Introduction

While you're waiting for your book to come, I want to highlight a few phrases from the Introduction that I think might help frame our discussion:
In describing the congregations that Diana Butler Bass profiles, actually the first 50 before choosing a final 10 to profile, she described them as "solid, healthy churches that exhibited Christian authenticity, expressed a coherent faith, and offered members ways of living with passion and purpose." Of those "solid, healthy churches," she noted that many of them had emerged from dire circumstances of decline or crisis. I don't think Park Hill thinks of itself of having had any dire circumstances. Though, consider that 40-50 years ago we had around 600 members and today we have less than 200. And the interim period wasn't necessarily a crisis, but it's been described by many as a very difficult and painful time, one in which some people left the church. Yet, I think of Park Hill as a very healthy church.

So, do we exhibit Christian authenticity? We'll have to read more to see what she means by that.

Do we express a coherent faith? Again, what does that mean? Do you think our faith is "coherent?" Without knowing more of what she means, I'd say that Park Hill's faith coheres pretty well around the identity of social justice. But is there more?

And do we offer members ways of living with passion and purpose? That's a good challenge for us to identify as we move forward together. Do you think of your involvement with the church as passionate and purposeful? Not everything can be - after all we have certain functions to fulfill just to be a community that pays its bills. But beyond that? Again, this might be something important for us to consider as we move forward in this conversation.
Thanks for joining it!
David

Virtual Book Group

Hi Everyone!
I want to try something different for a study group this summer. As I've learned, we are a travelin' folk! Including myself. So finding an evening to have a book study is perhaps hard. So, here's my attempt. I want to try to do a book study via blog. Will it work? Unless we try, who knows?!

I've chosen "Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith" by Diana Butler Bass. I've found it very interesting so far. And I think it will speak to many of us. She has identified a number of liberal progressive churches across the country in mainline denominations (not unlike Park Hill) that do not downplay their activism but have found vitality in deepening their practices of hospitality, contemplation, discernment, and seven more "signposts" of a vital congregation. It's a book I'd really love to have a number of people engage and I don't want to wait until we can find the time to fit it into the schedule.

I plan to begin the conversation on June 4 and will move to a new chapter or two every Wednesday - therefore, discussions on a particular chapter can go on for a week.

I'm going to order a few copies to have available at church; you can get a copy from the library or order online. It's about $10 on Amazon. If you buy it on Amazon.com, please go first to www.goodsearch.com and choose Goodshop. It will show you several options, one of which is Amazon. Click on that icon and Park Hill Church will receive a percentage of your purchase.

I'm looking forward to trying this out.
David