jonnybaker

pioneering mission for the church's theology

i am pleased to say i have a chapter in the end of theology: shaping theology for the sake of mission. the chapter was originally presented at a conference exploring the relationship between theology and mission. as you can guess from the title of my chapter pioneering mission for the church's theology, i reflect on the importance of the practice of mission for doing theology rather than seeing it as something somehow either prior to or abstracted from mission. i also use it as an opportunity to reflect on what we have been learning about teaching mission and theology in the pioneer training at cms. the book is a collection of essays from a range of writers such as pete ward, kirsteen kim, michael goheen and is edited by jason sexton and paul weston. it is good to see this sort of conversation taking place and it is fun to be part of it. if i may i'll quote myself in the chapter to give you the gist - apologies if that seems like the act of an egotistical maniac - it's not meant to be!

The title of the gathering at which the papers in this book were presented was "Doing Theology for the Church's Mission", but this is problematic. It seems to assume somehow that the thinking part comes first, and then the church's ministry, mission and practice will change. I am highly suspicious of this way of orienting the conversation. In my experience all the best theology comes out of practice, out of real questions arising from mission or ministry on the ground, not as something that is worked out in the academy and then banked up for dealing with mission later on. That is why I called my paper at the conference "Doing Mission for the Church's Theology"

pioneers are a gift to the church and we need more

pioneers are a gift to the church and we need more

so says the archbishop of canterbury at yesterday's celebration of 10 years of ordained pioneer ministry. hooray! i agree so let's recruit, train and encourage more both lay and ordained :)

there is a new church of england pioneer web site which looks like it will be a good resource for pioneering and all things related

proost - new resources

news from proost on new resources and old resources bundled together! i am a massive fan of si smith and have tried to get hold of his rage despair hope work for a long time so glad to see it finally land!

As October rolls into the beginnings of Winter so it's time for us to ramp up things here at Proost.

In the coming weeks you'll be seeing our Advent resources featured and you can look out for new material from Ian Adams amongst others.  We're also busy completing our first Proost Fanzine - a downloadable PDF or EBook sharing poetry, prayers, ideas and features as well as some surprises.  Watch out for more here soon.

So as this time we have some things to finish off and some features to share.

We've focused this summer on receiving and encouraging material from new artists.  Many of you have sent in material which we're looking through and hope to feature some of in the New Year.  We've also published some artists new to Proost.  Rage, Hope, Despair is the amazing multimedia resource looking at Job and created by Youthscape.  If you've not seen this yet do take a look as it's one of the most dynamic things we've ever hosted here on Proost.  It also features illustrations from Si Smith.  

We also featured new poetry from Kiwi Mark Laurent and we've been thrilled to hear your responses.  

Today we launch creations from two new Proost artists.  Openings by The Many is an amazing collaboration of music, prayers and ritual first premiered at the Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina, USA in 2016.  We are thrilled to work with Gary Rand and see this resource on Proost.  

We also are launching Poetic Justice by Rachel Edge.  Rachel contacted us in the summer and we loved her poems - she has a gift for the metaphor and creates a wonderful collection of poems which we think you'll love.  

Finally we were amazed by the recent UK reaction to our Box Sets of physical books and so have launched one more .... the Proost Poetry Box Set.  These four physical books feature some of the best of Proost poetry including our best seller Learning to Love and work from Chris Goan, Ned Lunn and Tim Watson.  Stock is limited so let us know if you want one.  Due to postal costs this is a UK offer only but if you're from outside the UK do email us at [email protected] and we can let you know costs of postage to your location.

 

my head explodes with light

i love anthony gormley's work so it was great to visit his fit exhibition which is currently on at white cube gallery bermondsey. as ever he mainly explores the human form. it's fabulous and amzing that it's free to get in.

the photo above is taken from inside a long body shape tunnel that you walk down. because it's a phone camera it couldn't handle the light which makes for a pretty interesting photo. the photo is actually jenny's head exploding with light rather than mine but didn't make such a good title for it!

i loved a room of 500 plus figures on the floor making human shapes from blocks. this one is curled in the foetal position withdrawing, vulnerable filled with shame perhaps...

take hold of the unknown

grace last saturday played with the metaphor of an iceberg where a large proportion of it is not visible, is below the waterline. it was a simple service but really profound too. the prayers and liturgy have been added to the grace website here. we explored ideas of what is hidden and visible in relation to the grace community, faith and god.

steve collins wrote a final prayer riffing on one by mark berry. i am making this whole exploration a worship trick - no 67 in series 4

welcome

to what you cannot see
to what you cannot control
to what you cannot put numbers to
to what you cannot ignore
to what you cannot hide from

it welcomes you

welcome

the surface is open
the sea has room
the food is plentiful
the water is cool
the company is warm
the rest is undisturbed
the shelter is total

they welcome you

welcome

the welcome is universal
the entrance is free
the invitation is open
the hand is extended
there is no time limit
the time is now

they welcome you

welcome

to hidden generosity
to gentle undercurrents
to subtle nourishment
to unspoken prayer
to inarticulate longing

we welcome you

welcome

to actions beyond words
to help without asking
to provision without measure
to hospitality without price
to risk without fear

they welcome you

welcome

take hold of the unknown
accept the unconditional
let go of limitation
give up the guidebook
trust what you cannot question

god welcomes you

welcome

whether you deserve it or not
whether you think you deserve it or not
all are welcome
you are welcome
they welcome you to their mystery
their depth from which all creation springs
come and swim with them

they welcome you

the father that only the son has seen
the word that no-one recognised
the spirit that intercedes without words

they welcome you
world without end
amen

persuade me to do missional entrepreneurship...

twice a year i am involved together with others in running a training week called missional entrepreneurship. we seek to help people to take ideas for making the world a better place and get them to become real. students who are on our pioneer training at cms do this as a module on the diploma but lots of people do it as a standalone. here's shannon hopkins who leads the course explaining what it's all about. our next week is in november.

it's hosted at pickwell manor - steve baker who also leads the course tells that story here and why he loves the course.

and this year mark samson will also be on the team and he explores an alternative economic imagination here.

these three videos along with the brilliant eve poole all came from interviews at last years cms conversations day which was themed on missional entrepreneurship. we're excited about the one this year on future present!

at sea - unravelling

was a treat to have lou baker artist satying this week while she is exhibiting in barking in a show of yarn and knitting called unravelling - it's on until next weekend. i have added a few photos here but i found myself drawn to the colours which i tried to abstract. lou told me this piece was to do with waves and it certainly looks like the sea when stripped down to its colours... it's probably annoying for lou for me to have done that but i did take some photos of the work too. reminds me very much of your work blythe toll if you are reading! 

the light gets in

pioneer conversations day - november 8 plus spoken word evening with harry and chris

on november 8 we have our Pioneer Conversations Day 2016: Future Present. this is always a really brilliant day and we are excited about this year’s programme. 

the booking page is here - www.futurepresent.eventbrite.co.uk

the facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/events/367898990266739/

then secondly we are delighted that harry and chris will be hosting an evening of spoken word and music. if you are able to stay on for that it should be a really good evening. it will finish by 8:45 giving time for those travelling. there will be an open mic slot so we are really hoping and expecting that those of you who are musicians and poets will be up for performing. there are two options for tickets - with curry and just the performance.

the booking page is here - www.harryandchris.eventbrite.co.uk

the facebook page is here - https://www.facebook.com/events/609971635849816/

i am excited about the line up so here it is:

Future Present Planet - Michael Northcott

Our beautiful planet is being pushed to its limits right now as we can't seem to wean ourselves of an oil based economy. The future of the planet is the big question of our time. Michael Northcott writes, teaches and researches in the area of environmental theology and ethics.

Reimaging God - Nicola Slee 

Nicola Slee will explore a variety of perspectives on the imaging and naming of God from feminist perspectives, in an endeavour to expand our thinking of and approach towards the divine. Poetry and images will be used to focus the issues and spark imagination

Future Present Church - John Drane 

Will the future have a church, and why would anybody care anyway? What would a church look like if it was freed of all the challenges and baggage that weighs us and her down, and what would it take to get from here to there? Excited and freed up by this thought, John will be wearing his blue sky thinking hat - expect some radical ideas and hope fuelled dreams.

Engaging A New Urban World - Ash Barker 

Drawing on over 25 years of urban mission experience lived in deprived neighbourhoods of Melbourne, Bangkok and now Birmingham, Ash will explore what an incarnational approach to engaging our new urban world can look like. What are the limits and possibilities of incarnational engagement? Are the fruits worth the cost? What will Jesus invite us into as an old world passes away? Areas of urban deprivation and poverty are especially complex places to make a long-term impact, but they are some of the most critical frontline contexts for Christian workers today. A resilient and thoughtful theology and spirituality as well as innovative skills and frameworks are needed if faithful, effective and sustainable responses are to be found.

Parabolic Relationships: how change happens in mission - Anna Ruddick

Research among incarnational urban mission team members and the people who have encountered them in their communities has uncovered an emerging mode of mission. Subversive relating collapses the categories of ‘missioner’ and ‘recipients’ of mission, involving the transformation of all involved in the course of the mission of God. Great to have Anna back again to present the findings of her research.

Open House - Steve Collins

If a church building is the homebase of a community, how can we live in it? What arrangements would enable our theology and community? Can we give these spaces back to the city around us? Can they be sources of resources? If the present is often closed doors, can the future be open house? Steve brings his wonderful creativity, experience in alternatve worship and architect's way of seeing things together to remake community and spirituality.

Disabled Dreams: Coping With The Present - Emma Major

In the last two years Emma's future has collided with her present as disabilities have increased. Her ability to minister has changed, her understanding of calling has been challenged and at times she has wondered if God still wants me her one of His pioneers.  She will share some of her story and how God has helped me evolve; and we will explore how we must all adapt when our dreams are disabled and how we can cope with change outside our control.

An Innovation Framework - How to make the future present - Mike Moynagh

A look at six processes commonly involved in innovation, illustrating these from innovative forms of church, suggesting pointers to a theology of innovation.

Physical Graffiti - Rachel Griffiths

Rachel is a participatory theatre practitioner, delivering workshops and theatre projects in various contexts. She uses physical theatre and movement to bring about change and reimagine the future in cultures of oppression The participatory part means anyone can join in. She has run workshops for example in the Calais refugee camp and with girls rescued from sex trafficking and women living in a pavement-dwelling community. Expect to participate!

Stillness In A Turning World: Future Present Contemplative - Ian Adams

A better world -  a more peaceful, just and hopeful world - has to take shape first within us. This will require our deep attention. The contemplative path as always been a quiet, often neglected but vital presence at the heart of Christian life and mission - deepening awareness of self, other, earth and God - and opening up the possibility of living with stillness in a fast turning world. This workshop will be an opportunity to explore ideas and practices for nurturing a contemplative life, reshaping us and our world for good.

Folly, Film and Future Faith - Colin Heber Percy

Taking Tarkovsky’s 1979 masterpiece, Stalker, as a starting point, Colin probes a notion of faith that has been largely forgotten. In Stalker, Tarkovsky depicts faith as folly, as destinationless quest, as weakness, as curse, and as blessing. This idea, deeply rooted in the European mystical and literary imaginary, may also speak potently and persuasively to us now in the present. It may even point us towards future faith expressions in a Western, predominantly post-Christian context.

Dream Dare Do - An Installation Space

There will be an interactive installation space 'dream dare do', which will run all day as a quieter place to drop in, reflect, dream, explore and pray.

FuturePresent Eucharist 

The day will conclude with a celebration of Jesus' FuturePresent meal with a liturgy especially commissioned and written for the day.

Spoken Word and Music Evening - Hosted by Harry and Chris

We're excited that off the back of their Edinburgh Festival show Harry and Chris are coming to host a Spoken Word and Music Evening - a curry will be served as part of the evening. There will be an open mic slot so we are looking for lots of contributions on the night. That is a separately ticketed event - book here harryandchris.eventbrite.co.uk

under the iceberg - grace next satuday

love the flyer for the next grace! the idea for it came out of a day we had back in june reflecting on grace and what we are up to - we realised that the visible parts of grace are supported by a whole set of other practices, friendships and hidden things. so that's what we'll be exploring. here's the blurb...

The lower part of the iceberg is invisible, immeasurable - and yet it supports everything that we see. How do we measure the worth of the hidden parts of our communities, our faith, our lives? All are welcome to join us in an 'underwater' exploration.