Categories: uncategorized
Date: 26 June 2012 15:05:33
It's back to the Greenbelt talks I've been revisiting and today is the penultimate one I'm visiting - Emerging Denominational: Loyal Radicals by Nadia Boltz-Weber from Greenbelt 2009. It wasn't one I got to but I have really enjoyed hearing other talks Boltz-Weber has given at GB.
To begin the talk Boltz-Weber gave a bit of biography, (something that seems common to her talks), and explained what a 6ft tattooed former drug and alcohol addict is doing standing there in a dog collar. What she uses as the hinge into her main talk is the fact that her life was turned around by grace. That hinge takes us on to a description of why she is a denominational minister within an emerging church context and thinks that both are really important.
At this "hinge" point she bring out the point there are denominational churches such as the Lutherans which are good at proclaiming grace. This I agree with although for various reasons I think some tend to be better than others at communicating this. Personally, it's something that I've found really wonderful about Methodism - they do preaching that the gospel is based on grace in a big way. She expanded upon this issue of grace - (which is both theological and lived reality) - by saying that she uses the term "sinners" not in a way which refers to people being immoral but rather in a way which says they are all receivers of grace.
Building upon this she moved on to why she loves liturgy and feels it is a mysterious gift we have been left by former generations. Now I have to admit I can see this aspect of liturgy when it is shared and it is clear why we are using it - but sometimes I have found it to be something which can be very alienating. As somebody who grew up outside of the liturgical tradition I am not as literate in it as might be. That is not to say I don't have the capacity to connect with it, rather because I don't always get why it is being used, how the congregation are supposed to respond and whether you stand up or sit down I find it confusing. I find it particularly alienating in things like "evensong" where I find myself struggling with both the music (which I just can't connect with in the same way as I can a bit of punk or rave or folk) and the use of the liturgy (which confuses me because there is no response built in). For Boltz-Weber it is obviously something special though - and that is cool.
She then goes on to talking about "tribes" and how she was part of a different 'tribe' to those she encountered within church. To illustrate this she talks of having a Ramones poster on her wall and of being part of that 'tribe'. This I got because whilst not ever being fully part of that NYC punk culture I am part of the tribe next door which goes to some of the same gigs, had the Rocket to Russia poster on the wall, etc but which is essentially mainstream. Listening to this I realised that it is a big reason I find the musical side of church worship quite difficult (and even more so now I am part of a 'civic' church which is really highbrow). Interestingly enough there was some stuff on Sunday that the Watoto Choir did and invited us to join in with that I felt more connected to than anything I had in ages because it was that sort of drum based world music which enables you to jump about and dance in a style which almost mixes 80's raving with urban folk rock - (i.e. the sort of crusty dancing you do to some of the Levellers stuff).
Anyway back to Boltz-Weber who was there feeling like a fish out water when God calls her to be a pastor and to start an emerging church. Thankfully those who "gave authorisation" got what God was doing here and broke all sorts of rules in allowing her ministry to develop as both emerging and denominational. In relation to her call Boltz-Weber talked of the way stuff came together and that was cool.
She then moved on to describing the church she ministers to. It's mainly 20 - 42 year olds and many of them come from 'unchurched' or 'dechurched' backgrounds and most are not Lutheran. She made clear that she was not involved in making new Lutherans or trying to increase market share for the Lutheran church and that the authorising authorities were aware of this. For her the fact she is just sharing the gospel of grace is important.
In terms of the socio-economic background of the church she described it as the 'over-educated voluntary poor'. That made me smile - I so get what types of people she means (and I have a wry smile as I write this thinking about some of those who are likely to be reading).
What is important in her community is gathering around both the gospel and sacrament. I sort of get this - I'm good on the gospel of grace but am only getting there on the whole sacramentality thing (TOH is still trying to teach me exactly what the big deal about alot of the sacramental stuff is).
Moving on from this Boltz-Weber goes on to critique the post-denominational approach taken by emerging leaders such as Tony Jones and Doug Pagitt. For her what is important is reaching and serving both the core and the innovative edges. She expanded on this to explain the benefits of an ordained priesthood. This is something I really agree with - being a firm believer in the priesthood of all believers but understanding the benefits of having a public symbol who has restrictions placed upon them relating to what they can and can't do. Where I would find myself struggling to fully get my head around it all, (but obviously not if I were preaching seeing as I have promised as a local preacher to say nothing against Methodist doctrine), is in relation to sacramentality and the need to have a presbyter bless the bread and wine. I just don't get why who does it makes any difference and it's why I struggle with alot of the emerging type stuff which happens at GB and elsewhere when it seems that a priest has to be produced somewhere along the line to concentrate. I admit this comes from me initially learning order and practice from the Baptist denomination.
She then moved on to some questions which came predominantly it seemed from practitioners who were seeking to work in the area of Fresh Expressions or pioneer ministry under the authorisation of denominational structures. She pointed to her experiences but gave no clear answers as to how some of the tensions might be dealt with. This is fair enough - the answers aren't clear.
Overall this talk was one clearly endorsing the concept of the mixed economy being truly mixed. I found it a really useful talk for reflection on the whole issue but also in helping me get reflect personally. Another talk I'd wholly recommend.