I just read a blog entry by my friend
1. The way the network has developed. What is now the Ecclesia Network started out essentially with a number of friends getting together once or twice a year to wax theologic and philosophic. We talked about what was working, what wasn’t, what excited and frustrated us. A few in that initial group were also struggling a bit, feeling somewhat out of place in the groups they were presently a part of, and others were completely on their own. Even though a lot of work has been put into this thing, primarily from Chris Backert and
2. The people that are already in it. I try to convince my wife that when I go to an Ecclesia gathering, be it a general meeting, a regional, or national gathering, that I am going to work. And she is unconvinced. I think she thinks I am having too much fun to really be working. And I do have fun. These guys have become some very close friends who I greatly respect and trust. We might be sitting on rocks in the woods smoking
3. We are living out common values often in different ways. I really love the commonality and differences in a pretty small group of churches. We are linked in our desires to truly live out the mission of God by building life on life faith communities that see the Good News of Jesus as something that should be seen and experienced as Good News. That we are called to enter into the lives of those we are around, not just those we are like. But, in that still small group, we do it differently. We try to connect to the vibes of the cultures we are in, be that inner-city life, suburban life, university town life, or something much more rural. We embrace different expressions of tradition and innovation and that allows us to learn so much from each other. Hey, some of our members don’t even blog or tweet! How’s that for differences? 🙂
4. We see the planting of churches or faith communities as central to accomplishing God’s call on our lives to see the Kingdom grow and expand. And we don’t think that is the only way it can happen. ‘Nuff said.
5. No rock stars. I like rock stars. At least I think I would if I knew any. Who knows? My point is that there isn’t anyone in particular that this group is built around. Now, here me correctly, I respect and value a number of highly impactful and influential leaders, both in the US and abroad, greatly. I also can see the results of their faith and integrity. I really do. I just also like that there is no one opinion or process that guides Ecclesia.
6. We are a more like a relational network, or hub, than a denomination. Ecclesia isn’t looking to set policy in your church or ministry. We are simply wanting to make you aware of resources that could assist what you are doing, be that people that are doing similar things, learning opportunities that you might not otherwise interact with, or processes that you think could be helpful.
7. We need Ecclesia. It isn’t good for [nlcf] to be out completely on its own. We need accountability, challenge, support, and input. We need the larger body of Christ watching what we do and helping us to see things we might miss. And we need to be able to do that for others. We are called to walk in submission to others and to allow God to use us to speak into others as well. Ecclesia provides a wonderful place for us to do just that.
Todd said...
1Jim, like JR’s post, this is great stuff. now, i do take offense to the fact that you refer poisly to the reality that “some people don’t even blog or tweet.”
First of all, you’ve only blogged for like, 30 days or something. Second of all, you never actually tweet.
So… i am thinking before you get all proud of yourself, prove yourself. 🙂
11/12/09 2:14 PM | Comment Link
jim said...
2don’t make me censor you man… i will do it… i will… but then i guess you would just log in and undo that.. no hope
11/12/09 2:34 PM | Comment Link
jimi said...
3Mostly unrelated to the actual point of this post, but not entirely (see #2) – One of my favorite cigar memories was from a time early on when i was at Tech. We were over at one of the places on Center Street. And you had it in your mind that you were going to smoke your entire cigar without dropping any of the ash. So after a few minutes, you were smoking the thing vertically. Of course, before the end, it all came crashing down, and you ashed on your own face. Priceless.
11/12/09 4:01 PM | Comment Link
jim said...
4jimi – great to hear from you! i remember that! we would be out on the balcony… man, hadn’t thought of that in years. thanks for reminding me!
jim
11/17/09 12:04 PM | Comment Link
J.R. Briggs » [33] Thoughts, links + musings » Attempting to behold the miracle long enough without falling asleep said...
5[…] [27] Wondering about The Ecclesia Network. Read this post by my friend Jim Pace in Blacksburg, VA. […]
11/23/09 7:40 AM | Comment Link