If you have not discovered Pastor Rod White’s blog, simply titled Rod’s Blog, consider this your introduction. Pastor Rod’s writing will consistently inform, challenge and inspire you. He publishes posts regularly too. So it will definitely be worth your subscription. Rod is a pastor at Circle of Hope, a BIC Church in Philadelphia.
Incidentally, A few of us from Inner Metro Green had the privilege of traveling with our Bishop to Philly to hang out with Pastor Rod and Pastor Joshua from Circle of Hope. They smacked us around a bit, which was the most edifying thing that we have had done to us in quite some time. It was a really good meeting and they helped us clarify our goals and refocus our own mission here in Lancaster City. I have a deep respect for both of these guys. And I plan on introducing Joshua’s blog soon too (or you can find it yourself on the Circle page). For now, I’d like to direct your attention to an excerpt from pastor Rod’s blog, which was written in 2004 in an article cleverly – or maybe subversively – titled: I’m Not Sure We Are Postmodern (Presented to the BIC Study Conference, March 5, 2004).
I don’t think about being emerging or postmodern when I struggle with ministry to the many gay people in my neighborhood or the few in the congregation. I finally spoke a message one time about “Why We Don’t Have a Gay Policy,” since nearly all the gay people who made a relationship wanted to know if we were “friendly” or not. I tell them that our understanding of God’s work in every situation is somewhat provisional and always relational, so we don’t make policies about people. We deliver good news, person to person, in love. So off the top of my head, I know we are walking with a couple of closeted, celibate men. We have watched a couple of men leave their wives to live with their lovers and been there for the aftermath. And we have had a couple of women toying with being lesbians, one who is dating a musician who is on tour right now.
I don’t think about being emerging or postmodern when I promote a dispersed leadership among a multiplicity of relatively anarchic cell groups. People sometimes ask me, “Why doesn’t Circle of Hope have any elders? How is the discipline meted out?” I often ask, “What are you talking about? This is the most accountable church you’ve ever been in. There is a 1-10 ratio of leader to led.” They don’t usually note that. They are more likely to notice that we have sort of internalized a generational disdain for large systems that are run by power-protecting old men. In our network of 30 or so cells, we only have 3 leaders over 40, and I am one of them. My wife, Gwen, is another. 16 of them are under 30. 43% are women. They are not all put together. Our “elders” are rather unprofessional. A man who was once my apprentice Cell Leader, Joshua Grace, is now the 25-year-old pastor of our newest congregation, brought to you by the Atlantic Conference BIC — God bless their loving and risking hearts! On the other hand, one of my former Cell Leader apprentices married a dysfunctional North Korean while serving in China and dropped out of life altogether.
I don’t think about being emerging or postmodern when I organize the teaching in the congregation. We are a body full of teachers; gifted people rise up and get larger recognition all the time. We are not gathered around a talking head who gives the others their talking points for the week. (although that might allow for some helpful consistency!). I think a lot of young churches these days claim to be “postmodern” because they are full of niche consumers of new hip brands of the same old church stuff. They opened the doors to more media, more savvy product, better graphics, no dress code, louder music. This is all good and I think it appeals to the mainstream out there who can’t ever see themselves submitting to more guilt-inducing lectures from dubiously qualified lecturers who are backed up by secret boards sponsoring worn-out traditions. But I’m not sure the new brand really allows room to meet the new age we are entering. Is merely changing your label postmodern or just good capitalism? I’m not sure it is Christian.
Great thoughts, all of them. Be sure to check out Rod’s Blog for yourself. Subscribe! There is so much to glean there. Happy perusing!
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