I’ve been giving much thought on the ethos (the distinguishing character, beliefs or moral nature of a person, group, or institution) of the church my husband and I planted, and while we continue to dialog on what we are all about as a group and think we came up with somethings, trying to carry "it" out is quite another story.

What do I mean? For instance, we are totally for disagreeing without disengaging. YET, we realize that most people because of the daily masks worn day in and day out to survive, don’t know how to disagree without fear of disengagement…either their own or those they are disagreeing with. We desire to have a community of faith where doubts can be expressed, where people are encouraged to explore their uncertainties. We want WHF to be a place where we create a space where those who choose to make us their home church feel that they are free to think, question, debate, wrestle with issues and again disagree with disengaging.

We recognize that there is value in exploring different views and that many times we learn from them, yet as pastors sometimes we need to be careful that people don’t cross the line. The line of becoming a whiner versus a doubting disciple or a faithless (for now) sojourner. Doubters and temporary faithless folks are significant places to be in the journey of faith. Whiners aren’t looking to heal and build they are (even without knowing it at times) steal your joy, zap your energy and cause cancer in the body (of Christ). Doubts and diagloging versus Dissin’ and Monologuing…I think that is one of the characteristics of a new kind of church.

In the Emergent Conference in Nashville this past May, the planning team developed "learning communities" I liked that. I want to have mini-learning communities in WHF. As this new kind of church, we can meet people at various stages of their faith walk and hear the "broke, busted and disgusted" stories as well as the "I’m blessed and highly favored" periods of their lives. Those among us, the single parent, the disabled child, the detached youth all have something to teach this is at the essence of communal reflection.

Its a radical commitment to the "priesthood of all believers!" Tomorrow I’ll share on Storytellas…another characteristic of a New Kind of Church.