Think Tank Aug 09
Think Tank – August 22, 2009
**Wonderments, Curiosities, Questions about the Bible or Faith:
Canon – If 56 books questioned, why not question all?
Hermeneutics – What is normative for us? How do we know what God is saying?
Exclusivity of Jesus – I am the way of Salvation – Other faith groups?
The role of scripture as sole authority or just a guide or pointing to truth?
How about certainty? Heaven? Hell? Salvation? Truth?
What is the role of the Bible at the Barn?
Jewish sacrificial system? What?
Intentional Community – lived out faith – why so little?
What happens to those people who never are given the option to know God?
How important is it to memorize the Bible?
Is it important to believe every word of the Bible?
Why did God seem to “punish” Eve more than Adam?
Does weather come from God?
What if none of it is true?
If we are God’s creations, living on Earth, what is the use of the rest of the universe?
Who is Lilith?
Why is everything such a secret? (creation, etc)
Are we alone in the universe?
Difficulties with exclusivity in light of other religions as Jesus is central to our belief – is this just another American, white view of our way being the way?
Idea of eternal life/ spiritual life after death
Bible as Truth/stories, interpretations
Punishments/fear and the Bible
What would the initial hearers/readers of the Old Testament have thought those books/stories were? (What expectations and understandings would they have had about them?)
How have others in the community attempted to discover God’s voice/leading?
Many interpretations over thousands of years … whisper down the alley?
“God’s Plan” is too easy an answer
Too many inconsistencies with consistent language – i.e. dance, drink, sex, marriage
Why no more books?
Where are “mega” miracles?
Is God really omniscient?
Is God really omnipotent?
Is God really loving?
Is God really gracious?
Is God really God?
What is Bible? How should we understand?
Who is God?
**Pressing Cultural Issues that are Important for Followers of Jesus to Address:
Respect for authority
Ethnic acceptance
Living in moderation
Giving back
Science and religion
Abortion/ birth control (+ /)
What does it mean/ look like to be “holy” and to be “salt” and “light” in the world?
Do we engage culture thoughtfully and intentionally? (or just go with the flow?)
Sexual immorality and objectification of people
Consumerism
Race – reconciliation
Economic justice and systemic injustice (+ /)
Hunger/ poverty (+ ///)
Universal moral code (right & wrong)
Economic disparity/problems
Knowing what is true – government, etc.
Addictions (+/)
Environment (+ /)
Abusive power structures
Sustainability
Being a witness for the most vulnerable
Overcoming the politics of rhetoric
The bankruptcy of American culture/ way of life
Financial stewardship
Relationship of Christ to culture
Do we know how to disagree – Conflict resolution – How to agree to disagree
Sexual orientation
Getting along with Republicans…or any who are different from me….
Immigration
War
Drugs
Abusive power structures vs. lack of authority
Mistrust of Power
Communal responsibility
**Help Wanted for Everyday Living
Finances – Ways to live less expensively – Financial stability – Paying bills (+ ////)
Seeing alternatives/options
Time management
Opportunity to slow down/ take a break
How to make decisions at the speed of life
Depression, sadness, despair (+/)
Stress
Discipline
Health
Balanced work/family life
Safety concerns
Family
Raising children
Being happy/ peaceful/ joyful
Relationships – being successful in/having meaningful (+///)
Relief from fear of war, unemployment, disaster
Loneliness – lack of true connections
Application of Christian principles
Cosmology/identity – who am I in the universe?
Sustainability
Prudence – Knowing what’s important and doing it
Forgiveness
Breaking patterns
How to help others
Understanding God/Faith
How to allow God to be more in control – this is so difficult!!
**How the Barn Community Can Make a Difference as it Relates to Neighbors
Safe place to worship
Instill sense of community
Improve self
Pride of association
Defacto family
Networked resources
Support systems
Sharing board (w/ items requested or offered)
Random blessing mailings to non-Barners (not mentioning the Barn as the sender, but maybe mentioning God)
Community neighbor help days (like at St. James, but other locations)
Being an example of family
Accepting people where they are at
Sharing life
Provide array of opportunities
Helping in ways that are needed
Community as prophetic witness for Christ – intentional community when parish is 60 miles wide
Fighting systemic injustice
Presence
Outreach – Honduras, Mississippi, St. James
Fellowship and support for our own members
Be an Angel Christmas campaign
Simplicity
Public witness of sustainability
Provide open space for spiritual reflection & different, changing models of “church”
Hunger locally & globally
Relocation with poor (Shane Claiborne, Bart Campolo)
Building Help – Habitat, Helping Hands, etc.
Any positive grass roots volunteering – hunger, poor, tutor, prison, single moms
Provide support for wellness
Provide resources for needy
Educate congregation in Bible study
Encourage creativity and participation
Provide community for those who feel alone or left out
**Things We Value at The Barn
Creativity encouraged
Restoration of the arts into worship
Working at adjusting things that don’t work
Philosophy of continuous improvement
Teams vs. handful of people
Questioning/inventory – striving to make better
Fun-humor
Enjoy God/one another
Forgiveness
Loving difficult to love people
Trust in God
Spirit led
Value of positive thinking – find a way
Relationship as center
Relationships supercede doctrine
Not dogmatic in negative sense
Authenticity – openness
Loving neighbor (humanity) – support system – extended family
Helping neighbor intra community – inside and outside
International neighbor – no bound
Find avenues for folk to LIVE OUT (put feet on) LOVE WINS
Freedom to:
think
be who we are
ask questions
disagree
try things
People’s opinions matter/tolerance
Individuality
Making people feel safety to doubt, question
Inclusionist
Value intellectualism/ debate/ education/ learning/ questioning
**Musings
Economics, education, ethnic division, justice
Intentional commitment and economic sense to no building
Use existing resources
Sustainability
Centrality of gathering vs. community living out 24/7 faith
Relocation – racial reconciliation
Deference of others +/-
Gathering – expression of entire community
- production of paid staff
Intention to pull from various traditions the good and try to synthesize together
Seeking ecumenism over denominationalism
Governance
Integrate faith into career/vocation
Integrate 24/78 faith/life
What we believe
Generous Orthodoxy
Financial support
Worship out of gratitude/desire not duty
Invite not damnation or duty
**Communication Ideas
Sign outside Barn
Posters – Community bulletin boards
Paper
Opinion editorials – OpEd
Online paper
Cedar Crest Paper
Muhlenberg Paper
Bilingual website
Participate:
- St. James
- Small groups
- Gathering
- Events’
Mayfair, etc. offering service/arts
Signs
- Got questions?
- Got faith?
- Got God?
The Barn – Swain 10:10
Website
Arts – including 2 signs at Swain
Computer generated Idea Think Tank
Series – changeable to specific
Signs – change
Interaction
If don’t fit…come
**St. James
Possibilites
Incredible opportunity to do nothing
Artists come and create
Networking with artists
Things other than art studio for St. James
Needs
1. Artists to have space
2. Inclusive community – allows us to go to others.
- Barn artists and invitees
- then neighborhood within walking distance
- gradually branch out
3. Offering relationships through art
Poets, dance, etc.
Other kinds of artists
Begin with simplest thing
Qualification: desire
HALA (Banana Factory)
3 facets:
1- Our needs – a space to do/ create art
2 – Serve other faith communities at St. James
3. Neighborhood
Guidelines/tensions – re: questionable art
Stage 2 –
Other ideas realized
- ex. Block party
- VBS – artistic VBS
501c3 for St James
