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| Servants to establish an intentional Christian community in London |
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There are no translations available. "The renewal of the church will come from a new type of monasticism, which has only in common with the old an uncompromising allegiance to the sermon on the mount. It is high time men and women banded together to do this." Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is perhaps most widely known for his execution by the Nazis for plotting to assassinate Hitler. But what many people don't know is that during the 1930's, Bonhoeffer organized an underground "intentional Christian community". It was a secret seminary that Bonhoeffer formed together with a band of young guys he was training for ministry. Together, under Bonhoeffer's leadership they attempted to live lives of discipleship based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Out of this experience Bonhoeffer wrote his famous books 'Life Together' and 'The Cost of Discipleship'. Drawing on the rich ancient monastic traditions of history, Bonhoeffer dreamed of being and doing church in a radical new way, beyond small talk and a cup of tea on Sunday mornings. Why did Bonhoeffer believe that new forms of monasticism would bring renewal to the church? Well firstly, New Monasticism is not new in the advertising sense of "new and improved!" But instead, scholars suggest that Bonhoeffer probably used the term meaning that it was new to him - from outside his tradition. At its core, monasticism is a vision for living differently, prophetically, against the grain of our individualistic society. Originally, monasticism was a life focused on prayer and service, the unadorned clarity of a disciplined life, radically following Jesus. Monastic communities were supposed to be signs and symbols of the Kingdom of God. In Servants we have been reflecting on what we have learnt in Asia over the past 25 years and now we believe that God is calling us to bring those Biblical principles home to the UK too. So, we have been imagining what it would be like to live out the kind of church and community we see in the Bible, in history and even in the slums of Asia! Community is one of our 5 principles, core to the teachings of Jesus, and yet it is sorely lacking in the West. Our first experiment in the UK is to be in Southall, London: a place of incredible diversity and need, with close links to Asia. We won't be donning musty tunics, habits or anything like that (more likely saris or something culturally appropriate!) But we will be seeking to live together or near each other (no further than you can walk in your pyjamas with a heavy casserole) and sharing daily rhythms of prayer, hospitality and service. Jean Vanier said, "In years to come, we are going to need many small communities which will welcome lost and lonely people, offering them a new form of family and a sense of belonging." If something within you has been longing to go deeper into God, community and service, perhaps it is a tug towards the new Servants team in Southall (late 2008). We are looking for highly committed people: young and old, introverts and extroverts, singles and families. So drop us a line and we can chat more about it. [This article by Craig Greenfield first appeared in the Servants UK newsletter. If you would like to receive this quarterly newsletter contact the UK office.] |
