jonnybaker

enough is enough

cathy reflects on another of john taylor's phrases in imagining mission

I think we have all learned that enough is enough and that we need to develop a theology of enough. We are learning that we need to respect the planet and not to be so consumerist and extravagant. In 1972, nearly fifty years ago, Taylor wrote "our Western way of life is marked by excess whichever aspect of our situation one looks at – our consumption of food and our accumulation of goods, our wage claims and price rises, our waste and pollution, the concentration and congestion of our cities, our destruction of living creatures and our plunder of fuels and minerals, our expenditure on armaments and the wanton disproportion of the way we use them – excess is the word that comes continually to mind. Ruthless, unbridled, unthinking excess."

Perhaps we are learning to respect the planet, to live more simply so that others may simply live and to take delight and joy in simple pleasures.

#ImaginingMission

out of the box christmas cards

out of the box is a card company that sells creative cards that are playful and inspiring. our house is full of the cards because jenny set it up! they have got some really good designs for christmas. i like this doc martin wearing angel with weary feet. obviously it's hard to get cards in shops and who is in the shops anyway??!! so do head to their web site and have a look - scroll down the card page to find the christmas ones.

maple fire

get off your high horse and muck in

john taylor did not mince his words when it came to church. and he was directing his thoughts to the church of england. i was reminded of this last week when someone who is not anglican described on twitter their experience of being othered and told 'you don't understand' when entering an anglican debate. it's a church of england problem in my view that you don't get in independent and non conformist churches in the same way. maybe it's the state religion thing? but it's way too easy for the church to come across as pompous, lording it over, superior. definitely still some mucking in to be done! 

you can order imagining mission here #ImaginingMission 

the cross and the lynching tree

the last issue of anvil journal faultlines in mission: reflections on race and colonialism is so interesting, so good and so challenging. i really do encourage you to have a read of it. i wrote a couple of book reviews for it. as the reviews come at the end i am not sure how many people make it that far! so i thought i'd pull out my book review of james cone's the cross and the lynching tree' and add it to the blog so here it is...

On June 3 2020 Chance the Rapper tweeted “Jesus was lynched”. This tweet was liked 62 000 times. He then proceeded to follow it up with some quotes from an article entitled the Cross and the Lynching Tree, which is the title of James Cone’s book from 2011. The article was by Steve Holloway and was a review of the book prompted by Cone’s death. I don’t think Chance the Rapper had read James Cone’s book but I suspect that probably it was the highest profile comment in pop culture about it. I hope it got some new readers as a result. Being America of course the comments were suitably polarised and ridiculous. One accused him of blasphemy saying Jesus wasn’t lynched he was crucified which was kind of missing the point! The reason I mention this as a way into a review is that I think my own education about racism and injustice has been in some significant part through black music - soul, reggae, hip hop, Afrobeat to name a few genres. Artists feel the culture and somehow find ways to articulate something of the pain, grief and mood of the times and where appropriate call forth a different vision, a different possibility. In this regard art and prophecy are close friends. The most helpful response for me personally after George Floyd’s death aside from Al Sharpton’s magnificent eulogy was actually Gilles Petersen’s selection of music and comments and guests on BBC6Music in the two weeks after. I found it a lot more helpful than what i heard in churches - in fact it struck me how few hymns or contemporary songs there are that really spoke into that moment in any concrete or grounded way.

Chapter 4 of James Cone’s book is about literary artists and the connections they made between the crucifixion and the lynching tree. For me it was the most moving chapter of the book and I followed it up by finding some of the pieces online which also led to finding illustrations of the black Christ identifying with the suffering of those lynched. What is particularly striking about that chapter is that it comes in the wake of a discussion about the absence of the connection between the cross and the lynching tree in the theologies of the best white theologians of the day and the pulpits in white churches. Cone devotes a chapter to Niebuhr and goes to great lengths to reflect on this absence in Niebuhr’s work because he was probably America’s most influential theologian, commented on social issues and Cone was very influenced by him following in his footsteps at Union Theological Seminary in New York. As Cone says, it is extraordinary that this connection was not made. He contrasts that with a moving chapter on Martin Luther King who makes those connections and whose life was one shaped by the way of the cross. I don’t know why I say that is a moving chapter because every chapter I mention I will say is moving! A case in point is the chapter on black women’s experience of suffering, their part in activism and black womanist theological perspectives. I was reminded by that of Billie Holliday’s rendition of Strange Fruit which I listened to several times as a result of the book (Nina Simone’s is powerful too). 

The book opened my eyes to how prevalent lynching was. I knew about it but the scale and horror of the experience was really brought home to me by Cone’s book. Between 1880 to 1940 white Christians lynched 5000 black men and women. These lynchings drew huge crowds and families came out to watch. Photos of the event were turned into postcards that you could buy. Cone references an exhibition that shocked America by touring these postcards - I found some of the images online. It is so hard to believe and fathom the reality of that black experience in America and that white Christians did it - I found it important for me to look at it and try and see it as best I could without averting my gaze. 

James Come is brutally honest about his own struggle - white supremacy tears faith to pieces he says. If God loves black people why do they suffer? And yet the heart of the gospel is struggle for freedom and liberation from oppression. The cross is an empowering sign for those who suffer because of God’s loving solidarity with them. It’s also where the powers and principalities are overcome. And it has to be related to our social reality rather than abstracted. So Cone is right to say that Jesus was a lynchee and make that connection. And he says that every time a white mob lynched a black person they lynched Jesus all over again. “The lynching tree is the cross in America”. At the same time he laments that many white theologians theology of atonement (which they are very defended about) fails to name or recognise white supremacy as America’s great sin. It is in danger of being sentimental abstract false piety. 

In the conclusion he quotes from James Baldwin who says he is proud of the spiritual force and beauty of black people in America. Why? Because “It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck”. I was in pieces at that point. 

I love liberation theologies but it was actually as a result of twitter that I read it. It wasn’t Chance’s tweet but Bishop Emma Ineson said she was going to read it. At that point I was so upset about George Floyd’s murder and wondering what on earth i could or should do that I ordered the book and thought I’ll at least read that and try and get a bit better educated. It really has done that in a powerful way.

time to grow some gills

this is a somewhat delayed blog post. when september arrived it felt like there was a deflated mood. i think it was because it was a new school year and we had imagined we might have moved on but it was clear that was not going to be the case. it might be a long winter ahead and now of course we are in a second lockdown.

i was really helped to name this feeling by chatting with a friend tina who said to me that initially it was like we were holding our breath but now we realised we needed to grow some gills! in other words we've got to adapt and live in this environment as we are going to be in it for a while. 

we took that idea at the september grace and had a liturgy/prayer we constructed together on zoom by inviting people to write a line in the chat in response to the idea. these were then knocked into an order which we read together. it's a fairly unusual liturgy but i really liked it (and will add to the worship tricks list)

We are so used to being able to fix things quickly
Our social systems, wealth and technology were going to get us through
“One step at a time,” I thought.
“Stay the course,” I thought.
“Steady on,” I thought.
We thought we were just holding our breath
But it’s time to grow gills

This time is unstable, characterised by inconsistent rules and u-turns.
It is hard to plan ahead.
How can a divided society heal when we can’t even be present in the same room?
Isolated from friends and family, having to find new ways to connect
Give us grace
Hold us when we feel we can’t go on
We thought we were just holding our breath
But it’s time to grow gills

As we are held underwater,
help our ears tune in to new sounds and frequencies
Gill growers who know who they are in water
May we learn to see in a new element,
unafraid to keep our eyes open
We thought we were just holding our breath
But it’s time to grow gills

Let us dedicate this involuntary fast to the Lord
Help us find a new way to carry on
Renew our hope
Turn our fear and retreat into discovery and joy
Renew us
We though we were just holding our breath
But it’s time to grow gills

cloud of witnesses

next saturday grace explores cloud of witnesses - wherever you are in the world you can join us as we'll be on zoom...

the blurb that goes with it:

The phrase Cloud of Witnesses comes from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

All Saints is traditionally marked in church on November 1st, the day after Halloween, and is a time when we think of those who have shaped our faith, all of the saints who have gone before us, and also people who have passed away during the year.

Looking back: Who are the saints that have inspired us?

Looking around: Who has shaped us and our faith? Who do we wish we could still see to inspire us?

Looking Up: We acknowledge the grief we currently hold for those we can't be with

Looking forward: We want to be in the Cloud of Witnesses for others

We will, of course, be on Zoom again! Look out for the link if you are in the Whatsapp group or on the email list, or email [email protected] and we will send you the link nearer the time.

misty meadow

another lockdown means more walks and noticing the wonders close to home - this is my local park -gunnersbury park. i always love this time of year when it is cold with crisp misty mornings, clear skies and fire outside in the evening.

the long trek [#imaginingmission10]

this week's john taylor quote. cathy's thoughts to introduce it

Another wonderful John Taylor phrase which resonates with pioneers. It certainly feels like we are in a terra incognita currently and it feels like a long trek! Many of the old certainties have gone and we don't yet know what is coming towards us. Are we brave enough to let go and reimagine life anew? What might it look like? How might we reshape our cartographies of lifestyle, community, leadership, mission? What new maps might we dream of? How do we decolonise old maps? And then there is the terra incognita of Christ. Always more to discover. Always more to learn. A lifelong trek. Hope you find our book on Reimagining Mission with John Taylor helpful.

#ImaginingMission

lip chronicles: life under lockdown

i am a member of london independent photography (lip) and every year there is an exhbition. well this year unsurprisingly an actual exhibition was difficult so it was decided to curate one online lip chronicles: life under lockdown. it went live today for one month only. the more permanent record will be in a printed newspaper which is only £5 and you can order here. i am delighted to have have two photos in the exhibition in the nature section. i am sure we will look back in years to come at images like this and find it quite extraordinary. 

if you are on instagram the images are gradually being posted on @lipchronicles

guardians of universality [#ImaginingMission 9]

this photo still makes me smile every time i see it. it was one of our crazier ideas in grace where we were exploring the idea that there is an assumption in various places that to be holy is to avoid the world whereas if you look at the life of christ the opposite seems to be true! so we had some defenders of the purity codes on the door as people arrived. looking back it would have freaked you out if it was your first time.

anyway all that to say that in our book imagining mission we riff on john taylor's ideas. he would have been great on twitter in my view as he just has so many brilliant short phrases. 'guardians of universality' is a trap the church in the west especially falls into as though she is the defender of some universal truth passed down from on high. history has shown that those universal truths usually turn out to be very modern western ideas - in other words a local theology. there's nothing wrong with a local theology - tradition is a series of local theologies. the problem comes when it loses humility and starts universalising.

if you are enjoying these photos with john taylor quotes i am gradually adding them to a flickr album. i also made them into a set of cards for my own use that are a fun discussion starter. i mentioned this in an earlier post or two and now have a list of getting on for a hundred people who have requested a set. if you'd like to be added to the list let me know. i'll get round to it round christmas time i expect.

#ImaginingMission

faultlines in mission: reflections on race and colonialism

the latest issue of anvil journal (which is free online) is on faultlines in mission reflections on race and colonialism - sctroll to the bottom of the page to download the complete issue. in the wake of george floyd's murder as with other areas of society it seemed a good chance to shine a light on the area of mission and ponder it's history and practices and the degree to which they are framed and shaped by empire and colonialism. it's guest edited by harvey kwiyani, lusa nsenga-ngoy, and shemil matthew - huge thanks to them! it's powerful and hard hitting. there's a lot to digest.

i read harvey and lusa's articles at breakfast today. harvey says that mission as we think of it today is a european construct out of an era of empire and colonialism so it's logic and imagination are tied in to narratives of superiority. for example he says

In a nutshell then, the very concept of mission as we understand it today has racism and white supremacy in its DNA.

i love mission as a way of framing so this is a jolt but as paul thaxter reflects in his afterword i am definitely guilty of telling inspiring stories of those who have done mission on the inside of cultures well and resisted empire but i am sure that in doing so i have been blinder to and not told other equally true and real stories. i was wrestling with this issue in my visit to new zealand. harvey recounts the story of mission in malawi as one example. his article begs the question of what mission might look like after george floyd. this piece reminded me that i have not yet written the last blog post in the series of reflections on mission after my visit to new zealand which is due to be on post colonial mission and whether such a thing is possible... i'll get back to it before long - life took over!

lusa's article is wonderful. he explores how imagining a different kind of world and future is essential for there to be change. it's actually a piece that would have been perfect for the book future present. he suggest that imagination is a tool for resistance and has powered radical changes in history. our imagination is easily colonised by the iconography of the world around us but needs freeing and maybe it is artists and prophets and dreamers of a better world who will interrupt our imagining to reframe it. afrofuturism is just such a kind of imagining - think black panther for example.

i have plenty more articles to read... 

do download it (or read it online). and we hope it sparks conversation, reflection, awareness, new imaginings of what world and future is possible for the church, christianity and mission and what changes might be required as steps towards that new world..

eyewitness charity print auction to raise funds for msf covid 19 relief

a friend in the local photography group i am part of, edmond terakopian is one of the organisers of an inspired project to raise funds for MSF's covid 19 relief fund. it's a a print auction of 66 prints by 42 photographers worldwide. the auction runs from now until 15 november and you can browse the catalogue and place bids here. 

whilst in the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown, a concerned group of 17 photographers, members of the eyewitness collective, dispersed across several continents, came up with an idea: to collect a series of prints by members and by selected invited photographers, in order to raise funds for the battle against this awful pandemic. they have been overjoyed by the feedback and thrilled that so many photographers have donated their beautiful prints.

photo: pc mckinley by dave sinclair

over the past several months, they have secured a selection of 66 photographs. among the more notable are an image by magnum photos' legendary photographer ian berry from his iconic series the english, an image by the renowned vietnam war photographer tim page, an image by the celebrated photojournalist tom stoddart from the sudan, the fall of the berlin wall by the prominent photojournalist paul lowe, timeless fine art prints by the creative yoshie nishikawa, as well as several celebrity portraits by the likes of mark harrison, jason bell, nicky johnston and clive arrowsmith, to name just a few. 

more info is on the press release which you can download here.

come as a stranger with everything to learn again [ #ImaginingMission 8]

it amuses me looking at this that at first glance now it looks like it says "come as a stranger with fosters" - why would you do that? it's such a terrible drink! anyway that aside this week's reflection from cathy on john taylor 

Don't you feel like that in these days? We are living in the world but not as we know it. What are we learning in these times? Sometimes I do feel like a stranger in these times and maybe that's good. On good days this can heighten our awareness, sharpen our senses, alert us to things we haven't noticed before, draw us into a solidarity with others. We are learning again how to live in a world where fear, inequalities and injustice have been highlighted. We are also learning that we can be good, we can practise altruism and volunteering is good for us. Taylor's insight also reminds me of some lines from the T S Eliot poem Little Gidding where we are encouraged to explore:

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

book still available with discount code:MISSION2020

#ImaginingMission

the flag is raised

so the pirate ship in the wood has now got a flag so it's definitely a pirate ship! apparently there are lots of different pirate flags and this is the flag for jack rackham also known as calico jack. jen chose it i suspect because he was famous for having women pirates as part of his crew.

look to the fringes [ #imaginingmission 7 ]

the church is most surely herself when she is at the periphery with those who are fringe dwellers. jesus was loved by outsiders, fringe dwellers. if the church wants to be renewed she should do likewise and look to the fringes rather than the centre. this theme recurs in john taylor's writing and is this week's quote from imagining mission, the book by cathy ross and i riffing on his writing in his newsletters.

the photo is from a slate headstone in the graveyard of the church of brendan the navigator in ireland where there is a well which i visited on pilgrimage with pioneers some years ago. he too was a fringe dweller...

i have mentioned this before but i did turn these into a set of cards for myself and a number of people have said they'd be interested in a set. so leave me a message if you are and i will add you to the list - it will be a while as we have a number more to get through - probably end of year.

and i am adding them to a photo set here

#ImaginingMission

the wave

happy 18th to my nephew zac looking v cool here surfing. loved visiting the wave in bristol which is an artificial surfing pool/lake. i took photos rather than surf - there's an album here of the day and various family members surfing - most managed to stand but zac totally smashed it on the expert level of waves. 

there is no such thing as safe theology [ #imaginingmission 6 ]

some years back i did an installation called red tape which had a bible wrapped in red tape, a dog collar made of red tape and bread and wine ring fenced by red tape. looking back i think it must have been a moment where i was particularly frustrated with the church and its controls! i am amazed cms let me get away with at a public event - the photos are here. anyway all that to say that this week's john taylor quote from our book imagining mission uses a photo from that.

here's cathy's reflection on it

There is no such thing as safe theology. I wonder why we ever thought there was! God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not safe! We know the Spirit is wild, free and unpredictable. How have we so domesticated Jesus and theology? How have we made it all so tame, mundane and frankly boring?! Is it centuries of patriarchy? Empire? White fragility? Certainly these did not help. But we all collude somehow. Let's free ourselves of trying to protect God, police boundaries and monitor sound theology. But is this anarchy? Is this relativism? Well what did we have before? Regulatory order? Conformity? Hierarchy? Conscious and unconscious bias? I realise this is rather binary but it is only a short post! Let's trust in the power and guidance of the Spirit and try to be free to dream more expansively, imagine more generatively and theologise boldly. Let's live by courageous faith and not by fear. If mission is an adventure of the imagination, then theology is no longer safe.

[ #ImaginingMission ]

how to use your imagination

combinatory play is einstein's term for putting two things together from different spheres which is a fun and playful exercise in creativity. i have an article here exploring that - how to use your imagination.

and.. i am interviewed here by naomi steinberg on imagination and the new book - imagining mission: a book taylor made for our time

#ImaginingMission

thanks

thanks so much to all of you who came to the imagining mission book launch. getting the technology working was somewhat nerve wracking but we managed to both zoom it and stream it to youtube which was a first. the plus of that is that there is a recording of the evening here if you missed it. thanks for all the feedback too - we were so pleased it seemed to have been enjoyable. it was great to see so many friends inlcuding people from several different countries.