Church as a Co-op
My friend Jason Evans just began an interesting series of posts on using the structure of co-ops as a lens for better understanding church in a way that transforms people and society. He included a quote from Moltmann that is fascinating:
"If Christianity is to become aware of what it is, we must abandon the pastoral church, which takes care of people, which is the usual form of the Western church. Instead, we have to call to life a Christian community church. Either we set about this church reform by ourselves, or it will be forced on us by the loss of church members."
And I love Jason's follow-up comment:
"What Moltmann implies is that we have built a church system that is dependent upon the professional, in his words, this is the “pastoral church”. In this environment, the professional, the clergy provide spiritual goods and services to the many. Lay people become consumers and their faith, a casual hobby. What would it look like if we re-imagined all members as clergy–as those called to co-create Christian communities amidst the world?"
Good stuff. Go read it!
"If Christianity is to become aware of what it is, we must abandon the pastoral church, which takes care of people, which is the usual form of the Western church. Instead, we have to call to life a Christian community church. Either we set about this church reform by ourselves, or it will be forced on us by the loss of church members."
And I love Jason's follow-up comment:
"What Moltmann implies is that we have built a church system that is dependent upon the professional, in his words, this is the “pastoral church”. In this environment, the professional, the clergy provide spiritual goods and services to the many. Lay people become consumers and their faith, a casual hobby. What would it look like if we re-imagined all members as clergy–as those called to co-create Christian communities amidst the world?"
Good stuff. Go read it!
posted by Mike Bishop at 9:13 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks Mike. That's a great Moltmann quote. Another reason that I must get his book off my shelf and read it. I have a friend down here - Alan Jamieson actually - who's doing a second PhD om hope and Moltmann is one of his key conversation partners.
I didn't recognise Jason when I read his blog post - His face is thinner, he's greyer and now has glasses!
I do hope that all is well with you, Amber and the children. Love to all.
Paul
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