The truth of myth...?

Interesting thoughts by Buechner!

The raw material of a myth, like the raw material of a dream, may be something that actually happened once. But myths, like dreams, do not tell us much about that kind of actuality. The creation of man, Adam and Eve, the Tower of Babel, Oedipus - they do not tell us primarily about events. They tell us about ourselves. In poplar usage, a myth has come to mean a story that is not true. Historically speaking that may well be so. Humanly speaking, a myth is a story that is always true. (Frederick Buechner)

Community, a Quality of the Heart

Found this from Nouwen both challenging and helpful.
"The word community has many connotations, some positive, some negative. Community can make us think of a safe togetherness, shared meals, common goals, and joyful celebrations. It also can call forth images of sectarian exclusivity, in-group language, self-satisfied isolation, and romantic naiveté. However, community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Community is the fruit of our capacity to make the interests of others more important than our own (see Philippians 2:4). The question, therefore, is not "How can we make community?" but "How can we develop and nurture giving hearts?"

Books 2011...

Bussell, D., & Mackrell, J. (1998). Life in dance. London: Century.
• Runcorn, D. (2003)Choice, Desire and the will of God.SPCK
• Hauerwas, S (1983) The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer in Christian Ethics.
• MacLaren, B. (2011) Naked spirituality : a life with God in 12 simple words
• Ellul, J. (1986). The subversion of Christianity . Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.
• Holmes, U. T. (2002). A history of Christian spirituality: an analytical introduction. New York: Seabury Press..
• Larsson, S., & Keeland, R. (2009). The girl who played with fire . New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
• Larsson, S., & Keeland, R. (2010). The girl who kicked the hornet's nest. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.  
• Larsson, S., & Keeland, R. (2008). The girl with the dragon tattoo. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
• Hampson, M. (2005). Head versus heart and our gut reactions: the 21st century enneagram : mapping the different ways we engage with the world. Winchester, UK: O Books.
• Riso, D. R., & Hudson, R. (1996). Personality types: using the enneagram for self-discovery (Rev. ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• Ware, C. (1997). Connecting to God: nurturing spirituality through small groups. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute
• McLaren, B. D. (2010). A new kind of Christianity: ten questions that are transforming the faith. New York: HarperOne
• Hirsch, A., & Hirsch, D. (2010). Untamed: reactivating a missional form of discipleship. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.
• Thompson, J., Pattison, S., & Thompson, R. (2008). SCM studyguide to theological reflection . London: SCM Press
• Nouwen, H. J. (2007). The selfless way of Christ: downward mobility and the spiritual life. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
• Ware, C. (1995). Discover your spiritual type a guide to individual and congregational growth. Bethesda, Md.: Alban Institute.
• Wright, N. T. (2010). Virtue reborn . London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
• Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. New Haven: Yale University Press.
• Scazzero, P. (2006). Emotionally healthy spirituality: unleash a revolution in your life in Christ. Nashville, TN: Integrity
• Sjogren, S. (1993). Conspiracy of kindness . Ann Arbor, Mich.: Vine Books.
• Moltmann, J. (2010). Sun of righteousness, arise!: God's future for humanity and the earth. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 

Wouldn't want to lose

• Wright, N. T. (2010). Virtue reborn . London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
• Scazzero, P. (2006). Emotionally healthy spirituality: unleash a revolution in your life in Christ. Nashville, TN: Integrity
•  Hauerwas, S (1983) The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer in Christian Ethics.

Open Evangelicalism....

Interesting conversation sent me looking for this article - thanks Malcolm!

Towards a definition of "Open Evangelical"

"Open evangelical" is a term that has emerged in the context of evangelical Anglicanism in the UK. Broadly speaking it is those who see themselves as heirs of the Keele Congress of 1967, when evangelical Anglicans committed themselves to work in the mainstream of the Church of England, who would want to wear that label. "Open evangelical" is usually defined over against "conservative evangelical", although open evangelicals would claim to be conservative on scripture and radical on everything else.

What are open evangelicals in the Church of England open to ?

1. Biblical scholarship
(Believing scripture to be inspired, but not wishing to wear the inerrantist label, and content to accept that theology is a positive gift to the church, and that hermeneutics are essential to the task of understanding an inspired scripture).

2. Cultural change
An unchanging gospel must be proclaimed in a variety of cultural contexts, and to be open is to be culturally aware and adaptable.

3. Other theological traditions
Open evangelicals would accept that others not owning the evangelical label are also Christians, and would want to learn from them.

4. Holistic mission
Most open evangelicals are convinced that evangelism and social action go hand in hand, and that the motivation for social and political engagement is God's activity and calling to people and churches, and not merely a means of pre-evangelism.

5. The Church of England
A majority of evangelical Anglicans would want to wear the label that way round, with "evangelical" as the adjective that defines "Anglican". This entails a commitment to the structures and ecclesiology of the Church of England.

6. The full ministry of women in the church
Open evangelicals supported the ordination of women to the priesthood (the conservatives didn't), and would argue from scripture that women can be both priests and bishops, and take their full part in the Church of England's ministry.

7. Evangelism
To be an open evangelical is to believe that every structure in the church must pass the acid test "does this further the mission of God?" There is no point in the church being there for its own sake. It is only there as sign of the Kingdom.

8. The World
Open evangelicals are basically world affirming. They believe that the role of the Church of England is to be the church for the whole country, and that to be committed to that view entails working with the grain of society rather than against it.

9. New patterns of worship, prayer, and liturgy
Experiment in the area of worship is a hallmark of open evangelical Anglicanism. They have been in the forefront of devising new liturgy, writing new songs, and encouraging new patterns of worship.

10. God
It is probably the case that open evangelicals have a view of God that sees him more as an agent of change than as a defender of the status quo...

more here

Back from Swanwick....

Good couple of days meeting up with friends and colleagues.

Felt thoroughly affirmed by John Reads session on mission and came home with a great Catherine Booth quote definin mission which I now need to source:

"Mission is Jesus Christ come in the flesh again in his people. Living out before the the world his principles acting upon his precepts living for the same objects for which he lived." (Catherine Booth)

Two ways to pray...

• There is an immature petition that renders God my personal assistant or fixer or genii, the omnipotent enforcer of my will on earth pp 128

or

• The best way to pray is: stop. Let prayer pray within you, whether you know it or not. This means a deep awareness of our true inner identity. It implies a life of faith, but also doubt. You can't have faith without doubt. Give up the business of suppressing doubt. Doubt and faith are two sides of the same thing. Faith will grow out of doubt, the real doubt. We don't pray right because we evade doubt. (Thomas merton) pp 200

MacLaren, B. (2011) Naked spirituality : a life with God in 12 simple words

The Salvation Army's International Vision....

General Linda Bond launched her mission vision for TSA, love the emphasis on integrated mission and marginalised!

ONE ARMY: We see a God-raised, Spirit-filled Army for the 21st century - convinced of our calling, moving forward together

We will...

• deepen our spiritual life
• unite in prayer
• identify and develop leaders
• increase self-support and self-denial

ONE MISSION: Into the world of the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed and lost, reaching them in love by all means

We will...

• emphasise our integrated ministry
• reach and involve youth and children
• stand for and serve the marginalised
• encourage innovation in mission

ONE MESSAGE: With the transforming message of Jesus, bringing freedom, hope and life

We will...

• communicate Christ unashamedly
• reaffi rm our belief in transformation
• evangelise and disciple eff ectively
• provide quality teaching resources