A presentation for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles at Christ Church, Redondo Beach, CA

1. Practicing Paradoxy
Exploring Incarnational Christian Community
April 2, 2013
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

2. Who am I?
Why is this important to me?
What do I hope to leave you with?
3ImportantQuestions
Getting On Board

3. Who are you?
Why is this important to you?
What do you hope to leave with?
3ImportantQuestions
Getting On Board

4. What do I hope
to leave you with?
PROVISIONAL ANSWERS
TO THREE QUESTIONS
Where are we?
How did we get here?
Where do we go from here?

5. Starting Places
The Transforming Power of Christ’s Love
The Reality of Death & Resurrection
Concursis Dei
Believing Our Belovedness
Overcoming Our Fear of Failure (Death)
Imanu-El (With-Us God)

6. Where are we now?

7. May You Live in
INTERESTING TIMES!
Blessing?Curse?

8. Let me ask that a different way…

9. Blessing?Curse?
Riding
Drowning

10. It all depends on your
point of view
world view
conceptual framework
PARADIGM

11. It should be the law:
If you use the word ‘paradigm’
without knowing what the dictionary says it means,
you go to jail.
No exceptions.
– David B. Jones, CTO of Innovative Robotics
A word about Paradigms

12. “A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices
that constitutes a way of viewing reality
for the community that shares them.”
– American Heritage Dictionary
Paradigm (Definition)

13. Paradigm “Shift”
Thomas Kuhn
The Structure of Scientific Revolution

14. Scientific change is not
INCREMENTAL
but rather occurs in
MASSIVE SHIFTS
because…
Change is Non-Linear

15. PARADIGMS
DETERMINE
PERCEPTION

16. 1. Unchallenged Dominant Paradigm
2. Discrepant Data
3. Anxiety & Reactivity
4. Conservative & Progressive Camps
5. Demonizing of Opposition
6. Dominant Paradigm Collapses
7. New Paradigm Emerges
How Scientific Paradigms Shift

17. Not entirely what the conservatives feared,
nor entirely what the progressives proposed.
Elements of both…and neither.
In other words, paradoxical & transcendent.
Characteristics
of Emerging Paradigms

18. Examples of Paradigm Shifts?
EXAMPLES?

19. Paradigms
can be useful
when we recognize they are models of reality
can be harmful
when we confuse them with actual reality
(or truth)
Living in “Interesting” Times

20. A Paradigm Rummage Sale!
What’s happening in the Church?

21. Every 500 years,
the Church feels compelled
to hold a giant rummage sale
– Phyllis Tickle
(quoting Mark Dyer)
The 500 Year Rummage Sale

22. Century Sale
Early 1st The Great Incarnation
Mid 5th The Great Excommunication
11th The Great Schism
16th The Great Reformation
21st The Great _________?
Living in “Interesting” Times

23. Rummage Sale
OR
Fire Sale!
(Everything Must Go!)
Signs of the Times?

24. Living in an Age
of
Collapsing Paradigms
Where are we now?

25. Three Collapsing Paradigms
of Christian Unity
Christendom
POWER
Foundationalism
CERTAINTY
Religion
SECURITY
A COMMON ASSUMPTION

26. Unity = Uniformity
but in reality
Unity ≠ Uniformity

27. in reality
When
UNIFORMITY
is the
REQUIREMENT
for
COMMUNITY
Then
DIS/UNITY
is the
RESULT

28. Uniformity = Us vs. Them
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
THEM
Christianity as a Bounded Set

29. How does knowing these things help us?

30. perhaps a little
humility
about our
UNDERSTANDING OF GOD
the nature of paradigms means
we’re all a little bit wrong

31. perhaps a little
understanding
about
WHAT WE’RE GOING THROUGH
anxiety & reactivity
are natural responses to paradigm shifts

32. perhaps a little
insight
into our
BLIND SPOTS
liberal: a conservative who’s been mugged
conservative: a liberal who’s been arrested

33. perhaps a little
Compassion
for our
FELLOW TRAVELERS
all of us are trying to find a path into our
future that does not leave behind
the heart of who we are

34. Recognize/Resist
Anxious Reactivity
Respond to change with
more compassion
Recognize/Resist
tendency to demonize
Deal with opponents
not as enemies
but as fellow travelers
whose insights we need

35. How did we get here?

36. Century Sale
Early 1st The Great Incarnation
Mid 5th The Great Excommunication
11th The Great Schism
16th The Great Reformation
21st The Great _________?
Living in “Interesting” Times

37. Paradigms of Unity
Paradigm Premise Presumption Prognosis
Christendom Power
Power
w/o
Corruption
Dead
but
not buried
Foundationalism Certainty
Rationality
w/o
Sin
Auto-
Immune
Syndrome
Religion Security
Stability
w/o
Death
Imagine
no
Religion

38. Foundationalism:
Two Paths to Certainty
Outside-In (Locke)
Process
Objective observation of
outside world
Progeny
Modern science
Modern Fundamentalism
(Inerrant Scripture)
Inside-Out (Descartes)
Process
Objective analysis of
internal experience
Progeny
Modern philosophy
Liberal Biblical Analysis
(If in doubt, throw it out)

39. Questions for Contemplation
In what ways might these collapsing paradigms
be continuing to affect:
• Your ministry?
• Your congregation’s ministry?
• Your diocese’s ministry?
• Your denominations ministry?

40. Where do we go from here?
Tools for the journey

41. THE QUESTION
When Our Old Paradigms
Collapse…
WHAT WILL REMAIN?
What will put the
UNITY
in Christian
COMMUNITY?

42. The Shift
PowerLove
Certainty
SecurityHope
Faith
Sound Familiar?

43. We’ve always known these applied
to individual Christians.
What would it be like
if we applied them
TO THE CHURCH?

44. the answer is…
YES!
(It all depends on your diagnosis)
May You Live in Interesting Times!
Curse or Blessing?

45. If you think you have to
REPAIR
the Church
Turbulent Times
can seem like a
CURSE

46. If you think WE are called
RE-PARADIGM
the Church with God’s help
Then we can begin
to see the changes we are facing as
BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE

47. CURSEBLESSING
The
PARADOX
at the heart of the
GOSPEL

48. So where do we start?

49. FAITH + HOPE + LOVE
What would it be like
if we applied them
TO THE CHURCH?

50. Orthodoxy is my doxy.
Heterodoxy is another man's doxy.
William Warburton
English literary critic and churchman, 1698-1779
(Bishop of Gloucester from 1759)
The Problem
Orthodoxy has come to mean
different things to different people.

51. For
Conservative Christians
ORTHODOXY
has come to mean
HOLDING THE RIGHT BELIEFS
“Propositional Orthodoxy”
or
“ORTHOPROXY”

52. For
Liberal Christians
ORTHODOXY
has come to mean
LIVING RIGHT PRACTICES
“Ethical Orthodoxy”
or
“ORTHOPRAXY”

53. to move
INTO OUR FUTURE
taking with us
THE HEART OF WHAT WE ARE
we need a new way of thinking
about
ORTHODOXY

54. a way that recognizes that
ORTHOPROXY & ORTHOPRAXY
are just
TWO DIFFERENT SHELLS
for protecting the same
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST

55. A
Radical Paradoxical
MIDDLE
WAY

56. A THIRD WAY
OF BEING CHRISTIAN
that
TRANSCENDS
LIBERAL & CONSERVATIVE
and thus includes
BOTH

57. Not a
COMPROMISE
for the sake of peace
But a
(paradoxical)
COMPREHENSION
for the sake of truth

58. Getting to the Root of
ORTHODOXY
ORTHO (lit. “Right”) + DOXY (lit. “Praise”)
=
“RIGHT PRAISE”
or
“APPROPRIATE RESPONSE”
(to the incarnate presence of God)

59. a
Radical Focus
on the
Incarnation

60. call it
“INCARNATIONAL ORTHODOXY”
or
“INCARNATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY”
or simply
“PARADOXY”

61. WHAT IS AN
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE?
(to the incarnate presence of God)
Awe & Wonder
Overflowing Love
Yearning to Worship
Desire for Relationship

62. Promising Principles
of a New Way of Being Church
Oneness in Christ
Law of Love over Love of Law
Transformational Living
Radical Hospitality/Agape Relationships
Organism over Organization
Inclusive/Interdependent Community

63. Oneness in Christ
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Christ came
not to Teach the Truth
nor to Live the Truth
but to BE the TRUTH
Christ’s love
is the only sufficient basis
for Christian community
As Christ’s
adopted family
we are stuck with each other
(“Walton’s Mountain” Theology)

64. Law of Love over Love of Law
This is my commandment: that you love one another.
Fundamentalists
about the Law of Love
Christ’s love
creates community
Christ’s community
manifests love

65. Transformational Living
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation
Curbing Our
Dogma
Embracing
Divine Mystery
Emersion Into
New Creation
(If Christ, so what?)

66. Curbing Our Dogma

67. Radical Hospitality/Agape Relationships
The one thing truly worthwhile is becoming God’s friend.
Non-Proselytizing
Evangelism
Radical
Hospitality
Love To Tell
The Story

68. Organism over Organization
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Member-Driven
Vision & Mission
Gifts-Based
Leadership & Organization
Provisional
Structures & Processes

69. Church as Fractal Organism
Vestry Worship
5pm
11am
9am
Choir
Christian
Educ.
AdultTeen
Sunday
School
K-6
Middle
School
Pre-K
?
TaizeAdult
?
Outreach LocalIntl
?

70. Inclusive/Interdependent Community
When I am lifted up… I will draw all people to myself.
Community as a
Centered Set
Clear Focus on
WHO
is at the Center
Boundaries few/low
No Tests for Admission
(Incarnational Community)

71. Centered-Set Christian Community
JESUS
CHRIST
US
US
US
Community w/o Boundaries

72. God is a circle whose center is
EVERYWHERE
and whose circumference is
Empedocles
Greek philosopher, ca 490-430 BCE

73. RIGHT BELIEF
and
RIGHT PRACTICE
are
NOT UNIMPORTANT
just
SECONDARY

74. FAITH
Our faith is not in Doctrine
(believing things about Christ)
Our faith is not in Practice
(trying to live like Christ)
Our faith is in Relationship
(loving the incarnate person of Christ)
the Church’s one foundation

75. HOPE
Christ’s love transforms
(the Community and the Creation)
Changing hearts is Christ’s job, not ours
(we set aside our need to convert others)
Our job is to make Christ’s love tangible.
(we welcome all unconditionally)
if anyone is in Christ, there is a New Creation

76. LOVE
Christ’s love for us creates Christian community
(everything else is secondary)
We welcome and engage diversity
(love where it “shouldn’t” be -- a sign of the Holy Spirit)
We believe Christ’s love for us has made us a family
(we are stuck with each other even when we disagree)
We are Fundamentalists about the Law of Love
(love God, love each other, the rest is commentary)
the greatest of these

77. Questions?

78. Questions for Contemplation
Imagine what your church would it would feel like for
your church to leave behind the paradigms of Security,
Certainty, and Power (Control), and move toward
becoming a community based on Faith, Hope, and
Love.
• What is the cost of becoming a new kind of community?
• What is the promise?
• What is the cost of staying as you are?
• What is the promise?

79. So What?
So what
does all this look like
IN PRACTICE?

80. So What?
It Depends
On Congregational Vision & Mission
On Congregational Charism & Call
On Community Context

81. So What?
D.Y.O.D.
(Do Your Own Discernment)
I can’t do it for you…
…but I can provide a framework

82. 3-Step Discernment Process
1. Ministry Transformation Inquiry (Repeat PRN)
• Review Paradoxy-Ministry Matrix.
• Choose a Paradoxy Principle that calls out.
• Imagine what each ministry area looks like if applied.
2. People-Gifts Inquiry (Repeat PRN)
• Review People-Gifts Matrix.
• Choose a Leadership Gift that calls out.
• Imagine who in your congregation might have that gift.
3. People-Ministry Midrash (Repeat PRN)
• Review People-Gifts Matrix & Paradoxy-Ministry Matrix.
• Let the two matrices “wrestle” & see what emerges,

83. An Exercise to Try
• Review the Paradoxy Ministry Matrix.
• Pick a Paradoxy Principle that calls out to you.
• Imagine what your church’s various ministry
areas would look like (how they would change)
as you applied that principle.
(free association is encouraged)

84. Setting Sail

85. Deming on Change
You don’t have to change...
…survival is not mandatory

86. Keeping Our Balance
Unrealistic Optimism
balanced with
Realistic Expectations

87. Keeping Our Balance

88. Salah al-Din and the Sparrow

89. Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and leader of the fight
against the armies of the Crusades, was out riding his warhorse
near Jerusalem one day when he came upon a tiny little sparrow,
lying in the middle of the road with its feet in the air.
At first Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn thought the sparrow dead, but as he drew
closer he discovered that the bird was alive and had assumed
the position on purpose.

90. “Little sparrow,”
said Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,
“Why do you lie in the middle of the road with your feet in the
air?”

91. “O great and mighty Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,”
said the sparrow
(since everyone knew the great Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn),
“I am holding up the sky.”

92. “Little sparrow,”
said Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,
“Why would a tiny creature like yourself want hold up the
sky?”

93. “O great and mighty Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,”
said the sparrow,
“I am holding up the sky because I heard it was falling.”

94. “Tiny sparrow,”
said Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn,
now mocking the little bird,
“How could one as small as you, with your spindly little legs,
have any hope of holding up the sky?”

95. “One does what one can,”
said the sparrow,
“One does what one can.”

96. Closing Prayer
Grant that we may maintain
that middle way,
not as a compromise
for the sake of peace,
but as a comprehension
for the sake of truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord…
Amen.
Lesser Feasts and Fasts (TEC, 2006)

97. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License.
To view a copy of this license, visit: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
by
The Rev. Ken Howard
www.PracticingParadoxy.com
Germantown, Maryland

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