biblical and theological resources for engaging in adaptive change bishop’s convocation lower...

BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL RESOURCES FOR ENGAGING IN RESOURCES FOR ENGAGING IN

ADAPTIVE CHANGEADAPTIVE CHANGE

Bishop’s ConvocationBishop’s Convocation

Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCALower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA

By: Craig Van Gelder, Ph.D.By: Craig Van Gelder, Ph.D.

Copyright 2011 Craig Van GelderCopyright 2011 Craig Van Gelder

What if . . . the Spirit of What if . . . the Spirit of God is in the midst of God is in the midst of

the disruption?the disruption?


THE BABYLONIAN THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITYCAPTIVITY

““Thus says the Lord of hosts, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses . . . Babylon: Build houses . . . plant gardens . . . take wives . . plant gardens . . . take wives . . . have sons and daughters . . . . have sons and daughters . . . seek the welfare of the city seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. will find your welfare. Jer. 29:4-7Jer. 29:4-7

DislocationDislocationNo temple and sacrificesNo temple and sacrificesNo national symbolsNo national symbolsLoss of familiar identityLoss of familiar identity

DiscoveryDiscoveryRe-claimed the biblical Re-claimed the biblical narrative—their true storynarrative—their true storyRe-framed the faith into a Re-framed the faith into a synagogue tradition synagogue tradition Re-located in diaspora Re-located in diaspora across known worldacross known world


THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCHTHE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH

““Now those who were Now those who were scattered because of the scattered because of the persecution that took place persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, and they spoke the Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. word to no one except Jews. But among them were some But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with The hand of the Lord was with them . . .” them . . .” (Acts 11:19-21)(Acts 11:19-21)

Jerusalem ChurchJerusalem ChurchTied to the templeTied to the templeGrace through faith plus Grace through faith plus keeping the lawkeeping the lawA Jewish-Christian faithA Jewish-Christian faith

Antioch ChurchAntioch ChurchCross-cultural gospel—Cross-cultural gospel—sending churchsending churchGrace through faith aloneGrace through faith aloneHellenization of Christian Hellenization of Christian faithfaith


THE ADAPTIVE CHANGE THE ADAPTIVE CHANGE PROCEPROCESSSS

God’s ordinary people . . .God’s ordinary people . . . Participating in Spirit-led communal Participating in Spirit-led communal

discernment . . .discernment . . . Utilizing an action-learning approach . . .Utilizing an action-learning approach . . . To engage in a variety of experiments . . .To engage in a variety of experiments . . . For discovering new ways to address the For discovering new ways to address the

adaptive challenges confronting them.adaptive challenges confronting them.


Drawing on Trinitarian Drawing on Trinitarian Perspectives for Engaging Perspectives for Engaging

Adaptive ChallengesAdaptive Challenges


The Western Tradition:The Western Tradition:God Is a Sending GodGod Is a Sending God

““For God so loved the world that God gave For God so loved the world that God gave (sent) God’s only Son . . .” (sent) God’s only Son . . .” (John 3:16)(John 3:16)

““And the Word became flesh and lived And the Word became flesh and lived among us . . .” among us . . .” (John 1:14)(John 1:14)


Reclaiming Western Tradition:Reclaiming Western Tradition:A Missionary, Sending GodA Missionary, Sending God

Western Tradition -Western Tradition - A A God Who Calls, Gathers, God Who Calls, Gathers, and Sends the Church Into and Sends the Church Into the Worldthe World – –

missio Deimissio Dei in relation to in relation to Kingdom of GodKingdom of God

Emphasis on:Emphasis on: One nature of God: One nature of God:

Economic TrinityEconomic Trinity Sending aspect of GodSending aspect of God

• Father sends SonFather sends Son• Father/Son send SpiritFather/Son send Spirit• Son through Spirit sends Son through Spirit sends

churchchurch


The Eastern Tradition:The Eastern Tradition:God Is a Relational GodGod Is a Relational God

““I ask . . . that they may all be one. As you, I ask . . . that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us . . .” they also be in us . . .” (John 17:20-21)(John 17:20-21)


Reclaiming Eastern Tradition:Reclaiming Eastern Tradition:An In-Relation GodAn In-Relation God

Eastern TraditionEastern Tradition – A – A God Who Exists as a God Who Exists as a Social CommunitySocial Community

Invites a reconciled world Invites a reconciled world into full communioninto full communion

Emphasis on:Emphasis on: The three persons of the The three persons of the

GodheadGodhead Perichoresis—the in-Perichoresis—the in-

relationship communion of relationship communion of the three persons the three persons

• RelationalityRelationality• EqualityEquality• CommunityCommunity

The Old Testament TrinityThe Old Testament Trinity (c.1411) (c.1411) icon by Andrei Rublevicon by Andrei Rublev


IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHURCH OF A IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHURCH OF A PERICHORETIC, SENDING GODPERICHORETIC, SENDING GOD

God is a relational God God is a relational God – therefore the church lives – therefore the church lives as reconciled communityas reconciled community

God is a missionary GodGod is a missionary God – therefore the church is – therefore the church is missionary by naturemissionary by nature

God has a mission in which the church God has a mission in which the church participatesparticipates Missio DeiMissio Dei – – ministry in the world for the sake of the world in ministry in the world for the sake of the world in

light of God’s creating purposeslight of God’s creating purposes Kingdom on GodKingdom on God (redemptive reign of God in Christ) – the (redemptive reign of God in Christ) – the

church becomes God’s agency of reconciliation in the worldchurch becomes God’s agency of reconciliation in the world


Addressing Adaptive Addressing Adaptive Challenges from Missional Challenges from Missional

Trinitarian PerspectivesTrinitarian Perspectives


Implication One:Implication One:The Church Is Missionary by NatureThe Church Is Missionary by Nature

The church is created by The church is created by the Spiritthe Spirit

Both Holy And HumanBoth Holy And Human

The nature/identity of the The nature/identity of the missional church informs missional church informs its doing and purposeits doing and purpose

Leadership and Leadership and organization seek to organization seek to steward God’s agencysteward God’s agency

• What is God up to?What is God up to?

• What does God desire to What does God desire to do?do?


Implication Two:Implication Two:World Is The Horizon of God’s MissionWorld Is The Horizon of God’s Mission

God has a mission in God has a mission in the world – the world – missio Deimissio Dei

Care of all creationCare of all creation Redemption brought to Redemption brought to

bear on all of lifebear on all of life

The missional church The missional church seeks to participate in seeks to participate in God’s missionGod’s mission

Leadership & Organization Leadership & Organization shaped eschatologicallyshaped eschatologically

• JBGTFJBGTF• EucharistEucharist


Implication Three:Implication Three:Every Context Is A Mission LocationEvery Context Is A Mission Location

Discovering Northern Discovering Northern America as mission America as mission fieldfield

How has God been at How has God been at work?work?

How is God at work today?How is God at work today?

Missional Leadership Missional Leadership learns to read its learns to read its contextcontext

SociologicallySociologically TheologicallyTheologically


Implication Four:Implication Four: Kenotic/Cruciform LeadershipKenotic/Cruciform Leadership

• Missional Leadership Moves from Benefactor to Missional Leadership Moves from Benefactor to Bearing—the true meaning of servant leadershipBearing—the true meaning of servant leadership

• ““Let the same mind be in you...” Let the same mind be in you...” (Philippians 2)(Philippians 2)

• Foot washing (John 13)Foot washing (John 13)• ““I am among you as one I am among you as one

who serves” (Luke 22)who serves” (Luke 22)• Transformational leadership Transformational leadership

(James MacGregor Burns, (James MacGregor Burns, LeadershipLeadership))• Giving the work back to the people Giving the work back to the people

(Heifetz & Linsky, (Heifetz & Linsky, Leadership on the LineLeadership on the Line))• ““We become most powerful whenWe become most powerful when

we give our own power away.” we give our own power away.” (Kouzes & Posner, (Kouzes & Posner, Leadership ChallengeLeadership Challenge))


Implication Five:Implication Five:The Church Is A Relational CommunityThe Church Is A Relational Community

God is a relational God is a relational community – the Social community – the Social TrinityTrinity

Leadership and Leadership and organization attend to a organization attend to a community being formed community being formed by God’s Spiritby God’s Spirit

Relational Community Relational Community formed around fruit of the formed around fruit of the SpiritSpirit

Relational Community Relational Community formed through the gifts of formed through the gifts of the Spiritthe Spirit


Implication Six:Implication Six: Cultivating a Community of DisciplesCultivating a Community of Disciples

• Forming, shaping a community of disciples Forming, shaping a community of disciples (learners) in image of divine community(learners) in image of divine community

• Baptism/Vocation—the world is the larger horizonBaptism/Vocation—the world is the larger horizon• (1(1stst order Anglican/Episcopal; office every believer CRC) order Anglican/Episcopal; office every believer CRC)

• Leadership moves from professional Leadership moves from professional expert to convener; from expert to convener; from counselor or entrepreneur counselor or entrepreneur to gardener to gardener (Scott Cormode)(Scott Cormode)


Implication Seven:Implication Seven:The Church Values DifferenceThe Church Values Difference

An “irreducible otherness” An “irreducible otherness” among the three persons among the three persons in the Godheadin the Godhead

Holiness heterogeneous Holiness heterogeneous not homogeneous not homogeneous

Missional leadership Missional leadership seeks out and includes seeks out and includes “otherness”“otherness”

Diversity is a deep valueDiversity is a deep value Learning from the “other”Learning from the “other” Experiencing reciprocityExperiencing reciprocity


Implication Eight:Implication Eight:The Church Lives in MutualityThe Church Lives in Mutuality

The relationships The relationships within the Godhead within the Godhead embrace equalityembrace equality

Leadership cultivates Leadership cultivates and organization and organization supports relationships supports relationships that are:that are: Non-hierarchicalNon-hierarchical Mutually supportiveMutually supportive ReciprocalReciprocal


Pointing Beyond OurselvesPointing Beyond Ourselves““But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”belongs to God and does not come from us.”

– – 2 Corinthians 4:72 Corinthians 4:7

““As you, Father, are in me and As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one.” they may be one, as we are one.”

– John 17:21b-22– John 17:21b-22


Discussion:Discussion:Which implication(s) best help to Which implication(s) best help to frame and address the adaptive frame and address the adaptive

challenge you identified?challenge you identified?


biblical and theological resources for engaging in adaptive change bishop’s convocation lower...

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