The picture to the right shows how full spectrum light is filtered so that only yellow light emerges on the other side. This picture helps explain how the appropriate people get into an MRT.When Kent and I started this MRT Experiment, we sent out a description of what it would involve to friends in 11 regions. We asked everyone to watch the introductory video on the blog site and ask the Lord if they should join. Nine of those regions self-selected in. Two regions self-selected out.
Then, friends in three other regions (Aurora, CO; Western Slope of Colorado; and England) indicated interest so we asked them to go through the same process of reading and watching and praying. As a result of this self-selection or self-filtering, we now have 12 regions committed to the MRT Experiment.
What are we "filtering" for? People with an apostolic (church planting) calling who resonate with the rhythms of the Experiment.
Chris and Sean in the UK, at their own initiative (I love it!), are continuing the process. Here's part of an email Chris sent me:
This is just to keep you updated with CO2 and MRT news from our part of the UK. Below is a message I sent out to the few dozen house church people I know who live within an hours drive of Sean and me. We're agreed that we should invite others to join our weekly MRT sessions so I invited everyone on the basis they'll self select. If we end up with an extra two or three people with an 'apostolic' inclination joining us for the meetings I'll be well pleased. Any that do join us we'll introduce to the MRT blog so they can be fully on board with the experiment.
We have just four small simple churches meeting in St Neots and Huntingdon, four churches from a population of about 60 000 or so. (How does that ratio compare with yours in Denver?) Then there are some larger ICs that we have not, so far, invited to join the experiment. I don't say we won't - but so far I don't feel it's time to take that step.
Your comments on this process of self selecting for MRTs?
John
John and I used self-selection independently, this seems awesome to me, it's also encouraging. John used it when he invited groups to join the experiment, I used it to invite individuals to an existing group. Is it pure coincidence? Why did we do it? John will answer for himself, but here's what lies behind it for me.
ReplyDeleteIf I select people that I think are 'apostolic', I am building the church my way, making choices that are Christ's, not mine. I am appointing people, taking authority, making myself a manager and an adjudicator. I dare not do such a thing! I will have to account for my actions one day.
Better that I invite everyone and feed them the information they need to make proper choices for themselves. (This does not preclude the Spirit guiding me to invite particular people.)
I'd like to ask everyone here on MRT, are there dangers with this approach? What are the risks of scattering the invitations out to everyone? Do we need safeguards? If so what safeguards can we put in place?
What do you think?
Great comments, Chris! And, an excellent question you have posed to us. I look forward to what other will have to say.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to discuss on this issue of self selection. Here are a few other things I've been thinking about:
1. Who to invite? Even here I come back to the principle of listening. I try and listen to the Lord and invite those He brings to mind.
2. What are they invited to? For me, it's a combination of inviting people but also inviting them into something. What I mean is that early on I would just invite a group of people together without any specifics. What I found was that we would then spend the next year discussing what it was that we were supposed to do (and rarely actually do anything!). So, being clear about what you are inviting them into seems important whether it's an invitation to an individual house church or our MRT Experiment.
3. Practices that embody values. What we are inviting people into are practices or rhythms, not just values. Alan Hirsch said it well in "The Forgotten Ways": "We would not develop a philosophy of ministry per se, but rather a covenant and some core practices. Behind this thinking was the belief that when we talk about core values, the appeal is to the head...What we wanted was to covenant outselves to a set of practices that embodied the core values and demonstrated it." p. 46
John, regarding engagement with this community, I have appreciated your call to a daily contribution to the experiment (5 minutes of "email time", regular, prayerful engagement with our MRT team, etc). This has been an expectation from the beginning - something we knew we'd be doing right from the moment we said to you all, "I'm in!"
ReplyDeleteThis principle-- knowing some of the parameters and expectations for what we are opting into-- is as essential as members who opt-in.
One question I have is - how do you really know what you're getting into if the community has not yet formed? I know you and Kent had some dreams for this community- and I hope many of them play out - but I also hope that this learning community takes on a life of its own, taking the learning to who knows where...that changes the "clear expectations" rule that made it so easy for our Chicago team to join. So how do you give people a clear picture of what it means to join, and yet leave the community open enough to allow it to fit the changing shape of the group?
Just thinking out loud...
Good question Mark, what are the measurements of success? and what are the goals beyond learning through practice?
ReplyDeleteMy sense is that the goals are to equip us with attentive posture to the Spirit and then to equip us to get involved in His work. As of now it seems like our collective assumption is that when we do this the other "important" things fall in line--and possibly lead to revival. The goal is leaders joining to pursue God and His leadership. The measurement is through stories of engagement with God in many manifestations. Is this what you all see as well?
I am an inviter. I think most apostolic types are naturally. I believe I am learning that as I mature I learn more about patient discernment. I have had to let some go recently that I am pretty sure were apostles. I also had a self-proclaimed apostle come visit this week who I am pretty sure is more prophet than apostle. I think we do have a role in helping others discern, though we may not have a completely accurate or authoritative sense. Would most of you say your natural inclination is to be optimistic or skeptical when you first meet a possible apostle?
In many ways I think the "pearls before swine" proverb applies anywhere that God has gifted a vision or calling to someone. He will give wisdom and clarity and direction for casting a precious idea out to someone - and I do think there is a certain responsibility to "steward" these types of things with His guidance. If we don't then we spend quite a lot of time trying to explain the pearls or recovering them from the "swine" ;)
ReplyDeleteEverything about what God does is this organic - when the fruit is ripe it practically falls off the tree - why wrestle to get unripe fruit?
Mark said...
ReplyDeleteOne question I have is - how do you really know what you're getting into if the community has not yet formed?
My response...
Mark, I think there is actually a broader question - how exactly are communities formed in Scripture?
My thinking on this goes back to the simple equation of "church (or community) = family". Gehring's book ("House Church and Mission") really solidified my thinking on this. In the NT, the "ekklesia" was always birthed and functioned in the context of the "oikos".
From that starting point, we next see that the church/community is always birthed in the "household" (and heart) of a man (or woman or couple) of peace. (Lk. 10:6) A "family" then forms around what is in the heart of that individual (could be more than one person). That's where the "filters" come from. The message is: "This is where I'm headed with the Lord. See if He wants you to join me." This is how the MRT Community has been formed and I think it's how any house church should be formed.
Mark said...
I also hope that this learning community takes on a life of its own, taking the learning to who knows where...that changes the "clear expectations" rule that made it so easy for our Chicago team to join. So how do you give people a clear picture of what it means to join, and yet leave the community open enough to allow it to fit the changing shape of the group?
My comment...
At the end of our three month Experiment we'll all talk about how it went and what we learned. What worked? What didn't work? What could we improve? Do we want to continue the Experiment? Invite others into it?
I believe that out of that conversation the Lord's direction for us will emerge. But, who decides what that is? The community obviously is hugely important but who decides what God is saying through the community? To ask this another way, can a "learning community take on a life of it's own" without any leadership at all?
Clay Shirkey is one of the great observers of the social media that are emerging. Here's his answer to our question: "... a basic truth of social systems: no effort at creating group value can be successful without some form of governance... The rewards and restraints (JW: for us, the rhythms/practices, the "clear expectations"?) can be quite simple and small, but in big groups with relatively anonymous actors, they need to be there or behaviour will decay over time." ("Here Comes Everybody", p. 283-284)
In our case, that minimal "goverance" at this point comes through the LK10 Leadership Team (Kent Smith, Tim Pynes, Tod Brown and myself). This is where the "clear expectations" will come from for the next stage of the Experiment. Based on those expectations, everyone can self select again and decide if they want to continue with the MRT Community or not.
Your thoughts?
I appreciate your leadership John, Kent, Tim and Tod.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering how I want to check in with all of you MRTers this morning :) I find myself hungry for more of your stories. What is the Lord saying to you about your place of ministry?
In my listening time this morning, I felt like it was a call back to my need for sabbath for the purpose of trust and rest in the Lord. The image of the man killed for picking up wood in the OT came to mind. It was a gentle message for me, but with that image comes a serious call. The image came in part due to our MRT meeting last week at the Duffeyroll Cafe. Tim shared something about that story with us. It must be lingering.
"This is where I'm headed with the Lord. See if He wants you to join me." --- I like that John. I might begin speaking in these terms to some of the folk here in Chicago. Thanks...
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about leadership as a flock of birds in V-Formation lately - rotating leadership - but leadership nonetheless. Each bird knows where North is - but they need a leader to brave the wind first. And, after a time, he/she needs to back off and let another bird step up, and another... this allows the whole flock to go farther, faster...
"This is where I'm headed with the Lord. See if He wants you to join me." I like that comment to. However, I wonder what the Lord would be saying if no one joined. I don't believe He will be saying the same thing each time because He might want someone to go alone or to go with a group. It sure would be easier to follow the Lord if there was a formula to follow but a lot less thrilling and adventurous.
ReplyDeleteThis conversation brings to mind a question that has become important to me in recent years: "What does it mean to be a leader in a Kingdom . . . if you are not the King?"
ReplyDeleteIf that question describes our situation, then it helps me understand why the word "leader" almost never occurs in the New Testament to describe disciples of Jesus, but the word and idea of "steward" shows up everywhere.
Influence does not go away--it is vital. But those with influence in the Kingdom think and live in the reality that all they are and have belongs to Another.
As fellow stewards, we want to honor the Master's voice wherever it appears--and admit that on our best days we only see in part, and so need one another.