DRAFT

“Developing Leaders in Hard Places.”

Onramps

DRAFT

Table of ContentsW

1. Welcome Aboard! Who’s Here?

2. Destination: Where Are We Going?

3. GPS Navigation: How Do We Engage our City Contextually?

4. Major Boulevards: What Perspectives Connect us to Life in the City?

5. Bright Lights and Dark Alleys: What Hazards & Roadside Assistance Awaits?

Wrong TurnsTextual OnrampsTraveling Temptations

6. Roadside Inns: When Do We rest?

7. Gas Stations: How Do We Access Resources?

8. Sending: Who Will Send Us?

DRAFTA global training collaborative that equips the head, heart and handsof urban leaders and organizations, who seek the social and spiritual renewal of cities.

Our vision is drawn from Jesus’ first public address in Luke 4:18-19, which speaks of good news and liberation for the poor.

DRAFT

Mission

The Urban Training Collaborative is a dynamic global training collaborative that equips the head (Reflection), heart (Discernment) and hands (Action) of urban community leaders and organizations who seek the social and spiritual renewal of cities.

Vision

This vision is drawn from Jesus’ first public address in Luke 4:18-19, which speaks of good news and liberation for the poor.

 

Core Outcomes

Train more urban leaders to more effectively seek the shalom of their cities through social and spiritual transformation, with special attention to the most vulnerable communities.

 

Develop, strengthen, and sustain more organizations that seek the shalom of their cities (Local Leadership Foundations, city-wide organizations, community-based organizations).

 

Leverage financial resources to more effectively sustain spiritual and social transformation of cities.

DRAFTModel of Transformation

“Give me a lever and a place to stand I will move the world.” (Archimedes) Transforming Practice - A Way of Doing - Three Functions

Engage Leaders From All Sectors

Develop Joint Initiatives

Build Capacity

Transforming Perspective - A Way of Seeing - M’s of Mission

Message – Scarcity to Abundance

Method – Theory Above to Incarnational Practice Below

Manner – Rivalry to Peacemaking

Messenger – Fear to Freedom

Transforming Presence - A Way of Being - Global Eucharistic Community

Contemplative Activists

Ecumenical Discerners

Engaged Peacemakers

DRAFTTransforming Assumptions

1. Impossibility to Normalcy is Normative.

2. Orientation – Disorientation – Reorientation. (Liminal Space).

3. Relationship is the Vehicle of Transformation

4. Desire Fuels Transformation

5. Gateways – Prayer, Praise and Pain.

6. The Unbounded Spirit is at work in the city inviting us to play.

7. The Gift of the Enemy.

8. The Power of Love.

DRAFT1. Destination

Where are we Going?

I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21:2)

Towards a city that is coming to us.

DRAFTFeatures of the New

Jerusalem1.A Gift being given. Coming down…(the hard work of this is on God, not us)

2. NOW, HERE, THIS. (“I am making all things new…now (v. 5). The city is of “this world” a concrete reality, not an other worldly abstraction. It’s happening now, it’s happening here and it’s happening in this world.

3. A City That Bears the Wounds of Creation: The (Slain) Lamb is the head of the city. (v. 9) The one who bears the wounds of creation eternally is the author of new creation.

4. No Temple: No need for a particular place, because of the reality of God’s presence in all places. (v. 22)

5. Human and Divine Glory: Our glory is incorporated into the new city. Vs. 24 (The glory of this city reflects the glory of Jesus who is both human and divine.

What qualities of the New Jerusalem (City of Peace) speaks loudest in your context?

DRAFT

The City as Magnet & Magnifier

The Global City

Exporting Culture

Importing

The Nations

MediaRelocatio

n

Fleei

ng

Opportunity

Oppression Seekin

g

DRAFTCity as Mirror

The city is the most

accurate reflection of

humanity at its best

and worst.

Cities are a mirror of our societies, a part of our economy, an element of our environment. But above all else they are a measure of our ability to live with each other. When we examine our cities we examine ourselves. (J.R. Short, The urban order: an introduction to cities, culture, and power.)

DRAFT

City Psalm The killings continue, each secondpain and misfortune extend themselvesin the genetic chain, injustice is done knowingly, and the airbears the dust of decayed hopes,yet breathing those fumes, walking the throngedpavements among crippled lives, jackhammersraging, a parking lot painfully agleamin the May sun, I have seennot behind but within, within thedull grief, blown grit, hideousconcrete facades, another grief, a gleamas of dew, an abode of mercy,have heard not behind but within noisea humming that drifted into a quiet smile.Nothing was changed, all was revealed otherwise;not that horror was not, not that killings did not continue,but that as if transparent all disclosedan otherness that was blessed, that was bliss.I saw Paradise in the dust of the street.

Denise Levertov