Marc's Messages

Young media pioneers

Kees van Velzen hosted our second gathering of young media pioneers in his apartment in Bosch en Duin. This time we showcased our work, and I must say I was impressed with the quality of these projects. Kees is working on an online diagnostic toolkit and consulting environment for psychologists, Sjoerd makes fancy promotional movies for broadcasting company SBS6, Martijn writes for Touch Communications' glossy flash website, and Mark designs corporate house styles and brochures.

 

Stuff from outer cyberspace

I came across some interesting blog posts and articles on organic/emerging church: Recentering on Christ (Steve Hill), Barna's Bungle (Scott Friderich), Apostolic migration (Simson at Simplechurch), Ancient voices (Neil Young), Ough! (Mirko Sander), Sorry (Philip de Cavel), Speak up or shut up (Andreas Wolf), Monologue or dialogue? (Gijs van der Neut). Websites/blogs: The Crowded House (UK missional church), Male Spirituality (Richard Rohr), Let's put the kettle on (Lisa Borden).

Shifting into 2007

Yesterday our local SHIFT-team met at Douwe & Jiska's place in De Bilt to evaluate the pilot training we did this Autumn. Overall on the content, operational and relational level it went well, but more foundationally we decided not to have a second training in this format. The match between what we envisioned and the diversity of the group was not optimal. In 2007 we will start with a series of local dreaming/envisionig nights, that could develop into a hub for innovators and pioneers in the city (Utrecht and surrounding towns). Based on getting to know people, we can help in forming teams and a simple coaching structure. So the vision continues, but the vehicle changes.

Shiftsoulnetinthehouses.nl

Looks like the various teams and networks I'm part of in the Netherlands are overlapping more and more. The team of the Dutch house church network gradually and partially flowed over in the SHIFT group, of which there are in fact two (one national and one local). Three organic SHIFT guys have been asked by Soul Survivor to speak at their upcoming young leaders conference in february on 'organic church and leadership'. Martijn Moens, who is also part of SHIFT and Soul Survivor just redesigned Indehuizen.nl, while Lucas Vos started a local initiative in Arnhem called Shifttank. Some call this synergy, others confusion. At least it's efficient - there are short relational lines between the various emerging networks - and it shows the growing momentum for 'all things organic'.

Four paradigms in Excel

Lucas Vos, our Excel wizard, came up with a schedule (in Dutch) in which he explains four worldviews, and how this corresponds with four different church paradigms. People who are wired ecologically are most able to creatively apply elements of the other paradigms, dependent on the context. This all sounds very abstract, but it's also very insightful. Enjoy!

Download paradigmas_oude_kerk___nieuwe_kerk.xls

Enneagram and reformation

We had an interesting Shift meeting last week, and I just realized I forgot to blog about it. Bram Flippo gave a presentation on 'The Enneagram and the New Reformation', stating that 70% of humanity is a type SIX (loyalist), and in his experience this percentage is even higher in the church. He explained the interaction of the SIX with some of the other Enneagram types, and this sheds new light on leadership, group dynamics and change processes in the church. In Bram's view reformational leaders have to be very aware of these deeper dynamics if they want to take people through a foundational paradigm shift. I'm attaching his handout in Dutch.

Download enneagram_kerk.pdf

What to do with church buildings?

Today in the news: the Swedes have more trust in IKEA than in the church. Not really surprising. Although I would suggest it's still easier to plant an emerging church (especially without definition) than to assemble an average piece of IKEA furniture. But that's another story. In Copenhagen, in the light of Martin Robinson's missional challenges, I pondered on the question what we should do with our church buildings as we won't be needing them in a post-christendom age. This is what I came up with, again in a simplified PPT slide.

Download what_to_do_with_your_church_building.ppt

The emergent guru speaks

OK, continuing my last post - maybe we can safe some time here. For the 'emerging church' newbies and wannabees: Andrew Jones, aka Tallskinnykiwi (because he's from New Zealand and only one micro-inch shorter than me), is probably the emergent guru around, at least in Europe (well, on verge that is, when you take the second street left after Orkney Islands, you fall off the continent). He's so cool and innovative that everyone who wants to appear trendy puts him on their bloglist.

When I veejayed for him when we did our seminar in Copenhagen last week, I summarized his whole teaching on just ONE PowerPoint slide. Yes, I'm using that modernistic up-dressed piece of software now and then, and readily admit that it was Rick Warren who inspired me to simplify the complexity of all this emerging stuff to just ONE slide. I offer it as a free download. No credits please. Intellectual property TSK, images courtesy to Tim Berners-Lee.

Download tallskinnykiwi_basics_light.ppt

Defining 'emerging church'

On Matthijs' weblog a whole discussion is going on about 'emerging church'. The one who comes up with the best definition (in Dutch) will get the incredible reward of 12,50 euro, and not even in cash. That's peanuts for a lot of brainwork that has to satisfy even outspoken critics like Bram Krol; a typically Dutch kind-of-prize if you ask me.

I already suggested that 'emerging church' is undefinable anyway, so why waste time on a description. If you're really postmodern, you're not bothered by lack of definition, are you. To be honest, i find these discussions quite boring. Yes, I've been there, seen it, bought the t-shirt. Now let's move on. Let's look at the fruit of the various new expressions of church. Perhaps the essence of 'emerging' is that we stay sensitive to what the Spirit is saying and doing, and the cultural context in which we live and work. That's all. Nothing new. And if we do this well, we'll keep on 'emerging' until Christ returns. Amen.

Going to Trondheim

Some years ago I had a prophetic dream about Trondheim, a city in Norway. I still owe you the full story, but will keep that to a later date. In Connect 'Going to Trondheim' has become a code word for unexpected divine assignments. It's interesting that yesterday I happened to share the evening meal with Terje Dahle of Kristent Nettverk and Ministries Without Borders (their apostolic team). He moved from Bergen to Trondheim a year ago to pioneer a new 'organic' initiative. When he heard my story, he extended an invitation for Karolien and me to come over. Cool. To get in the mood, check out this inspiring movie about Trondheim.