Bigbulkyanglican

Missional life in denominational Church

So in Luke 10, Jesus sends out the 70/2 in mission. And he suddenly looks around his empty church. Stink. This won't look good next Sunday. Who will do sound? What will visitors say? What will the denomination think?

Steve Taylor brilliantly sums up one of the central dilemmas for missional Christians (and particularly clergy) living out their faith in a denominational setting. Some of us thought that the Church of England had begun to respond to the missional agenda this year in its annual returns ( the inappropriately labeled "statistics for mission") when it included categories for midweek. However the small print then effectively defined what should be included in such a way as to exclude anything which was not "proper church"

Missional Priest post advertised

This is perhaps a first for my blog - but here is a plug for a very particular parish priest appointment - All Hallows Church in Leeds is advertising for a new priest.

You can read the Church Times advert here and follow the link to the parish website for a description of its very distinctive ministry in the wonderful city of Leeds.

I need to be clear that I have no particular involvement other than I think that this could be a very special new role for some people who I know, but I do not have much time at the present to ring around and nudge people so the blog is one way of communicating it.

If your ordained then the question is:

Could it be you?

In the name of love - Africa celebrates U2

Here's news of Paul Heck latest Music is our Weapon collaborative venture with some of Africa's top musicians:

On April 1, 2008, Shout! Factory will release In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2, an album celebrating the music, culture and future of Africa, and an unprecedented musical homage to Bono and U2 for their ongoing humanitarian relief efforts aiding the beloved continent. A portion of the record’s proceeds will directly benefit The Global Fund.

12 original interpretations of classic U2 hit songs and some of their more obscure material are featured on In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2. The collection kicks off with Angelique Kidjo’s powerful multilingual cover of the 1991 chart-topper, “Mysterious Ways.” Aerosmith’s Joe Perry joins Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars for an upbeat, guitar-driven take on “Seconds,” a track from U2’s third studio release, War (1983).

Rising Malian star, Vieux Farka Touré offers a trancy, Sahara Desert blues-influenced rendition of “Bullet The Blue Sky,” an absolute standout performance of one of U2’s most-played live in concert tunes. Additional highlights include Les Nubians dubbed-out dancefloor ready version of “With Or Without You,” the Soweto Gospel Choir’s epic a cappella version of “Pride In The Name Of Love,” and Tony Allen’s Afrobeat translation of “Where The Streets Have No Name Paul Heck notes that, “I was amazed when we approached the artists of how quickly they chose the songs they wanted to do. Many of them grew up listening to U2, and knew the songs so well.”

You can hear samples here - but the UK release is not due until later in the month

Anglican Five Marks of Mission

The worldwide Anglican Communion has had since 1984 a shared agenda for Mission commonly known as the "Five Marks of Mission", which are the basis for a colloquium which I am sharing in next week.

If you coming you might want to read this review document which will form the basis of my contribution about the changing "context" of mission in the Anglican Church where I suggest that mission is now the formative agenda for a Church in post-Christendom.

I have longed believed that this document was missional in visionary way long before the whole missional agenda came along in the 90s - and continue to be amazed how many Anglicans get through clergy training etc without coming across the original document or its 1990s update and review.

For those who are not coming it may be interesting to know that the The Five Marks are:

To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

To respond to human need by loving service

To seek to transform unjust structures of society

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

(Bonds of Affection-1984 ACC-6 p49, Mission in a Broken World-1990 ACC-8 p101)

Radio giggles

Being a holiday week, I was only just awake this morning when this impromptu magic moment happened on the Today programme and the normally so in-control presenters and news readers were reduced to fits of giggles by a moment of recording history - in fact it is claimed to be the very first recording of the human voice!

Why teenagers don't sing in Church anymore!

Anglican Bloggers

Interesting collection of links to Anglican bloggers with some "new to me" links into Stateside Episcopals

Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes are a five piece from Seattle currently attracting much attention on music web-sites Stateside for their music which they describe as "baroque harmonics" which is a mix of tight multi-part vocal harmonies accompanied by structured acoustic instrumentation which is folk in tone but rock in structure.

They have some of their current tracks available here and are about to start an American tour with an full album due for States release in June and in the UK in July.

Their current EP is only available on import via Amazon - but word is that that they are edging for time on the summer festival circuit in the UK.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Missional / Emergent is short-sighted

I have been looking up various emergent/missional forums this morning - catching up with the thoughts and ideas and it has struck me just how short-sighted most of the male contributers are: ie what a high proportion of male members in these communities wear glasses - but not it seems the female members. Just have a look through Anglimergent as an illustration.

Moleskins and drawing

My inability to draw ( yes I know the cliche " everyone can draw" sits alongside "everyone can sing") produces elements of envy when I see moleskin entries like this, and reminds me that Powerpoint and Paint etc are my artistic salvation.