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A presentation for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles at Christ Church, Redondo Beach, CA
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Practicing ParadoxyExploring Incarnational Christian
Community
April 2, 2013Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Who am I?
Why is this important to me?
What do I hope to leave you with?
3 Im
porta
nt
Qu
estio
ns
Getting On Board
Who are you?
Why is this important to you?
What do you hope to leave with?
3 Im
porta
nt
Qu
estio
ns
Getting On Board
What do I hopeto leave you with?
PROVISIONAL ANSWERS
TO THREE QUESTIONS
Where are we?
How did we get here?
Where do we go from here?
Starting Places
The Transforming Power of Christ’s Love
The Reality of Death & Resurrection
Concursis Dei
Believing Our Belovedness
Overcoming Our Fear of Failure (Death)
Imanu-El (With-Us God)
Where are we now?
May You Live inINTERESTING TIMES!
Blessing?Curse?
Let me ask that a different way…
Blessing?Curse?
Riding
Drowning
It all depends on your
point of viewworld view
conceptual framework
PARADIGM
It should be the law:If you use the word ‘paradigm’
without knowing what the dictionary says it means,you go to jail.
No exceptions.
– David B. Jones, CTO of Innovative Robotics
A word about Paradigms
“A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practicesthat constitutes a way of viewing reality
for the community that shares them.”
– American Heritage Dictionary
Paradigm (Definition)
Paradigm “Shift”
Thomas Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolution
Scientific change is not INCREMENTAL
but rather occurs inMASSIVE SHIFTS
because…
Change is Non-Linear
PARADIGMSDETERMINEPERCEPTION
1. Unchallenged Dominant Paradigm2. Discrepant Data 3. Anxiety & Reactivity4. Conservative & Progressive Camps5. Demonizing of Opposition6. Dominant Paradigm Collapses 7. New Paradigm Emerges
How Scientific Paradigms Shift
Not entirely what the conservatives feared,nor entirely what the progressives proposed.
Elements of both…and neither.
In other words, paradoxical & transcendent.
Characteristicsof Emerging Paradigms
Examples of Paradigm Shifts?
EXAMPLES?
Paradigms
can be usefulwhen we recognize they are models of reality
can be harmfulwhen we confuse them with actual reality
(or truth)
Living in “Interesting” Times
A Paradigm Rummage Sale!
What’s happening in the Church?
Every 500 years,the Church feels compelledto hold a giant rummage sale
– Phyllis Tickle (quoting Mark Dyer)
The 500 Year Rummage Sale
Century SaleEarly 1st The Great IncarnationMid 5th The Great Excommunication
11th The Great Schism16th The Great Reformation21st The Great _________?
Living in “Interesting” Times
Rummage Sale
OR
Fire Sale!
(Everything Must Go!)
Signs of the Times?
Living in an Ageof
Collapsing Paradigms
Where are we now?
Three Collapsing Paradigmsof Christian Unity
ChristendomPOWER
FoundationalismCERTAINTY
Religion SECURITY
A COMMON ASSUMPTION
Unity = Uniformity
but in reality
Unity ≠ Uniformity
in realityWhenUNIFORMITYis theREQUIREMENTfor COMMUNITY
ThenDIS/UNITY
is the RESULT
Uniformity = Us vs. Them
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
USUS
US
US
US
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
Christianity as a Bounded Set
How does knowing these things help us?
perhaps a little
humilityabout our
UNDERSTANDING OF GODthe nature of paradigms means
we’re all a little bit wrong
perhaps a little
understandingabout
WHAT WE’RE GOING THROUGHanxiety & reactivity
are natural responses to paradigm shifts
perhaps a little
insightinto our
BLIND SPOTSliberal: a conservative who’s been muggedconservative: a liberal who’s been arrested
perhaps a little
Compassion for our
FELLOW TRAVELERSall of us are trying to find a path into our
future that does not leave behindthe heart of who we are
Recognize/ResistAnxious Reactivity
Respond to change withmore compassion
Recognize/Resisttendency to demonize
Deal with opponentsnot as enemies
but as fellow travelerswhose insights we need
How did we get here?
Century SaleEarly 1st The Great IncarnationMid 5th The Great Excommunication
11th The Great Schism16th The Great Reformation21st The Great _________?
Living in “Interesting” Times
Paradigms of Unity
Paradigm Premise Presumption Prognosis
Christendom PowerPower
w/o Corruption
Deadbut
not buried
Foundationalism CertaintyRationality
w/oSin
Auto-Immune
Syndrome
Religion SecurityStability
w/oDeath
Imagine no
Religion
Foundationalism:Two Paths to Certainty
Outside-In (Locke)
Process
Objective observation of outside world
ProgenyModern scienceModern Fundamentalism(Inerrant Scripture)
Inside-Out (Descartes)
Process
Objective analysis of internal experience
ProgenyModern philosophy
Liberal Biblical Analysis(If in doubt, throw it out)
Questions for Contemplation
In what ways might these collapsing paradigms be continuing to affect:• Your ministry?• Your congregation’s ministry?• Your diocese’s ministry?• Your denominations ministry?
Where do we go from here?
Tools for the journey
THE QUESTION
When Our Old ParadigmsCollapse…WHAT WILL REMAIN?
What will put theUNITY
in Christian COMMUNITY?
The Shift
PowerLove
Certainty
SecurityHope
Faith
Sound Familiar?
We’ve always known these applied to individual Christians.
What would it be likeif we applied them
TO THE CHURCH?
the answer is…
YES!
(It all depends on your diagnosis)
May You Live in Interesting Times!Curse or Blessing?
If you think you have to
REPAIRthe Church
Turbulent Timescan seem like a
CURSE
If you think WE are called
RE-PARADIGMthe Church with God’s help
Then we can beginto see the changes we are facing as
BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE
CURSEBLESSINGThe
PARADOXat the heart of the
GOSPEL
So where do we start?
FAITH + HOPE + LOVE
What would it be likeif we applied them
TO THE CHURCH?
Orthodoxy is my doxy.Heterodoxy is another man's doxy.
William WarburtonEnglish literary critic and churchman, 1698-1779
(Bishop of Gloucester from 1759)
The ProblemOrthodoxy has come to mean
different things to different people.
ForConservative Christians
ORTHODOXYhas come to mean
HOLDING THE RIGHT BELIEFS
“Propositional Orthodoxy”or
“ORTHOPROXY”
ForLiberal Christians
ORTHODOXYhas come to mean
LIVING RIGHT PRACTICES
“Ethical Orthodoxy”or
“ORTHOPRAXY”
to moveINTO OUR FUTURE
taking with usTHE HEART OF WHAT WE ARE
we need a new way of thinkingabout
ORTHODOXY
a way that recognizes thatORTHOPROXY & ORTHOPRAXY
are just TWO DIFFERENT SHELLS
for protecting the samePEARL OF GREAT PRICE
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
ARadical Paradoxical
MIDDLEWAY
A THIRD WAY OF BEING CHRISTIAN
thatTRANSCENDS
LIBERAL & CONSERVATIVE
and thus includesBOTH
Not aCOMPROMISE
for the sake of peace
But a(paradoxical)
COMPREHENSIONfor the sake of truth
Getting to the Root ofORTHODOXY
ORTHO (lit. “Right”) + DOXY (lit. “Praise”)=
“RIGHT PRAISE” or
“APPROPRIATE RESPONSE”(to the incarnate presence of God)
a
Radical Focuson the
Incarnation
call it“INCARNATIONAL ORTHODOXY”
or“INCARNATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY”
or simply“PARADOXY”
WHAT IS ANAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE?
(to the incarnate presence of God)
Awe & WonderOverflowing Love
Yearning to WorshipDesire for Relationship
Promising Principlesof a New Way of Being Church
Oneness in Christ
Law of Love over Love of Law
Transformational Living
Radical Hospitality/Agape Relationships
Organism over Organization
Inclusive/Interdependent Community
Oneness in ChristI am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Christ came not to Teach the Truth nor to Live the Truth but to BE the TRUTH
Christ’s loveis the only sufficient basisfor Christian community
As Christ’sadopted family
we are stuck with each other(“Walton’s Mountain” Theology)
Law of Love over Love of LawThis is my commandment: that you love one another.
Fundamentalistsabout the Law of Love
Christ’s lovecreates community
Christ’s communitymanifests love
Transformational LivingIf anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation
Curbing OurDogma
EmbracingDivine Mystery
Emersion IntoNew Creation
(If Christ, so what?)
Curbing Our Dogma
Radical Hospitality/Agape Relationships
The one thing truly worthwhile is becoming God’s friend.
Non-ProselytizingEvangelism
RadicalHospitality
Love To TellThe Story
Organism over OrganizationThere are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Member-DrivenVision & Mission
Gifts-BasedLeadership & Organization
ProvisionalStructures & Processes
Church as Fractal Organism
Vestry Worship
5pm
11am
9am
Choir
Christian Educ.
AdultTeen
Sunday School
K-6
Middle School
Pre-K
?TaizeAdult
?
Outreach LocalIntl
?
Inclusive/Interdependent Community
When I am lifted up… I will draw all people to myself.
Community as aCentered Set
Clear Focus onWHO
is at the Center
Boundaries few/lowNo Tests for Admission
(Incarnational Community)
Centered-Set Christian Community
US
JESUS CHRIST
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
Community w/o Boundaries
God is a circle whose center is
E V E R Y W H E R Eand whose circumference is
n o w h e r e
EmpedoclesGreek philosopher, ca 490-430 BCE
RIGHT BELIEFand
RIGHT PRACTICEare
NOT UNIMPORTANTjust
SECONDARY
FAITH
Our faith is not in Doctrine(believing things about Christ)
Our faith is not in Practice(trying to live like Christ)
Our faith is in Relationship(loving the incarnate person of Christ)
the Church’s one foundation
HOPE
Christ’s love transforms(the Community and the Creation)
Changing hearts is Christ’s job, not ours(we set aside our need to convert others)
Our job is to make Christ’s love tangible. (we welcome all unconditionally)
if anyone is in Christ, there is a New Creation
LOVE
Christ’s love for us creates Christian community(everything else is secondary)
We welcome and engage diversity(love where it “shouldn’t” be -- a sign of the Holy Spirit)
We believe Christ’s love for us has made us a family (we are stuck with each other even when we disagree)
We are Fundamentalists about the Law of Love(love God, love each other, the rest is commentary)
the greatest of these
Questions?
Questions for Contemplation
Imagine what your church would it would feel like for your church to leave behind the paradigms of Security, Certainty, and Power (Control), and move toward becoming a community based on Faith, Hope, and Love.• What is the cost of becoming a new kind of community?• What is the promise?• What is the cost of staying as you are?• What is the promise?
So What?
So what does all this look like
IN PRACTICE?
So What?
It DependsOn Congregational Vision & Mission
On Congregational Charism & CallOn Community Context
So What?
D.Y.O.D.(Do Your Own Discernment)
I can’t do it for you……but I can provide a framework
3-Step Discernment Process
1. Ministry Transformation Inquiry (Repeat PRN)• Review Paradoxy-Ministry Matrix.• Choose a Paradoxy Principle that calls out.• Imagine what each ministry area looks like if applied.
2. People-Gifts Inquiry (Repeat PRN)• Review People-Gifts Matrix.• Choose a Leadership Gift that calls out.• Imagine who in your congregation might have that gift.
3. People-Ministry Midrash (Repeat PRN)• Review People-Gifts Matrix & Paradoxy-Ministry Matrix.• Let the two matrices “wrestle” & see what emerges,
An Exercise to Try
• Review the Paradoxy Ministry Matrix.• Pick a Paradoxy Principle that calls out to you.• Imagine what your church’s various ministry
areas would look like (how they would change) as you applied that principle.
(free association is encouraged)
Setting Sail
Deming on Change
You don’t have to change...…survival is not mandatory
Keeping Our Balance
Unrealistic Optimismbalanced with
Realistic Expectations
Keeping Our Balance
Salah al-Din and the Sparrow
Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and leader of the fight against the armies of the Crusades, was out riding his warhorse near Jerusalem one day when he came upon a tiny little sparrow, lying in the middle of the road with its feet in the air.
At first Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn thought the sparrow dead, but as he drew closer he discovered that the bird was alive and had assumed the position on purpose.
“Little sparrow,”
said Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,
“Why do you lie in the middle of the road with your feet in the air?”
“O great and mighty Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,”
said the sparrow(since everyone knew the great Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn),
“I am holding up the sky.”
“Little sparrow,”
said Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,
“Why would a tiny creature like yourself want hold up the sky?”
“O great and mighty Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,”
said the sparrow,
“I am holding up the sky because I heard it was falling.”
“Tiny sparrow,”
said Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,now mocking the little bird,
“How could one as small as you, with your spindly little legs, have any hope of holding up the sky?”
“One does what one can,”
said the sparrow,
“One does what one can.”
Closing Prayer
Grant that we may maintainthat middle way,not as a compromise for the sake of peace,but as a comprehension for the sake of truth;through Jesus Christ our Lord… Amen.
Lesser Feasts and Fasts (TEC, 2006)
This work is licensed under the Creative CommonsAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License.
To view a copy of this license, visit: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
byThe Rev. Ken Howard
www.PracticingParadoxy.com Germantown, Maryland
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