CT reaction. . .

Okay, so I might regret this but here it goes. For a while now I have been a part of an alternative Christian movement in the church. It's hard to classify the movement because it's name really varies, "New Monasticism", "Community of Communities", "Protestant Catholic Workers"??? I am not sure.

What I am sure about is that the movement strives to be authentic in its beliefs, but the press that it is receiving paint the movement in a way that just isn't the truth, but the aims of evangelism don't really allow an honest understanding of what "really" happens in the communities to take place. In a lot of ways the reports from various media (for example Christianity Today) falsely paint our movement as having white, male charistmatic leaders. I don't believe anyone in the movement would identify themselves and especially not those who CT identify as leaders, as those who the majority of folsk in our movement follow. By nature the movement we are attempting to invent leans towards anarchism in the sense that it allows each individual to represent themselves wholly in the community. "Gifts of leadership" usually associated with particular behaviors aren't necessary what we believe are important in reinventing how leadership is understood and practiced, especially within the bounds of systemic injustice. In other words voices that aren't as often heard (or certainly appreciated) are given priority within the community structure. This is not always the case but it is certainly a goal. However, the perception in the media is that our communities have a few (in media's perception white, male) leaders while the rest of us are followers of this charismatic voice or that one.

Honestly, the term "ordinary radical" doesn't necessarily apply to our communities. Sure, a majority of white, middle class folks would not grow up and move to poor districts of the inner city - but because some of us have a little daring does not put us into a position where we are able to challenge the norms of the church in terms of economics, racism, sexism or sexual ethics. Perhaps the most radical thing we do is relocation, but that doesn't mean we have done it well. Many of our communities, despite longevity (talking close to 10 years) still have not found avenues to address racism within the community, nor have we had much racial diversity within the leadership of the communities. This IS a problem.

Secondly, many of the communities have been billed as places where "monogomous married couples and celebate singles" come together in "perfect harmony". Well, this is simply not true. Celebacy is a spiritual gift given a few individuals who have hte desire and ability to practice it. Because one is single does NOT make them celebate.

Obviously it is easy from the perspective of one living in these communities to be critical, but I think it is important for folks to know that just because we live in intentional Christian community does not mean we are "radical" - it means we are trying very hard to understand the mandates of the gospel and put them into practice. This is important because we are not the only ones called to do this - all of us who profess a faith of the Judeo-Christian tradition (and other faiths, but that's another blog) are called to account, if you will, to practice what we believe. The other important thing to remember is that we did not invent this practice, its as old as the church, we are just attempting to take a very long tradition and practice it in the way that we know how.

That's all.

Farah marie