- Exercising Authority without Exercising Authority: Alan Knox ponders Jesus teaching that his disciples “not exercise authority over one another” and asks, “How can we exercise authority without exercising authority? In other words, how can elders exercise authority over other followers of Jesus while living according to Jesus’ teaching in this area?” This certainly seems contradictory of Jesus, but is it?
- Fresh Expressions of Church Among the Maasai?: John Bowen points his readers to Christianity Rediscovered, a book by Vincent Donovan and updates the outcomes, wondering, “Was Donovan’s work then simply an inspiring but naïve experiment, doomed to failure?”
- Rethink Church: A Collaborative Sermon: Adam Walker Cleaveland asks his readers to collaborate on his Sept 6 sermon. A number of folks chime in and the discussion includes suggestions and some give and take about the lectionary.
- The worst evangelical heresy?: Doug Chaplin, AKA clayboy, wonders whether the red letter bible is the worst evangelical heresy.
- Wendell Berry’s 17 Rules for Committees: Robert Campbell lists Berry’s rules and asks, “What do you think of Berry’s rules? How would you alter them as a Christian?” One rule caught my eye: “Always ask how local needs might be supplied from local sources, including the mutual help of neighbors.”
Ecclesiology Wrap: August 29 to September 4
– September 6, 2009Posted in: Spiritual Health
About the Author
My name is Laura and I am on a journey, pondering the implications of God's glorious design of humanity and integrating four aspects of this design—spiritual, intellectual, affective, and physical health—into a description of whole life health. 
Laura, that question from Berry is is one of the important ones for me too. Berry, though questionable in many areas, has really helped me in this one. It is easy to be arrogant as a Pastor and think in ideals rather live with real people in a real place. Real people always have names. Real people’s needs are effected by choices. Where I live I can purchase much of needs locally, from people I know. You know what? You dont pay as much attention to price when the money is going to friends and neighbors. You don’t comparison shop. Saving $.50 almost becomes immoral when you know the person whose pocket it comes out of. Hmmm. Thanks for pointing this one out. Its got me thinking again.
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Robert,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about neighborhood, as can be seen in some of the posts of recent weeks, and have discovered a distinct lack of intentionality in my own practice and in the ministry I help lead. The quote from Berry further stimulated my thinking and it’s something I’ll be bringing to my fellows for dialogue: how do we do this as a faith community and as individual persons?
Thank you for posting the list.
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