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Comment on The Body, The Blood, The Border by continued border activity… - The Ecclesia Collective

continued border activity… - The Ecclesia Collective — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:17:47 +0000

[...] blog. There are three reasons why I post about these issues on the EC blog. First, I do so to spark theological imagination for how San Diegans approach border and immigration issues as Christians. Secondly, I do so when we [...]

Comment on Church as a Co-op: 3rd Principle by John Mustol

John Mustol — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:26:45 +0000

This article asks many penetrating questions about money, culture, churches, and Christian commitment. It is filled with ideas and insights that are new (and challenging) to me. I would like to suggest another resource that I found helpful in understanding the broader issue of economics and the way money works in our economy. It is by David Korten, entitled, “After the Meltdown: Economic Redisign for the Twenty-first Century” and may be found at:
http://www.tikkun.org/archive/backissues/tik0811/politics/economic. For those interested in learning more about how the economy works and where money comes from, I recommend it. As the title indicates, it also presents some new ideas for redesigning the economy so it is more equitable and sustainable.

Comment on The Body, The Blood, The Border by Pending Demolition of Friendship Park - The Ecclesia Collective

Pending Demolition of Friendship Park - The Ecclesia Collective — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:28:29 +0000

[...] economic, environmental and inhumane impacts on San Diego/Tijuana. I have written about my concerns here and here. The growing coalition of those concerned about this issue and the symbolic importance of [...]

Comment on A People’s History of the Church by Glen

Glen — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:28:22 +0000

Sounds interesting…
A very good book on the history and beliefs of the Early Church that includes many of their writings as well as commentary is “The Early Christains: In their Own Words” by Eberhard Arnold. It is available as an E-book at:http://www.plough.com/ebooks/pdfs/EarlyChristians.pdf

Comment on The Body, The Blood, The Border by Franconia Mennonite Conference -

Franconia Mennonite Conference - — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:03:29 +0000

[...] and anti-immigrant attitudes. In his blog response to the World Communion Day service, entitled The Body, The Blood, The Border, Jason revealed a more personal encounter with the racism embedded in the anti-immigrant attitudes [...]

Comment on The Body, The Blood, The Border by more november updates… - The Ecclesia Collective

more november updates… - The Ecclesia Collective — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:19:37 +0000

[...] Border/Immigration Activity John Fenastil of Foundation for Change and Jason continue to serve communion every Sunday at the border fence to people on both sides of the fence. You can read John’s article in The Christian Century about this here and Jason’s on the EC site here. [...]

Comment on Church As A Co-op: 2nd Principle by Andrew McLeod

Andrew McLeod — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:12:51 +0000

PS. I just discovered that you are in San Diego. I’ll be there in about 36 hours, and might have some time to meet up Sunday morning or Monday evening. Please drop me a line if you would like to meet.

Comment on Church As A Co-op: 2nd Principle by Andrew McLeod

Andrew McLeod — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:09:58 +0000

I am thrilled to stumble upon your blog and can’t wait to look at other posts. I recently released a book “Holy Cooperation!” which includes a chapter analyzing the ICA Cooperative Principles in light of all the cooperative messages from the Bible and the history inspired by them. I’ll be doing a bit of book touring next year, and would hope that you are located somewhere along my path. At the very least, we should meet for coffee.

Paradoxically, I think that unity would be better served by creating new cooperative structures outside of what we generally recognize as “churches.” That would address the concern about the random uncommitted parishoner holding up a decision, and provide for a wide range of commitment levels (with corresponding empowerment levels). The ecclesia were all-encompassing, and I think that trying to recapture their cooperative aspect within current organizations is going to run into a lot of trouble with habits of deferring to clergy.

Also, doing this work outside of the church will provide more opportunity for intercongregational work, and inclusion of people who don’t identify as followers of Jesus (but who might get interested if we are really showing them a new world of liberty AND justice).

Thanks and blessings,
Andrew

Comment on A People’s History of the Church by tom airey

tom airey — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:39:40 +0000

Jason…I love this Peoples’ History of the Church…keep this series going…I’m hungry for MORE!!!!

Comment on Church As A Co-op: 2nd Principle by j evans

j evans — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:57:16 +0000

Wayne,
Certainly, if people think that being a part of a church means showing up and warming a chair for a couple hours and that’s it, they are wrong and are not much help in moving things forward. This says more about the system that clergy have established than about those people “just showing up”. The current system exists primarily to give power to the few. This allows participants to grow complacent.

You’re church couldn’t function like a cooperative because the systems in place do not make disciples or foster healthy community. They may make people capable of making the right doctrinal statements but people are not given the wherewithal to function together in God’s mission. So, what is really impractical is the church system that empowers the few and neglects developing the lives of those that consider themselves a part of that church.

I think the manner I propose is much more practical than that. It just blows a lot of our assumptions of church out of the water.

Jason