its resting place on the shelf at the front.
…a couple of years ago, picking up some photos of a just-done motorbike trip, I parked next to a bike of the same make and model line as mine. Stopped to admire it (it had a larger displacement than mine), then walked in to get my photos.
When I came out, the rider of the other bike was admiring mine. “Nice bike…good brand…picking up photos of your last bike trip, eh? Me, too.” We had a good chat then exhanged business cards with personal numbers quickly written on the back.
He said, “I don’t usually do this,” meaning exchanging his actual business card without knowing me first. Turns out he was a cop and they are shy about letting on before getting to know you. But he had a good feeling about me. He’s one of my best friends, now.
The day after that little, non-sermon talk at The Place that got me thinking about mini-miracles, my daily devotional calendar had the following message: “Blessed are those who learn to see the finger of God in the conpsiracy of accidents that make up their daily lives; they shall be rewarded with daily miracles.” Ronald Rolheiser, 21st C.
Well, thanks Ronnie, and mom and dad, and Big Guy. That’s just what I needed. Oh, and that other gift? It was a shiny European football jersey. Just what I wanted, though I hadn’t asked, and mom and dad got their big-gift hug and kiss. But I bet they’d be more pleased with this story…I think I’ll tell them soon.
An Honest, Creative Church for a New World
by Pete, (for CRC journal), c. 2003...
The church leaders flocking to Willow Creek to learn new ways of doing church from its corporate-style approach may be missing the mark for the next generation of souls. The polished, suit-and-tie performances of the seeker services may attract affluent boomers, but they do not appeal to the more earthy busters.
"The Place,", not far from the University of Victoria, is no grand show, but it is hard to find a seat. This "community within a church" is hosted by the non-denominational Lambrick Park Church, and uses their sanctuary space for weekly Sunday night gatherings. If there is a dress code, it is jeans and a shaved head. The music is up-beat: a mix of Christian, mainstream (eg. U2), and home-grown. Everything from announcements to sermon is relaxed and unpretentious.
One of the announcements on this February Sunday night is regarding a documentary on drug abuse that is showing in a local theatre. "I think we should go," says the pastor, "and check out the discussion forum afterwards." There are a few more announcements and then someone says, "Check out our web-site for details, and please turn off your cell- phones."
The sermon is on Exodus 15 and 16, and the topic is "tests". After a short comedy-routine on the speakers’ many failed drivers’ tests, he launches into a story-by-story exegesis of the Israelites sojourn in the wilderness. Regarding the manna and quails, he says, "God provides for us in some pretty bizarre ways." Regarding all the wilderness tests, he concludes, "This is the purpose of the test of life: God is fitting you for a promised land. Will you trust and obey him?"
Pastor as Jester in Jeans
What attracts this standing-room only crowd of 600 twenty-something young adults? The web site lists four core values: orthodoxy, engagement (with broader culture), community, and beauty. But the front of their introductory brochure sums it up best: "exploring authentic faith." The Place accepts you as you are: broken, searching, sinful. "The gift this congregation has given is that I’m allowed to be myself," says Randy Hein, one of two full-time staff at the Place and generally known to be the visionary although "reluctant" pastor. "Some pastors are lonely, but I want to do, play, and be church with my friends. Some pastors are dishonest— not allowed to be vulnerable—but I want to lead out of weakness and vulnerability. I want to take God seriously, but not ourselves. I’m not the authority. I’m more of the jester."
You would not know Hein was the leader of this Christian community experiment. His name is hard to find on the literature. He does not always preach. When he does come up to make announcements his unbuttoned flannel shirt and goofy antics grate against all ministerial stereotypes. He has degrees in philosophy and theology, but he does not advertise them. He only mentions his inspirations as Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Jacques Ellul, and Brian McLaren when pressed. "The emphasis must be on the community," he insists. "The Place is not just that Sunday night service," he explains. "It’s the drink and fellowship afterwards at the pizza joint. It’s the small groups, the Koionia Garden that harvests vegetables for the poor." He adds that the mix of church kids, drug dealers, addicts, anarchists, single mothers, and navy personnel that make up the community would not come to just a conventional church worship service.
One of their original songs puts it this way:
Might not fit in anywhereGenerationally Exclusive?
Might be tired of being scared…
But grace is for the weak
Rest is for the weary
And Solace for the freaks
And the best is for the needy.
When asked about the lack of generational diversity in The Place (the average age is @ 25), Hein says they never promote this community in age-specific terms. "In fact," he defends, "we deliberately communicate a value for the elderly. They know I have mentors who are over 60. We know we are young in faith and maturity, and we have to be careful."
The Place may not wave the banner of youth, but they do certainly promote and celebrate the gift of creativity. Art exhibits, special concerts, and open mike evenings are part of the regular venue. The Place has also produced its own worship CD entitled "Under the Rubble."
Additionally, they have just come out with the second issue of their own journal of poetry, art and writing called Disclaimer. "Café Suburbia" is a warm, candle-lit space down the hall where one can enjoy a specialty coffee, pizza, or piece of home-made cake after a service or concert. "I was at a conventional church this morning," says one man in a Hawaiian shirt with a mocha. "It was dry and boring. I come here because its uplifting." "Yeah," says a Navy man beside him. "This place is alive."
Away from Christian Sub-culture
The Place isn’t all novelty, though. They read scripture, pray, take an offering, baptise, provide childcare, and celebrate communion every other week. They have two leadership teams, one is the vision leaders (the "elders") and the other is the core leaders (the "deacons").
Their web site www.theplace.ca gives a clearer picture of what is behind this movement: its begins with a deep dissatisfaction with the church today, and more specifically, the Christian sub-culture the leaders grew up in. Writes Hein, "They had TV, we created ‘Christian TV’ They had rock, we had ‘Christian rock’. We just imitated everything that the world did. Only it wasn’t as good. It was just more sanitary." The Place grieves the cultural life of the church, "where everything seemed so second rate… almost dishonest."
This is their vision: "We desire—we are striving—to be relevant. To show Jesus is real and accessible to this post-Christian generation. We desire to engage the culture that we live in… We are sceptical—irreverent— but it has made us uncomfortably honest. We are willing to take risks and explore…"
The Place is an eclectic mix of the loud and celebratory and the liturgical. It wants to be a safe place where questions can be asked. It strives to be a community of love and dialogue. In one sentence, this is the difference with the corporate-style churches: "We are more interested in
something that is honest than something that is polished."
Dissatisfied with Dissatisfaction
The Place is a risky venture that does not attract every demographic in town. Another young Navy man in town declines the invitation to check it out. "The fact that they are ‘dissatisfied’ with the church says everything," he explains. "That’s not me. I like the hymns and the organ. And that they are self-described as ‘irreverent’—I don’t like that."
One may question many aspects of this endeavour: whether it is centred on a personality or entertainment, what deeper theological tradition it expounds, and how discipline, accountability, and stability are valued and implemented. Its future is uncertain, but no one questions the organic nature of this new community. Organic, after all, is culturally savvy. And dissatisfaction? That’s where church reformers like Calvin began as well, both vocationally and theologically.
"We want to engage the culture in its language, we want to be a beacon of light in a dark place," muses Hein. "Anything that perpetuates that light, no matter how little, we want to continue that."
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