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Resources Diana Butler Bass From Nomads to Pilgrims
Resources Diana Butler Bass From Nomads to Pilgrims
| From Nomads to Pilgrims |
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Stories from Practicing Congregations The book allows twelve congregations to tell their story of change as they intentionally rediscovered the traditional practices of the church, and reintroduced them into their contemporary situation.They are not detailing a program, or proposing a model for all to follow, but as you read each of their diverse stories together, the common thread emerges of a renewed congregation that is a practicing congregation, a community of pilgrims on the way. This book is the second to come from a research project on Congregations that have experienced a renewed sense of identity vocation and mission through intentionally embracing Christian practices that in special ways embodied a way of life that makes sense of the Gospel in their unique cultural contexts. The first book, “The Practicing Congregation; Imagining a New Old Church”, has set out the theory and an analysis of the data. From Nomads to Pilgrims is a series of essays sharing the journeys of a wide variety of mainline congregations that have intentionally and creatively reappropriated traditional Christian practices and through them, rediscovered something of their former vitality and vigour.The title theme of the book was inspired by the minister of Trinity Church on Wall Street which since the World Trade Centre attack has seen more than two million visitors a year pass through its doors. “Tourists come in droves” bemoans the pastor. “But I don’t want them to leave as tourists. I want them to become pilgrims. I want them to connect, to know there is something more.” Every Church in the USA sits among a throng of tourists – people on a journey of self discovery. But simply being on a spiritual journey does not automatically mean that people will find meaning. Rather, they need to connect and discover that journeys can become pilgrimages. Nomadic tourists can become pilgrims. Becoming a pilgrim means adopting a new place and a new identity by learning a new language and new rhythms and practices. Being a tourist means experiencing something new, being a pilgrim means becoming something new. The book allows twelve congregations to tell their story of change as they intentional rediscovered the traditional practices of the church, and reintroduced them into their contemporary situation. They are not detailing a program, or proposing a model for all to follow, but as you read each of their diverse stories together, the common thread emerges of a renewed congregation that is a practicing congregation, a community of pilgrims on the way. People’s lives were transformed as they joined these faith communities, not by taking a membership class or signing a pledge card, but by participating in the congregations’ story, language, actions and rhythms. People experienced the metanoia, the complete change of heart promised by God to those who follow Jesus. The book does not set out a model or a program to follow. But as I read through the stories of ordinary people in ordinary churches (facing the same struggles experienced by many small congregations I have seen), who begin to be serious about how they live out their faith, and be serious about the communities in which they live, I am encouraged to believe the principals they have discovered can bring renewed life and hope to many other communities. While the book and its stories are set in an obviously American culture, the principals are valid for all cultures as they are applied to the story of each congregation. Matt Curnow. November 2008.
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