Your posting struck a number of chords with me. The family metaphor does seem to be universal, at least among Protestant congregations. I guess that's why Edwin Friedman's Family Systems approach gained such popularity in the 1980s and 90s. But your reflections called to mind a more recent assessment of the family metaphor I found in "Called to Community," a selection of writings from Plough Books. The book is designed for small group study with 52 topics for a year's curriculum. In the fifth week ("Brothers, Sisters") an excerpt from Hal Miller compares and contrasts the metaphors of Body and Family in ways you might find interesting!
they may be obsessed with bringing in new people, but are they actually doing that?
in my experience, that obsession can really be a fear that they are dying as is. Not really a welcoming of new members into a ‘family’ that is already a warm and thriving place to be.
Your posting struck a number of chords with me. The family metaphor does seem to be universal, at least among Protestant congregations. I guess that's why Edwin Friedman's Family Systems approach gained such popularity in the 1980s and 90s. But your reflections called to mind a more recent assessment of the family metaphor I found in "Called to Community," a selection of writings from Plough Books. The book is designed for small group study with 52 topics for a year's curriculum. In the fifth week ("Brothers, Sisters") an excerpt from Hal Miller compares and contrasts the metaphors of Body and Family in ways you might find interesting!
that does sound interesting!
thank you!
they may be obsessed with bringing in new people, but are they actually doing that?
in my experience, that obsession can really be a fear that they are dying as is. Not really a welcoming of new members into a ‘family’ that is already a warm and thriving place to be.
yes. this is why I added this blog to my 'future of church' series.
What would it look like to move beyond the fear and grow in faith and love as we are?
I think this is possible. I think it's necessary.
I love what you're doing, by the way.
I feel like we are kindred spirits, coming from different directions.
I'm a priest turned solopreneur turned techie, trying to use all those skills to help the church reform - and thrive.
I'd love to chat with you sometime.
definitely email me if you feel the same: frcathie@freerangepriest.org