I take no credit or praise for my community. Any credit or praise belongs to the community itself. I have built nothing. I have constructed nothing. I have succeeded in doing nothing. I have grown nothing. In fact, I make it my purpose to not build anything with these people. What I have around me is a community of people who willingly and voluntarily desire to be in relationship with each other and to gather together. Ephesians 4: 3 says to “keep the unity of the Spirit“. Unity, or community, is not something we have to build, but keep. I therefore see my primary task as preventing obstacles and barriers from interfering in this reality. I’m a weeder. When I think of it, my activity as a pastor is negative, as non-activity. It is to prevent interference, remove obstacles, clear impediments and reject deterrents to unity and community. It is so popular now to have the excessive baggage of plans, visions, goals, renewal, and programmed growth, that true authenticity and true community is difficult if not impossible. What I try to nurture is an environment free of restrictions to the unity that is already ours. This means free people gathering freely in the reality of freedom. Why complicate it?
I am confident that as the weeds are kept at bay, fruit will grow in individuals and in the community. But this is not my doing. We could go further with the analogy to say that good teaching and life experience is fertilizer, but I wanted to try to communicate what my strategy is for pastoring a healthy community. It is anti-strategy. It is to not include, assimilate or integrate strategies to create, erect, build or grow something. It is free, I hope, of my ambitions, goals, visions or desires for these people and this community. My only desire is for them to be free, and free to experience the unity that is theirs. And in that freedom is their possibility for a fruitful life. This is not radical. It is anti-radical. Perhaps you can see this? It is difficult to articulate.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
David, I think you articulated it just fine. Honestly, as a member of your on-line community, I never tire of you emphasizing this. Every time you remind us of where your…heart(?) is it makes me wish I lived near you. Even as a non believer, I long for community. Even as an introvert, I long to be near people who want to express themselves to me and would like to hear what I am feeling.
As president of my local photography club, I grow weary of constantly trying to come up with workshops, exhibits, and outings. All the “programs” keep me from, or rather hinder me from enjoying the art form, experiencing the art form. I love the people and have grown close to some, but at the expense of my art, which is where the true relationship lies…I think. In a sentence, I guess tradition is keeping me from being where I want to be, in relationship with my camera and with my friends…my community.
i know exactly what you mean bob.
Be careful, some of the authors I read on the web might find you and worship you as the second coming of Ronald Reagan
Just curious, is this general feeling or a reaction against the Purpose Driven phenomenon?
“i can only show you the door… it is you who must walk through it”
-Morpheus to Neo
I loved this post! thank you for articulating these thoughts. i think you’re talking about getting your congregation to realize their potential. you are the vehicle, they are the action, the force that drives, you focus.
i would like to get your reaction to two posts i had speaking to a similar theme:
first: http://toothface.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-serve-no-priestly-role.html
and the latest: http://toothface.blogspot.com/2008/05/self-reflection.html
thanks! keep up the art! woot!
Great thoughts. I’m bookmarking this; no doubt I’ll quote from you in the future…