The Church that Stayed

by Rev. Oscar Clavel

In the fall of last year I had the opportunity to attend the Christian Community Development Conference (CCDA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. CCDA is a grass-roots organization that started twenty years ago in response to the national growing trend of under resourced communities that existed outside the doorsteps of the church.  CCDA saw that the gospel needed to have hands and feet to be the Good News, so they began annual conferences to train and equip the church for urban ministry and its environment.

The conference this past year was like a breath of fresh air to the ministry God has called us to – ministering to our neighbors and congregation. The workshops were relevant and encouraged us to share the gospel both with word and action. Some of the workshops I attended were Bible studies that dealt with God’s heart for the city, others were practical in dealing with issues of race, education, and poverty. Walking away from the conference I sensed a deeper commitment to serve our community, but also the need to think in different ways of what it means to be “the church that stayed”.

That last phrase “the church that stayed” is a very common saying at Tab – it is a statement that captures much of what makes this church at 34^th and Central so unique.   Because it is so important, we should constantly reflect on what that statement really means, and how we live out our identity in this community. CCDA challenged me to see our church not as an ivory tower in the neighborhood but as an integral part of Mapleton Fall Creek’s history and legacy. Just as every household around us contributes to the overall environment of this neighborhood, we also play a part together with them as a big household.  Therefore, it seems to me that we must be intentional about building friendships with our neighbors and going out to them, even as they come to visit us throughout the week. I have no doubt that we offer great and needed programs to our community, but I also sense that if we only think of ourselves as a programmatic church that offers services we’ll never go outside these walls and meet our neighbors and do ministry together.

The challenge to go out of our comfort zones however is never easy and not without some fear, but I still think it’s necessary if we are to continue being “the church that stayed”. So, if urban ministry interests or fascinates you I’d like to invite as many of you as possible to join me in going to this conference on September 7^th -11^th in Chicago.  We’ll share many laughs together, have ample opportunity to worship with each other, and receive training on how to speak with our neighbors while learning what they have to share with us. I’m convinced you’ll greatly benefit from this conference and feel energized and ready to discern together what God is calling you to do at Tab and in our community, just as He has directed us for nearly 160 years.  

If the Holy Spirit is calling you to love and care for our neighbors please see Ann Reynolds or me for registration information. Or call our front office at 317-923-5458 and ask to speak with either one of us so we can sign you up.

 

 

Thanks,
Oscar

“Hineni” Community Ministries Video

This Community Ministries video first aired during a worship service at Tab in February.  Check it out!

Muslims in America: Bridges of Love

David Kingsworthy attended last year’s Christian Community Development Association conference, and here are his reflections from one of the breakout sessions he attended.

At CCDA, there are dozens of breakout sessions covering a variety of topics.  If you are able to attend this year’s conference – September 7-11 in Chicago – you’ll have even more chances to learn and grow!

MUSLIMS IN AMERICA: BRIDGES OF LOVE

Notes from David Kingsworthy

Of over 1.8 billion Muslims in the world, only 20% are of Middle Eastern descent.  This surprising statistic highlights our misconceptions not only about Islam at large, but also about its history and place in our own country.  If we can peel away the falsehoods attached to Islam, and meantime encourage Godly relationships with our Muslim brothers and sisters, Christians can build strong bridges with a group of Americans whose religion appears quite un-American.

This workshop, presented by Stephanie Acker of the Vineyard Church of Greater Boston, was primarily intended to help Christians who are in frequent contact with Muslims, but a secondary goal was to help us re-think our perceptions toward these groups, and perhaps seek them out.  To that end, some key points about the history of World and American Islam were presented.

Most of us know that Islam shares with Christianity a lineage to Abraham, but Abraham is both a point of similarity and divergence.  Similarity because of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael; divergence due to quite different beliefs about the last years of Abraham and his role in the establishment of Islam.  The reason this should perhaps be avoided in conversations with Muslims is the sensitivity to the topic.  Islam’s history of Abraham does not significantly alter the Christian version, but the Christian version reduces Islam dramatically.

Christians interested in understanding their Muslim neighbors might do well to learn about Islam in America.  It was established in the U.S. sometime between 1530 and 1850, during the peak periods of slavery in this country.  Africans had carried Islam with them into slavery, but the long-term establishment of the religion on these shores started in the early 1900’s, when immigration from the Middle East began to rise.  Asian Muslims solidified the foundation from the 1950’s onward; today the Muslim population in America is close to 2.5 million.

Muslim immigration to America mirrors immigration patterns to Europe, an irony of sorts considering that the locations of origin had suffered extensively under White/European/Christian hegemony.  This is not meant as a criticism of well-meaning European Christians, but as a reminder of the perception of paternalism that may linger for westernized Muslims.  It is difficult to separate recent Christian attitudes from those at the root of historical colonialism that sometimes masqueraded as missionalism.

Additionally, the basis of conversations with Muslims must also include an awareness of how recent political and military policies of so-called Christian nations has affected Christianity’s world-wide reputation.  Military actions against Muslim governments & groups around the world in the past 20 years have eroded the Christian image of peaceful & loving interactions.  Echoes of the European Crusades, distant for most of the West, ring loudly for today’s Muslims and add depth to the gulf between our religions.

As for Jesus, while to us he is savior, to Muslims he is merely a prophet (albeit a significant one).  One problem Muslims have with our faith in Jesus as savior is our belief that He is God’s son.  To Muslims, “Son of God” implies that Jesus was sexually conceived.  This implication is offensive to Muslims, who (also) perceive God as perfect and not profane in any way; merely to think of God in this context is unthinkable.

Once we are equipped with historical knowledge & context, how then do we bridge the gaps between us?  Ms. Acker begins with a passage from the Book of Luke, chapter 10, where Jesus sends forth 72 disciples as “lambs among wolves…May God’s peace be upon this house.”  Pray about it, then look for the “person of peace”; likely they are looking for you, too.  Relationships among Muslims are usually male-male and female-female, and modesty in all actions & statements is valued.

Remember that Jesus does not equal Christianity – we must not emphasize aspects of our religion that we’ve attached to Jesus – but don’t be defensive about your faith.  Simultaneously, avoid conversations about Mohammed, but be open to shared Bible-Quran study time.  And always keep this in mind: Muslims love their God, and they love prayer.  At the risk of sounding cliché…maybe we’re not so different after all?!

Sacred Conversation – March 21

SACRED CONVERSATIONS
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church  — 3500 W. 106^th Street
MARCH 21, 4:30 to 6:30 (including meal)
Race, Ethnicity and Religion in a Global and Local Context

The annual Sacred Conversation event will be held at the new Greek Orthodox Church this year.  We will begin with an Orthodox Lenten Vesper Service and tour of the new church focused on Byzantine Architecture, Iconography and Orthodox History.

From 5:30 to 6:45, a Greek meal will be served and a panel will discuss our theme of Race, Ethnicity and Religion.

Questions?  Call Ann Reynolds, ext. 130 or email – ann.reynolds@tabpres.org