Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Bonhoeffer, community and vocational clergy
I have been re-reading Ruth Haley Barton's masterpiece (my editorial opinion) "Invitation to Silence and Solitude" and found these two reminders from Pastor Deitrich:
"Right speech comes out of silence; right silence comes out of speech."
And, this:
"Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in comunity beware of being alone.."
I think it's interesting how connected Bonhoeffer finds silence and talking, and community and solitude. I have been exploring my own thoughts about "lay monasticism" lately and just how to integrate and combine a non-sequestered life with practices and spiritual disciplines (most) often mastered by those living in traditional monastic settings. Just where are the boundary lines? How do you create space BOTH for meaningful silence (which for me almost necessitates solitude) and meaningful community? (See Kyle Potter's thoughtful post on community life and loving others.)
I must admit -- this is for me one of the great challenges in this season of my journey with Jesus. I struggle with the issues of separation and stratus that plague vocational ministry, and then am led down the parallel alley of wondering how missional/communal/monastic Christianity can ever be assimilated by institutional 'church.' I don't even throw that out as part of the bevy of issues that comprimise and corrupt the western church (although goodness knows I experience and understand THOSE frustrations) -- I mean is it literally possible to experience community in a environment that is structured with vocational clergy?
I cannot help but notice how many bloggers in this thematic spectrum of the blogosphere are ex-vocational clergy. More thoughts later on silence and speech.
Peace,
harry
"Right speech comes out of silence; right silence comes out of speech."
And, this:
"Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in comunity beware of being alone.."
I think it's interesting how connected Bonhoeffer finds silence and talking, and community and solitude. I have been exploring my own thoughts about "lay monasticism" lately and just how to integrate and combine a non-sequestered life with practices and spiritual disciplines (most) often mastered by those living in traditional monastic settings. Just where are the boundary lines? How do you create space BOTH for meaningful silence (which for me almost necessitates solitude) and meaningful community? (See Kyle Potter's thoughtful post on community life and loving others.)
I must admit -- this is for me one of the great challenges in this season of my journey with Jesus. I struggle with the issues of separation and stratus that plague vocational ministry, and then am led down the parallel alley of wondering how missional/communal/monastic Christianity can ever be assimilated by institutional 'church.' I don't even throw that out as part of the bevy of issues that comprimise and corrupt the western church (although goodness knows I experience and understand THOSE frustrations) -- I mean is it literally possible to experience community in a environment that is structured with vocational clergy?
I cannot help but notice how many bloggers in this thematic spectrum of the blogosphere are ex-vocational clergy. More thoughts later on silence and speech.
Peace,
harry
