Introducing Communitas Collective: A Cyber Hang Out for the Formerly Churched and other Refugees of church
Today there is an unprecedented exodus of people from institutional churches, yet a heightened awareness of spirituality. Many of us are weary of institutions, but hungry for community. There is a declining desire to be part of a system and a growing desire to be a part of something that is real - something that provides the opportunity for self expression and living out the life of Christ, rather than just talking about it. (from Communitas Collective)My friend and fellow Portlander, blogger Erin Word, has joined together with other bloggers who have launched a new site for disenfranchised Christians.
Communitas Collective has been created by a team of people that include some bloggers I've had the privelage of meeting, such as Kathy Escobar from Colorado and John Smulo from California. Other team members I recognize from bumping into around the blogosphere like Gary Means and Cindy Bryan and Sue Stevenson and Glenn Hager who is the originator.
It looks very promising. With so many tribes and social networks forming all over the web, this is a group of people who have wisely determined their commonality and how they want to serve the cyber community at large. If you or someone you know has struggled with the form of church and institutionalized Christianity, this is a wonderful new wayfarers station that has sprung up for travelers just like you.
There is also a niche within Communitas Collective for those church pioneer types who are breaking off tradition and letting creative imagination lead into new forms of church and kingdom ministry. They call this area Verve. Here's a quote from Kathy Escobar who wrote up the opening article for Verve:
despite our cynicism about ‘church’ (yes, we know it seeps through!) we are idealists. we wouldn’t be doing this if we had given up.
Go check 'em out. And then request a connection with me. {see ya there!}
Posts
Thank you, sistah, for linking us. We're just getting going, into just our second week now, so we're still ironing out some things.
But I'm so excited to finally have a place for church misfits to land, for a day, or a while, or however long it takes. The variety of voices and experiences we have there is amazing to me, and I'm really hopeful about what will come of it.
There are three blogs, and each blog has three authors. Each author will write a new post each week....so in essence there will be nine new posts at CC every week. So if someone doesn't see something that speaks to them today, I can guarantee there will be something soon.
Pam
Can you please clarify,
“Hang out for the Formally Churched.”
“lead into new forms of church.”
Tongue is now firmly placed in cheek. :o)
New forms, that sounds good.
Let’s see.... We now have -
The Traditional Church,
The Institutional Church,
The Religious System Church,
The Steeple Corporation Church,
The 501c3, non profit, tax deductible,
Religious Corporation Church,
The Brick and Mortar Church,
The Pastor Led Church,
The Multiple Elder Led Church,
The Congregational Led Church,
The Pope Led Church,
The Bishop Led Church,
The Chief Executive Apostle Led Church,
There really is a Chief Executive Apostle
No Kidding. Saw it with my own eyes.
The Fluid Church,
The Solid Church,
The House Church,
The Simple Church,
The Organic Church,
The Small Group Church,
The Institutional Church,
Oh, i said that one already.
The Denominational Church,
The Non-Denominational Church,
The Inter - Denominational Church,
The Intra - Denominational Church,
The Underground Church,
The Full Gospel Church
The Baptist Church,
The Lutheran Church,
The Evangelical Church,
The Charis maniacle ism Church,
The Penta it’s going to cost you a lot ism Church,
The First Church of
The Pleasant Parables
of The Presence of God Church,
and we believe that
Proper
Preparation
Precedes
Powerful
Performance
so we Pray lot.
Yea, That’s MY Church.
Started by my uncle.
He than formed a denomination
and made me, his loving nephew,
second in command and gave me a title.
His Holiness,
The Most Holy Right Reverend,
Father, Superior, Brother Amos.
Yes, My Church,
Oh no,
am I in competition with God?
Does anyone know what Jesus meant
when he said,
I will build my church?
I'd really like to know.
Blessings on your new endeavor.
Let the games begin.
In His Service. By His Grace.
Pam,
Thanks for the link. BTW, I just caught your great article on ZOE about HOMEpdx. What an inspiration.
If I may, I'd like to address A.Amos Love's comment about all the flavors of church: perhaps there is nothing new under the sun. I don't think the intent of Communitas is to create a new form of Church. I think it's just another place for people to explore different expressions of God's love, different ways of BEING the Church. In Communitas you will find some people who haven't been part of the institutional church for a decade and others who still attend regularly. I think the intent is to just explore ways to tangibly live out meaningful faith in ways that reflect Kingdom values regardless of the system.
I think Communitas is also meant to be a place for people to express honest concerns, dreams, doubts, questions, and hopes about the way the Body of Christ manifests herself in this world.
Gary - Pam
Thanks for the input about
"Communitas Collective."
"I think it's just another place
for people to explore
different expressions of God's love,
different ways of BEING the Church."
"Expressions of God's love."
{ :o) (Hmmm... like God's love.)
I was just trying to add a little humor
about a very serious matter.
"My experience" with that previous
system that captured my life.
I actually thought some of those flavors
{ :o) (like your thought about flavors.)
were pretty good for awhile.
I tried quite a few on that list.
Then one day, time after time, "bitterness."
Had to spit them out. It wasn't Jesus.
Well, maybe some Jesus
and a whole lot of other stuff.
Just enough Jesus to keep me
coming back for more.
It wasn't till, like Abraham,
I was willing to go out
not knowing where I was going.
Had to leave the system
to find out about Jesus.
As Paul declared,
“I conferred not with flesh and blood.”
I apologize if I offended you or anyone.
I feel really blessed by finding so many who understand and are able to put it into words.
In His Service. By His Grace.
Hi Erin
you are welcome. With you involved and the other folks I know, I trust CC to soon develop blog cred as a place to find solace and encouragement in times of transition with faith and church. I look forward to watching you guys flourish!
Hey Amos, I heard humor in your post. The huge disadvantage to writing is the lack of ability to detect tone, which when we speak is a big part of adding to our communication. No offense taken here. And I agree with you. Church is people, and systems are people-made and so of course there will be a variety of faith communities and churches and denominations for the many kind of people and tribes who follow after Jesus. And for some, the system has become stifling. So now what? Yes, a new system, even if that "new system" is to be "systemless" or whatever.
Communitas Collective is a breath of fresh air on the net for those who want companionship for the journey they find themselves on. I'm sure Gary is not at all put off by your wit, but is taking this opportunity to further define what he hopes he and his friends can develop in this new online tribe.
I love the internet!
(and gary, thanks for adding more perspective in being kingdom people no matter what system, or even systemless reality we find ourselves in...and oh, glad you found the New Wineskins article. Leave a comment there so the editors will see what an effin rockstar writer I am. :-)
Hey Communitas types: If you want a free, non-creedal church that seriously tries to live the message of Jesus, try the Unitarians (UUs in America).
Many Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists are not Christian, but there's plenty of Christian-oriented people, and lots of people who think Jesus was pretty cool even though we don't identify as Christian.
Whatever community you choose, I wish you well on your spiritual journey.
Hi Yewtree,
what a delight it always is for me when a new voice pops in on my humble blog. Thanks for reading some of my articles and for the comments you left. I appreciate you taking the time to read my stuff.
You're Wiccan? Did you see my story about Love Thy Pagan Neighbor?
Here's a
LINK I think you'll like it!
Stop by anytime. Blessings to you on your journey. We are all seekers of truth!
Just stopping by to say thanks for putting yourself out there - this blog has been a real blessing to me on my journey (missionary to pastor's kid growing up in church with the usual struggles and questions).
Anna Palmer
http://waxingphilosphic.blogspot.com/