reyes-chow :: FAITH

Pics of the peeps!

As I was looking at some of the pictures from Easter at MBCC I realized that I have never really posted many images of the church.  Easter at MBCC has always been interesting because most of our folks leave town to visit the parental unites over Easter.  As we grow, we are slowly starting to see that trend no be so dramatic, but even still the Sunday AFTER Easter was better attended than Easter itself.  In any case, here are a few from Easter 2008.  [EASTER PICS] by balebengong

The Peeps // Pews, couches and cafe tables

The Music // Yes, the walls are silver

The Food // Potlucks are good

The Dorks // The Eldest and I

Why FB is a great tool for transitioning from a "Pastoral" to a "Program" church

Due to a variety of reasons - mostly too many freaking people were come to church - about six months ago MBCC decided to intentionally transition from being a "Pastoral Church" to being a "Program Church."  You can see the definitions and characteristic's of each congregational size in the article, How to Minister Effectively in Family, Pastoral, Program and Corporate Sized Chruch by Roy M. Oswald, Senior Consultant, The Alban Institute.

Good stuff if you are into congregational system theory.

To recap, Oswald basically says that that as churches go through stages of growth or decline they require different leadership models and conversely different leadership models can help determine whether or not a church grows or declines.  He does not argue that any one model is optimal, simply points out the obvious, leadership must understand the system if they are to minister well within that system.  I would go so far as to say that it is sinful to ignore the system within which we work as we can unintentionally do harm to a community's health.  But that's just me ;-)

Basics of a PASTORAL CHURCH

• 50-150 active participants
• primary relationship with with the pastor
• most things go through the pastor
• everyone pretty much knows each other
• leadership is interpersonally focused
• most churches thrive at this level

Basics of a PROGRAM CHURCH

• there are pockets of activity, fewer "all-church" activities
• everything does not flow through the pastor, but other leadership take on pastoral functions
• leadership is planning and development focused
• not everyone knows everyone else

MBCC decided to do this once we realized that our growing population really did want to connect, but pretty much everything flowed through me.  And while I was pretty good about not controlling relationships, it became clear that we were growing, we would continue to grow and we needed to make sure that my bandwidth did not hold us back.  This meant a shift in everything from how we stored our data (From my computer to StaffTool) to how we organized small groups (From me instigating and leading to open formation and organizing).

I must admit, I was a tad bit apprehensive.  In an abstract "God-can-do-all-things" kind of way, I knew it could happen, but our track record had not been all that strong.  Still we have boldly moved into this phase and over the past six months have worked through the difficulties of this kind of transition.  There have certainly been some places where things have gone very well and others not so much.  But overall, good God stuff is happening.

From a pastor's view, however, there are certainly some reactions that we have to fight if this transition is going to happen well AND we do not intentionally or unintentionally sabotage the transitions.  Oh, it would be so easy to do, especially if one does not REALLY want to change systems.  If we are not secure in our role as pastor or genuinely do not want to shift in our role, DO NOT try this.  It will suck for everyone.

Getting back to the title of this post, if you do think this is in your future here are some of the doubts that "one" might have with the transition process and then how FaceBook can be a "happy place" for our own insecurities.

The insecurities, apprehensions and doubts.

• People surely can't REALLY connect to the church through anyone but me.
• Folks will not step up and organize, lead and/or follow-through on anything.
• Nothing is happening . . . I should step in save the day.
• I need to have a deep connection with everyone to feed may own needs of pastoral worth.
• Damn, now I will need to really focus on nurturing leadership and big-picture vision.  What excuse will I have now?

How Facebook eases the transition

The brilliance of FB is the public networking and connecting that happens.   All of the insecurities that I may have about leaving the role of  "pastor" of a pastoral church are addressed by the very nature of FB.  My need to be "in the loop" is addressed because as more and more folks from MBCC comment on each others pictures, post on walls and generally interact without I am in still the loop, but not the conduit of the interaction.  The same goes for events, groups and any other planning.  I see that folks are engaging, stepping up, and following through, I have no need to jump in.  Now of course not everything in the life of MBCC happens vie FB, but just enough does to alleviate my overarching fears.

This has all been surprisingly wonderful for me.  We are still figuring out the intracacies of MBCC's version of the Program Church, but from all indications, my fears have not been met with reality and we are slowly but surely making the shift.

Thanks be to FB, God and the church!

What the bleep is going on at MBCC?!?!?!?

First coffee in the "sanctuary" and now this?!?!?!

And this?!?!?!?

As part of our Series "Re|Creation: Meeting God in the Here and Now" we added a few elements to our "normal" worship experience.  In order to expand the ways that we might experience God, we invited folks to participate in any or all of the following activities during the course of the service.  Basically, as the service progressed, as folks felt called they could sit at their table/pew/couch and create or join in one of the communal projects.

• Community mural creation
• Community prayer creation
• Clay sculpting
• Pipe Cleaner Chenille Creation
• Lego creation
• Journaling
• Live Blogging - [Tiffany's Post] [Ryan's Post]

It was a tad bit chaotic and it was certainly was not neat.  We have certainly learned a great deal about ourselves and have discovered some amazing gifts of imagination and artistry.  So far I think the experience has re-affirmed our willingness and ability to be creative and open, while remaining focused on creating a sacred space.

I am proud of us.

[more pictures]

The Jesus Wii keeps going and going and going

Pending any more big news about this, this will be the last specific post on the ruckus raised by our 2008 Easter graphic.  I have always understood the viral nature of things, but this is still surprising on so many levels about the activity still being generated.  It will be interesting to see how much it moves with only one more day left before Easter.

Obviously we liked the postcard, but not everyone does or will.  We have moved out of the gaming community and I found the first Christian church blog to take us in the negative,

Observe the profane manner in which the Savior of the world is treated by Mission Bay Community Church

And looks like the Aussies have picked up on it as well as Ubuntucat alerted me to this Podcast by what looks like a pretty well known gaming crew.

This [podcast] from www.australiangamer.com captures a general feel from the gaming community about all of this hubbub about out Easter Card. 

I am also keeping a running list of posts with unique commentary and or good conversations over on the MBCC Blog if you want to keep up with the buzz.

MBCC Mii Jesus raising a ruckus.

Oh now we gone and done it!  Our 2008 "Come and Follow Mii" postcard has totally blowuptuated in the gaming world.  They laughed, the cried, they defended and they mocked.  And in the end I think it is pretty awesome that an small idea born at the end of a book group over bubble tea and laughter has created such a level of conversation.

Unlike many at MBCC, I am not a gamer, so these websites - and much of the vernacular used within them - is totally foreign to me.  Still the blend of thoughtfullness, passion, anger, judgment, humor and insight was fascinating.

Here are three sites w/comments worth taking a look at or you just need to google "follow mii" or "mii church" and you'll get a bunch of links.  [Ongoing List]

kotaku.com
gonintendo.com
digg.com

You really have to read the comments yourself, but here are a few highlights that show the breadth and depth of the reactions.

On the color of our Wii Jesus // omicron1

Also, on racial issues: Jesus' human body would have been similar in race to his Israeli parents - neither white nor black, per se, but a sort of deep tanned skin color - sort of like the Mii above. However, as we really don't have any photographs of Christ's Bar Mitzvah, it has fallen to various church elders to reconstruct Christ's visage in their own mind's eyes and transcribe it to statues and paintings - thus we have black Christs in Africa and white Christs in Europe. It really doesn't matter either way, to be honest.  

On MBBC's irreverace // Chibi Forte

Can you say “emergent”?  “Seeker sensitive”, perhaps?  And, obviously, “irreverent”?  Really, this whole idea of “Churches being relevant to the culture” is driving me nuts. Can’t we just stick to sermons that are preached exegetically and reverently and go from there?  I mean, I would begrudgingly let them pass muster in a few areas on their website (membership classes, membership not equaling true conversion, lack of clown communion, etc.), but the sheer irreverent attitude and the pathetic mission statement disgusts me, frankly.  I’ll keep listening to my John MacArthur and John Piper, thank you.

On the intent // OnLegendary86

It's not sacreligious dude. Jesus was a man who had fun and danced and drank wine. There is nothing wrong with some cool advertising that makes people look at Christians and think of church differently.

There are many observations to make from the comments, least of all the passionate and strong opinions that are shared about the church and Jesus.  There seems to be both a reverence and repulsion about the church as well as assumptions about what kind of community MBCC is.  Again, fascinating.

In the end, like our website, if it offends you at that level, MBCC might not be a place where you will be fed.  But . . . if you could take it for what it was, a playful attempt at wit and welcome, MBCC might be a place for you.

Again, fascinating.

presbyMEME 5

Some DORK actually developed a meme specifically for Presbyterian Church (USA) folks.  So, only to not crush his geeky little ego, I guess I'll participate.

The rules are pretty basic

• in about 25 words each, answer the following five questions;
• tag five presbyterian bloggers and send them a note to let them know they were tagged;
• be sure to link or send a trackback to this post;

presbyMEME 5

1. What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian?
   It was in college during an ecumenical worship service where we celebrated communion.  This was back in the day when we were the designated "sit and be served" crowd.  Everyone one else moved towards the cup and we sat.
2. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time?
   I think we should spend less time blaming and demonizing the "other side" for the struggles of the denomination.  I think it distracts us from the real deal.
3. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time?
   We have largely ignored the impact and opportunities that the greater culture shifts present for the PC(USA).  If we can be self reflective and understand how much we must change the way we do and are church, hope and optimism might break out everywhere!
4. If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for a entire year, what would it be?
   1 Corinthians 9:19-23    ¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
5. If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why?
   Bull in a china shop - Well-meaning, but sometimes a little clumsy.

Extra Credit: Jesus shows up at General Assembly this year, what does he say to the Presbyterian Church (USA)?
Waddup?  Come and follow Mii!

Is it really fair that I tag the MBCC Staff? - They can always tell be to bug off.  As usual.  Leslie, Abby and Tiffany.  Nick, you are welcome to drop the DOC for a moment and play if you wish ;-) and number five will be past intern, Derrick.

The underwhelming nature of the church I serve.

The world has a fascination with the next big thing.  We are enthralled by size, power and explosions metaphorical and real.  The church is the same way, especially those of us in the church already.

A good example of this is  Mission Bay Community Church, where I serve as the pastor.  Because we are an NCD - Presbyterianese for Church Plant - with some street cred in terms of of being urban, Presbyterian and younger, we are often lifted up - justified or not - as a church to see.  We often get lookyloos on Sunday AM that have heard of us and want to check us out.  They are usually from seminaries, people on vacation, and the occasional pastor looking for new ideas.  That's cool.  If we can help spark some conversations and/or questions for other folks, I'm down with that.  We have no territory issues here.  The odd thing is that the biggest reaction we get from people who are "observing" the animal known as MBCC, is that they basically, say "Huh, it's just a church."  And while most people are pretty positive about this, there is also the occasional, "Well, that's not all that big of a deal."  Both reaction are cool.  One, we never claimed to be anything more than a church and two, see number one.  All we have ever claimed to be is a church.  I think a special place should you choose to engage, but nevertheless, just a church.

I can soooooo live with that.

MBCC on YouTube

We may be small, but we're slow.

One of the real lessons I have learned living this whole pastor thing is that sometimes things will just happen when they happen.  Yeah, sure, seems like an easy concept, but we all know that we pastor types like to force things to happen before they we are often ready.

Well, Mission Bay Community Church is finally on You Tube.  Better late then never I Say.  Edited by video Maven Abigail King Kaiser, these are some of the vids that have been created by and about the community.  Many of the people and settings are highly contextual, but feel free to use them if they work for you.

This is one that was done for world communion Sunday this past October.

Too old for an ethnic identity crisis

If you have not heard of this new blog, Stuff White People Like, you might be living under a blog rock.  I have been seeing this blog being referenced all over the freaking place.  I figured, OK, let me go and see what the big deal is.  After all, I have 3 1/2 White people living in my house - well make the 3 5/8 of you count my 1/8 Spanish blood, but that's for another day - so I should know, right?

Oh no!!!!!!

I may just be White.

Or at least we are now defining all upper-middle-class educated urban hipsters as White.

This is freaking funny!

And true.

Welcome to MBCC.

Jokes people, jokes ;-)

Not always as progressive as we think we are

Everyone once in a while I am reminded how not progressive we are at MBCC.  Not talking specifics - gonna save it for sermon time - but there are certainly places where we fail to see beyond our own cultural comfort areas.  It would be one thing if we claimed to be a Conservative or Orthodox congregation.  I actually think we probably lean more Libertarian in some areas, but that is a different post as well.  I think for the most part, we are pretty consistent throughout our life as a church, that being one of the reasons people come back.   Still, sometimes we talk a good game, even believe we are forward thinking, but in some areas we just are not.  Lessons from these times when my own progressive brakes get slammed head first into a wall of "aaaack" are these . . .

• I wonder what things I hold on to, consciously or or not, that defy my own self-awareness as a political, social and theological progressive.
• I remember that no community is perfect and if there was not some area of tension it would not be authentic to human community.
• I am reminded that defining what is "progressive" or "open" BIG TIME depends on one's point of view.
• I embrace my role as pastor of this complex gathering of folks and the need to discern the most effective way/s to meet the "needs" and "wants" of the community.

Have I gone and started something now?  I can see it now, "Bruce just called us a bunch of conservatives!"

Not that that is bad, just not MBCC.