May 2nd
It’s been a long time since I’d visited the church. Together with others from the Community I had done quite a bit of ministry with the church in the 1990’s and early years of this decade. It was good to be back and to reconnect with people. As a Community we had influenced for good quite a number of the fellowship and it was sad to sense on this occasion a church yet again going through a traumatic season where the same issues that have undermined its life and work through the years have raised their ugly heads again. Different personalities, different presenting situations, but the same issues. It’s like a failure to deal with problems in the sub-surface of our lives, community or churches which inevitably will see their reoccurrence.
I am also convinced that many of the models and structures that churches have embraced or adopted are failing the needs and challenges of people in a changing church and culture. In contrast, though not without its own fair share of past failings, is the wisdom that comes from the monastic tradition which can teach us a great deal about how to deepen faith and build community.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
