Cultivate Gathering: The Low Down
Saturday, August 19, 2006
8:00AM | Introduction
Right now I am sitting in our coffee house at Cultivate. I will continue to update this post throughout the weekend. Currently about 50 church planters (I think it's 55) and those interested in new forms of church are sitting around, sharing their stories, sipping coffee, praying together, and having a good time... although it is only 8:00AM and most of us are terribly sleepy.
The idea behind Cultivate is to gather a bunch of church planters and those who are interested in new forms of church in a Canadian context and network, idea swap, share stories, and inspire. No big name speakers. No big cost. No super packed agenda. No formula for a "healthy, growing church". Just good old heart-to-heart discussion.
9:00AM | "The Gathering"
We started out talking about worship gatherings and other gatherings that churches do. Quite interesting to hear how different communities gather together and what is really important to them. We heard from Garry Castle and Jared Siebert of Next Church in Kingston and what their Sunday gatherings look like. Then we heard from Michael Krause (who I had never met before), a house church planter in a Jewish neighbourhood in Thornhill. Very cool.
After hearing from these guys we split into "open space pods" to chat further about various aspects of the gathering. There was a group for sacraments, one for preaching, one for being community-led (including people in planning), etc. There was a group for growth... which not one person attended... I guess, as Bob Dillon says, the times they are a changin'.
I got in on the sacraments discussion. Amazing to hear people from various denomination backgrounds talk together about the place that sacraments play in their community of faith, the hang-ups, the rules that must be followed, the hurt they have experienced, and the amazing times of authenthic worship as well. Each very different... yet all really listening to and respecting each other. Very beautiful.
10:30AM | "Creativity & The Arts"
Next we focused on what place creativity and the arts play within new forms of church. And we heard the stories of where creativity and the arts have been used as a way of expressing faith. Joe Manafo of Thinker Labs and theStory spoke about his creative process and the need there is to use creativity to communicate the truth about God to a new culture. He also gave some great resources... and took an opportunity to take a cheap shot at me... what a guy!
Then we split into open space pods again to discuss further issues surrounding the arts and the church like: how to include artists, how to host worship gatherings without music, creative ideas, praying creatively, etc.
I had a great conversation with Kim Reid of The Open Door that had little or nothing to do with creativity... but was fun, none the less. Kim is a guy I am coming to like and respect more and more. Which brings me to what I love about this conference.. err, hmm, non-conference... the most: Three quarters of our time was spent networking, chatting, telling stories as opposed to listening to big wigs spout off their book info. Good times.
12:00PM | Lunch
I thoroughly enjoyed a ham and cheese sandwich, a side of couscous salad, and a refreshing strawberry lemonade curtesy of my favourite coffee house: FRWY.ca
1:30PM | "Justice"
This was the segment that garnered the most "open mic" time (I should explain: at the beginning of each segment we had one or two planned people to share their story as it relates to the specific segment, and then we had an open mic time, when anyone can share with the whole group). Wendy Gritter from New Direction shared from her persepctive of working with same-sex attracted people. Kim Reid spoke about feeding kids in school in the poor neighbourhood in which he resides. Mike Todd spoke about his neighbourhood in East Vancouver. He also shared a story which explains the difference between justice and mercy. I think he said he got it from Brian McLaren... either way it was good. Tim Doherty spoke, Jamie Robertson spoke, Michael Krause spoke again... all of them sharing how the issue of justice and mercy is huge for them and their community (I really resonated), and how they feel like the church has given away social services (sound familiar, David Fitch?).
The open space pods followed. There were discussions on things like: feeding the poor, systems that create poverty, urban living, etc.
3:00Pm | "Leadership & Networking"
Jared Siebert talked about the importance of "flat leadership structures" and also about networking. He told folks about Resonate, and more specifically about Greenhouses.
Then when we split into open space pods. We had a group for those involved in or interested in Greenhouses, one for those who wanted to talk about leadership structure in new churches, one for flat leadership structures, etc. I, of course, having pledged alliegiance to Jordon Cooper (who could not be there - you were missed, buddy) and the Resonate flag, attended the Greenhouse group. Good times.
4:30Pm | "Community"
Melissa Burleigh and I told the story of The Freeway... and that's all I have to say about that.
Some of the open space pods about community were: partying, creating community that goes beyond superficiality, being in community with the marginalized, third spaces, etc. I naturally went to the party pod. We talked about the balance of having people in the church community who drink vs. those who don't. we talked about creating a church culture that can experience celebration and good times. We talked about stories of how "things went too far" at parties, etc. and how you handle that. All in all it was my favourite pod of the day... it seemed to gather all the loud mouths... and me.
5:30Pm | Dinner
Me and a bunch of my friends (including my old friends - and ex-FRWYers - Jamie Robertson and Dallas Friesen) enjoyed some Jamaican cuisine right next door to the coffee house at Ya Man! My curry chicken rhoti was amazing.
7:00PM | "The Winking Circle"
In the evening those of us who were left watched a terrific film made by some old friends in Uxbridge, Ontario called "The Winking Circle". The Winking Circle can't be explained by words... this is a film you simply need to see.
Wrap It Up
Ok, I am tired now. All in all, a great day. Possibly my favourite conference experience ever.
Right now I am sitting in our coffee house at Cultivate. I will continue to update this post throughout the weekend. Currently about 50 church planters (I think it's 55) and those interested in new forms of church are sitting around, sharing their stories, sipping coffee, praying together, and having a good time... although it is only 8:00AM and most of us are terribly sleepy.
The idea behind Cultivate is to gather a bunch of church planters and those who are interested in new forms of church in a Canadian context and network, idea swap, share stories, and inspire. No big name speakers. No big cost. No super packed agenda. No formula for a "healthy, growing church". Just good old heart-to-heart discussion.
9:00AM | "The Gathering"
We started out talking about worship gatherings and other gatherings that churches do. Quite interesting to hear how different communities gather together and what is really important to them. We heard from Garry Castle and Jared Siebert of Next Church in Kingston and what their Sunday gatherings look like. Then we heard from Michael Krause (who I had never met before), a house church planter in a Jewish neighbourhood in Thornhill. Very cool.
After hearing from these guys we split into "open space pods" to chat further about various aspects of the gathering. There was a group for sacraments, one for preaching, one for being community-led (including people in planning), etc. There was a group for growth... which not one person attended... I guess, as Bob Dillon says, the times they are a changin'.
I got in on the sacraments discussion. Amazing to hear people from various denomination backgrounds talk together about the place that sacraments play in their community of faith, the hang-ups, the rules that must be followed, the hurt they have experienced, and the amazing times of authenthic worship as well. Each very different... yet all really listening to and respecting each other. Very beautiful.
10:30AM | "Creativity & The Arts"
Next we focused on what place creativity and the arts play within new forms of church. And we heard the stories of where creativity and the arts have been used as a way of expressing faith. Joe Manafo of Thinker Labs and theStory spoke about his creative process and the need there is to use creativity to communicate the truth about God to a new culture. He also gave some great resources... and took an opportunity to take a cheap shot at me... what a guy!
Then we split into open space pods again to discuss further issues surrounding the arts and the church like: how to include artists, how to host worship gatherings without music, creative ideas, praying creatively, etc.
I had a great conversation with Kim Reid of The Open Door that had little or nothing to do with creativity... but was fun, none the less. Kim is a guy I am coming to like and respect more and more. Which brings me to what I love about this conference.. err, hmm, non-conference... the most: Three quarters of our time was spent networking, chatting, telling stories as opposed to listening to big wigs spout off their book info. Good times.
12:00PM | Lunch
I thoroughly enjoyed a ham and cheese sandwich, a side of couscous salad, and a refreshing strawberry lemonade curtesy of my favourite coffee house: FRWY.ca
1:30PM | "Justice"
This was the segment that garnered the most "open mic" time (I should explain: at the beginning of each segment we had one or two planned people to share their story as it relates to the specific segment, and then we had an open mic time, when anyone can share with the whole group). Wendy Gritter from New Direction shared from her persepctive of working with same-sex attracted people. Kim Reid spoke about feeding kids in school in the poor neighbourhood in which he resides. Mike Todd spoke about his neighbourhood in East Vancouver. He also shared a story which explains the difference between justice and mercy. I think he said he got it from Brian McLaren... either way it was good. Tim Doherty spoke, Jamie Robertson spoke, Michael Krause spoke again... all of them sharing how the issue of justice and mercy is huge for them and their community (I really resonated), and how they feel like the church has given away social services (sound familiar, David Fitch?).
The open space pods followed. There were discussions on things like: feeding the poor, systems that create poverty, urban living, etc.
3:00Pm | "Leadership & Networking"
Jared Siebert talked about the importance of "flat leadership structures" and also about networking. He told folks about Resonate, and more specifically about Greenhouses.
Then when we split into open space pods. We had a group for those involved in or interested in Greenhouses, one for those who wanted to talk about leadership structure in new churches, one for flat leadership structures, etc. I, of course, having pledged alliegiance to Jordon Cooper (who could not be there - you were missed, buddy) and the Resonate flag, attended the Greenhouse group. Good times.
4:30Pm | "Community"
Melissa Burleigh and I told the story of The Freeway... and that's all I have to say about that.
Some of the open space pods about community were: partying, creating community that goes beyond superficiality, being in community with the marginalized, third spaces, etc. I naturally went to the party pod. We talked about the balance of having people in the church community who drink vs. those who don't. we talked about creating a church culture that can experience celebration and good times. We talked about stories of how "things went too far" at parties, etc. and how you handle that. All in all it was my favourite pod of the day... it seemed to gather all the loud mouths... and me.
5:30Pm | Dinner
Me and a bunch of my friends (including my old friends - and ex-FRWYers - Jamie Robertson and Dallas Friesen) enjoyed some Jamaican cuisine right next door to the coffee house at Ya Man! My curry chicken rhoti was amazing.
7:00PM | "The Winking Circle"
In the evening those of us who were left watched a terrific film made by some old friends in Uxbridge, Ontario called "The Winking Circle". The Winking Circle can't be explained by words... this is a film you simply need to see.
Wrap It Up
Ok, I am tired now. All in all, a great day. Possibly my favourite conference experience ever.
Labels: church planting, cultivate
1:06 PM
Yo P-Diddy tell some of your homeboys to start a FRWYish church in the T-Dot. Say hi to B for me.