Full slides from the Behind the Scenes Meeting held on November 20, 2016.

2. World Café Reflections:
93 Theses

3. 
Questions
 What do I love about
Grassroots? What
should never change?
 What needs do you see
in Thunder
Bay/Northern Ontario
that you think
Grassroots is uniquely
built to meet?

4. 
Questions
 What do I love about
Grassroots? What
should never change?
 What needs do you see
in Thunder
Bay/Northern Ontario
that you think
Grassroots is uniquely
built to meet?

5. 
 Exploration
 Devotion to Scripture
 Openness to Outside Perspectives
 Anchored in the Resurrection
 Theological Exploration
 Searching for A Transformational Way of Life
 Searching for Fresh Expression of Christianity
 Many People Can Fit In Here
Big Points

6. 
 Encouraging In-Depth Study of God’s Word
 Humility in Asking Hard Questions/Open to
Change
 Radical Care and Support for One Another
 Focus on Children and Families
 Devotion to Jesus
 Investment in Quality Leadership
Big Points

7. 
 We have some dynamics to work through as we
think about meeting needs in Thunder Bay,
including
 how we work with others,
 a sense that we need training for justice/outreach,
 the challenges of approaching ministry with First
Nations people,
 the merits of reaching out at all,
 and what approach we will use to share Grassroots
love.
Big Points

8. 
 Heart for Disinherited People
 Heart for People Going Through Personal
Brokenness
 Heart for Mentoring and Gender Harmony
 Heart for Biblical and Theological Education
Big Points

9. 
 We have a unique set of values and approach to theology.
We are humble explorers of a fresh expression of
Christianity. This dynamic creates a unique environment
of in-depth study, asking hard questions with humility, a
community of faith who radically supports one another,
embracing young families, deepening devotion to Jesus,
and the formation of quality leaders.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

10. 
Theology and Values
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

11. 
1. Like many other churches, Grassroots finds passion in the
search for God, reality, and the truth. With our scriptures
in hand, we devote ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. We honor The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, establishing
a 21st Century Way of life inspired by the first Christians.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

12. 
3. What makes Grassroots theology and values unique is its
posture of exploration.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

15. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

16. 
3. What makes Grassroots theology and values unique is its
posture of exploration.
 We combine a devotion to scripture with openness to
outside perspectives.
 We anchor ourselves in the resurrection and encourage
theological searching.
 We seek to promote a transformational way of life adaptable
for a great diversity of people.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

17. 
4. Grassroots has worked hard at not falling into a rut of empty
religion, which means that we are sincere about what God is
really telling us through scripture instead of just referring to
tradition or church rules.
5. We discern God, reality, and the truth by following the story of
God. When the story leads us in a direction that moves us
away from dead tradition, we follow the Bible. We let the
scriptures guide our passion for being truthful, loving, and
relevant.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

18. 
6. In the search for God, reality, and the truth, we are open
to listening to outside perspectives.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

19. 
7. We believe that the major lens through which we can
understand and map reality is the Resurrection. This is
the point onto which we will hold fast.
8. Our conviction that the Resurrection interprets reality
gives us the freedom to think outside of the box
theologically and explore fresh expressions of
Christianity.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

20. 
9. We especially enjoy loving God with our minds,
establishing well-thought-out viewpoints. We would
rather know why we believe all of what we believe.
10. When we explore the outer boundaries of Christianity, we
do so with humility. The best pioneers will have a proper
fear of the wilderness.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

21. 
11. What we are seeking for is a transformational way of life
that embeds us into the very heart of God.
12. Our theology seeks to integrate our personal, social, and
relational spheres. We desire to orient every sphere of our
lives around the Lord everyday. Our theology is more
than an intellectual exercise.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

22. 
13. In our search for God and fresh expressions of Christianity, we are
not primarily interested in issues (as such) or establishing too many
dogmas. These will weigh us down. We want to explore the
underpinnings of our beliefs and leave room for a diversity of
viewpoints as much as can possibly exist in one community.
13. We live passionately what we believe and proclaim Jesus to the world
around us without shoving it down their throats.
14. Sometimes people might think that explorers are trying to be hip or
trendy, and Grassroots has some hipster flairs. We resist fashion but
embrace exploration, individuality, and discovering transformational
lifestyles.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

23. 
Environment
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

24. 
16. These theological convictions and our posture of exploration lead to
the formation of a unique Grassroots environment.
17. Grassroots
 encourages in-depth study of God’s Word and emphasizes a type of
teaching that is biblical, hopeful, challenging, relevant, and practical.
 promotes humility and asking hard questions
 fosters a community of faith who radically support one another
 embraces children and enriches young families to bring up the next
generation of disciples
 creates space to deepen our devotion to Jesus
 fosters quality leaders
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

25. 
18. Because of our devotion to scripture, our emphasis on
searching, exploration, openness to outside perspectives,
and the quest for a transformational way of life, we
emphasize a type of teaching that is grounded in the
Bible, hopeful, challenging, relevant, and practical.
19. In our teaching, we give serious attention to the
Bible/Scripture and how it plays out in our daily lives.
We are true to God’s word and attempt to offer a take
home to everyone, regardless of the level of faith they are
at.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

26. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment
20. The teaching encourages
us to think critically and
offers new insights.
Messages are presented
as hopeful and
encouraging, yet
participants are
challenged to grow.

27. 
21. Adult life group facilitates conversation about challenging
questions. It helps participants go deeper into issues and
doesn’t settle for pat answers.
22. The teaching also imparts that it is okay not to know all the
answers, it is okay to think outside the box with humility, and
it is okay to listen to outside perspectives.
23. We also tend to promote humility and asking hard questions.
This emerges from our explorer’s mindset, our love for outside
perspectives, and our passion for theological searching.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

28. 
24. There is humility in the community that says: “We’re a
work in progress. You don’t have to be perfect to come
here.” We find a real strength in acknowledging that this
is where we are.
25. We also teach that it is okay not to know all the answers.
26. Therefore the community is not too formal, the dress code
maxes out a casual, and people love sitting on the
couches.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

29. 
27. We love asking the hard questions and try to encourage people
to have challenging discussions. We desire to foster the
freedom to ask questions.
28. We value the freedom to hold different ideas with acceptance,
and there is always room for growth. We are an evolving
community.
29. We desire never to change our ability to change. If you look at
our theology from 15 years ago, it is different from what it is
now, because we’re not in a box and we’re growing and
changing. We think different. We resist “this is how we’ve
always done it” rhetoric.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

30. 
30. Because we are explorers, we know of the special need to
stick together and care for one another. Furthermore, we
believe that the scriptures direct us to offer radical
expressions of care for one another, inspired by the call to
heal a broken world. In response to this, Grassroots
fosters a community of faith who radically support one
another, are welcoming to newcomers, and encourage
each other to serve locally.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

31. 
31. The Grassrooter is usually known as a caring person. The community
can feel like a friendly family who helps each other. There are a large
number of likable people who are action-oriented and offer care.
32. With a high value on love and care, people are taken care of without
the expectation of anything in return. With some saddening
exceptions, there is a lot of love and a lot of people helping people in
practical ways.
33. Grassooters take care of each other well and come together during
crisis. They take care of each other’s kids, help each other move, make
meals, help people in the middle of flooding, celebrate together, and
mourn together. There’s a spirit of care for one another that we can’t
lose.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

32. 
34. Because we may find ourselves as explorers in harsh
conditions and because we honor unity. We must use our
gifts and passion, we must be one in Christ.
35. To achieve unity, we value humility highly and the need
to be gentle yet firm with one another. We encourage one
another to move wisely toward conflict rather than away
from it.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

33. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment
36. Though we have not yet
achieved total diversity,
people at Grassroots
come from various
backgrounds, value
uniqueness and mutual
reverence for one another,
and strive for gentle
respect. We are not too
pushy.

35. 
37. We have a mix of long-term TBayers but also are comprised of a large
percentage of TBay immigrants. Many people’s families are not here,
so we try be a church family for TBay immigrants.
38. We have deep reverence for where people are coming from, we strive
to deeply listen to one another before we judge, and we try not to
pretend to be somebody we are not. We value belonging, not fitting
in.
39. We also love getting a bit of social time, including picnics, winter
blues fest, and the Grassroots defunct talent show. “Never end the
talent show. “Bring it back!” and “we won’t the talent show bake”
emerge as vigilant outcries.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

36. 
40. We are a small family community in a larger family body,
and tribes and small groups seem to be an important part
of life but lack direction and drive. People notice when
you are missing.
41. Grassrooters take care of each other so they can help the
world.
42. There is also a love for strangers at Grassroots.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

37. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment
43. Newcomers feel very
loved, and there is a
strong spirit or vibe of
welcoming people from
all stations of life. The
newcomers lunches and
the greeter (hand shakers)
are an expression of this
vibe.

38. 
44. Grassroots is open to welcoming marginalized people,
though there are few marginalized people here.
45. There is also a strong desire to share the love broadly, to
reach out to the needy in the community with practical
outpouring of love.
46. We are particularly proud of the way we have shared love
with the Syrian families and desire to show that same
expression of love to First Nations peoples.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

39. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment
47. Because of its desire for
forge fresh and relevant
expressions of Christianity
for the Next Generation,
Grassroots attracts young
families. Grassroots’ focus
on children, youth, college
students, families, and
intergenerational
connection is arguably one
of the most important
realities at Grassroots.

40. 
48. Children matter fundamentally at Grassroots. Children are included,
appreciated, and valued. The adults care about the kids. On Sunday
mornings and at different events there are always small children, or
as one person put it “Children climbing on mounds of children”.
49. Grassroots strives to be a fun environment for kids who tend to like
coming to Sunday School, seeing their friends, and the games they
play. We like to allow kids to be kids.
50. The youth group is safe, active, and comprehensive. Monday nights
provide discipleship, teens are involved in various ministries, and the
yearly trip is anticipated. There is a unique depth of faith to our
youth.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

41. 
51. There is also a number of university students who attend Grassroots.
There is a desire to enhance this aspect of GR ministry.
52. Overall, there is a desire to continually invest in student and families
ministries. We have lots of kids to raise up in the faith, and this part
of ministry needs to be welcoming and effective. We need to support
current leaders, raise up new leaders, and continue to grow the
children’s ministry.
53. There is also a desire to continue to explore more focus on
intergenerational connections, develop the monthly schedule, which
remembers that there are a lot of young families, and grow the
openness to diverse families setups who find a home at Grassroots.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

42. 
54. Our love of exploration, devotion to scripture, desire for a
transformational life, and embrace of many different
peoples leads us also into a deepening devotion to Jesus.
We have a love for musical variety, an open communion
table, a loosely-held liturgy, and a less-loosely held love
for good coffee.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

43. 
55. Grassroots loves a good variety of worship music, and
there is a desire for worship nights. There is freedom and
informality in worship. We express how we are led. We
love to hear each other worship.
56. Our Eucharist table is open every Sunday, and we are not
programmatic about our liturgy. We are flexible, and we
can adapt to situations without losing the thrust of
healing and preaching.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

44. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment
57. We like time to fellowship
and mingle during the
service, we love good
quality coffee, and we
love baptisms and
Trobridge falls.

46. 
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment
58. Good food done simply is
valued here, and some
kids liked the choclet
fawten.

48. 
59. Because we are explorers with an openness to outside perspectives
and many types of people, we need a solid core of leadership.
Therefore we invest in leaders who represent our diversity and are
full of integrity, humility, wisdom, and diligence. At the same time,
we don’t expect our leaders to be perfect or have it all figured out.
60. Leaders do best here when they have no secret agendas, ulterior
motives, or quests for power. They take extra time to ensure that all
are on the same page.
61. This unique environment develops in a quirky building, which is
geographically located at the crossroads of Thunder Bay and shares
property lines with Police Headquarters, Evangel Church, and
Lakehead University.
Unique Values, Theology, and
Environment

49. 
62. As we dream about sharing Grassroot love beyond our
community, we are in the process of asking ourselves:
What needs do we see in Thunder Bay/Northern Ontario
that we think we are uniquely built to address. A few
ideas emerge, including issues faced by marginal,
disinherited, transient or homeless people, the many
people experiencing personal brokenness or crisis, the
need for mentoring and harmony between men and
women, and the desiderata of deep biblical and theological
education.
Unique For What Purpose?

50. 
Dynamics
Unique For What Purpose?

51. 
65. These dynamics include working with various agencies
and connections (not reinventing the wheel), the need for
equipping, how we approach ministry with First Nation
people, if we should reach out at all, and what our
approach will include (4 main things or equipping people
to reach out in their own ways).
Unique For What Purpose?

52. 
66. There is a general awareness that Grassroots is good at
partnering with other churches and ministries not always
having to take the lead but providing an important and
necessary support role. We have these connections, and
we don’t necessarily want to re-invent the wheel. Can we
funnel our resources and manpower through existing
ministries?
Unique For What Purpose?

53. 
67. We have various rich connections, and Urban Abbey
emerged as a ministry with similar theology who is up to
great Kingdom work as hands and feet of Jesus. Other
ministries mentioned were Right to Refuge, Shelter
House, Teen Challenge, Ishaawin, Thrive, Grace Place,
Hope House, and Dorion.
Unique For What Purpose?

54. 
68. There is also a sense of need for training or mentoring on
leadership and how to be missional. It would be amazing
if there was a way we could become more equipped as
members in this community to be able to reach out to the
brokenness in our community and beyond our GR family
even. Can we train up leaders from among us?
Unique For What Purpose?

55. 
69. There is a percolating question on why First Nations
peoples are not represented at Grassroots. There seems to
be various opinions about whether are not Grassroots
should make a concerted effort and what kind of effort to
make to serve and welcome First Nation peoples. Are we
moving in a direction to welcoming/loving/ministering to
our FN friends? Or do we need to to support those
churches that have a FN focus?
Unique For What Purpose?

56. 
70. There also seems to be a general question about whether
or not we should attempt to share the love at all. Can we
share the love without losing our strong faith? Will good
works diminish our ability to share the truth of the
gospel? We are rooted enough in our theology, which
would allow us to extend in a variety of directions, but
we are uniquely built to address the needs of our own
community. Should we be content with how we are well
suited to take care of each other?
Unique For What Purpose?

57. 
71. There also seems to be a number of different approaches to
sharing Grassroots love, if we do. There has been a 5+5
approach, which encourages us to invest in ministries at
our own points of passion. Do we need to have a church
outreach program when people are doing a lot of
missional living on their own? Do we need to choose 4
programs and alienate people telling them they do not
being, or do we need to mobilize leaders to meet needs
wherever they find their passions? Can we use Tribes to
push our ability to be missional?
Unique For What Purpose?

58. 
72. If we can navigate through these conversations, we
discern that we may be uniquely suited to meet a variety
of needs with our unique abundance of young able bodies
and with our quirky but well-positioned building.
Unique For What Purpose?

59. 
73. Because of our community of faith who radically support
one another, our anchor in the Resurrection, our embrace
of children, and our devotion to Jesus’s transformational
way of life, we may be positioned well to spread our
support out to marginal, disinherited, transient, or
homeless people.
Unique For What Purpose?

60. 
74. We may be uniquely positioned, geographically and in our
ethos, for university/college ministry – both with students and
professionals.
75. We also may be uniquely positioned to supported immigrants
and disinherited people with our building and our manpower.
76. What would it look like to robustly welcome “immigrants” to
Thunder Bay?
77. There may be a role for us to have an adoption support focus
led by people who have walked down that road.
Unique For What Purpose?

61. 
78. It is a real option to lean more into refugee ministry, or to
help people struggling with setting up their homes.
79. We might be able to use our building and manpower
somehow to bridge the gap of racism in this down,
address some of the effects of the residential schools, and
broker mentorship for indigenous youth.
Unique For What Purpose?

62. 
80. Again, because of our radical support for one another, our embrace of
young people and their families, our anchor in the Resurrection, and
our devotion to Jesus’s transformational way of life, we may be
positioned to help people who are experiencing personal brokenness or
crisis.
81. People in society don’t know how to connect on a personal level.
Grassroots is positioned to re-teach this, because we are doing it
regularly well. We want to be the family of God for people of Thunder
Bay.
82. There are many broken, lonely, wounded, and depressed people in
Thunder Bay seeking for connection and relationship in community.
Unique For What Purpose?

63. 
83. There are also many trauma survivors and people with
addictions. Perhaps these are people who are newly-
separated or divorced. Some of these people may be in
crisis and need meals, childcare, and financial support.
84. How can we help broken seekers feel welcome and
significant?
Unique For What Purpose?

64. 
85. Relevant ideas include
investing in or supporting:
 a support group for university students, that provides
some community in TBay and offers a place to bring up
theological questions.
 rooming students.
 housing poor people.
 having or supporting an opportunity center.
Unique For What Purpose?

65. 
85. Relevant ideas include
investing in or supporting:
 supporting hope house.
 investing in Right to Refuge in a greater way.
 encouraging more people to adopt and have adoption mentors in
the church.
 offering parenting help in the surrounding community.
 hosting a swap night for clothes at the church.
 offering free family movie nights at the church.
Unique For What Purpose?

66. 
85. Relevant ideas include
investing in or supporting:
 offering free family movie nights at the church.
 putting on coffee house nights.
 doing some community stuff outdoors.
 harnessing practical schools to meet simple needs, fixing,
feeding.
 offering some child-friendly times and spaces at church.
Unique For What Purpose?

67. 
85. Relevant ideas include
investing in or supporting:
 conducing a children’s choir.
 getting involved in helping to heal broken families
 Christmas caroling
 having a healing ministry and worship nights.
 having coffee house nights.
 hosting and old-fashioned picnic.
 offering healing from trauma groups.
Unique For What Purpose?

68. 
86. Because of the many people in our church who would be
phenomenal at mentoring men and women, our devotion
to scripture, investment in a transformational way of life,
asking hard questions, radical support for one another,
embrace of family and young people, and the desire to
foster quality leaders, we may be uniquely poised to
address the dissonance between men and women and the
need for mentoring.
Unique For What Purpose?

69. 
87. There seems to be a general desire to keep youth on the right
path. The “Over 18” and “Screenagers” showings reflect this
desire.
88. There seems to be a desire to advocate for women’s rights here
at Grassroots, support pregnancies (especially those in crisis),
and the recovery from sexual gender-based violence.
89. There also seems to be a deep desire to see restoration and
reconciliation in marriages and families.
Unique For What Purpose?

70. 
90. Relevant include investing in or
supporting:
 Advocacy for women’s issues, such as Take Back the Night
 Offering parenting helps.
 Supporting centers that promote healthy pregnancies.
 Offering trauma-support groups.
Unique For What Purpose?

71. 
91. Finally, because of our devotion to scripture, desire for in-
depth study of God’s Word, love for outside perspective,
encouragement of theological searching out a
transformational way of life, interest in the hard
questions, and devotion to Jesus – and because there is no
actual Bible training in Tbay – and because we have a
PhD at the helm, we may have a unique role to play in
offering deep biblical and theological education in
Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario.
Unique For What Purpose?

72. 
92. We may have a role to play in the deepening of Christian
growth in the area, especially for people who may be
uncomfortable coming to church.
Unique For What Purpose?

73. 
93. Relevant include investing in or
supporting:
 Education for people who are questioning or exploring their faith
 Education for interested academics and university students.
 Coffee night that could include some sort of educational component.
 We believe that this education should reflect our desire for a
transformational lifestyle.
 This education should help us dive into the scriptures AND help us
live sustainably, in part, reconnecting us with God in nature as we
slow down.
Unique For What Purpose?

76. 
 Purpose of the Ministry Team is to design and create
the ministries of Grassroots based on the values and
dna of the church.
 These are the major decision makers of the church as
they work on one of seven areas of Grassroots
ministry.
 If these team members didn’t carry their particular
load, we would struggle to fulfill our calling.
Seven Ministry Teams

77. 
 Seven areas include
 Building and Finance (Keith as Team Leader)
 Administration (Heather as Team Leader)
 Worship (With Keith as Team Leader)
 Missions/Outreach (With Claire R. as Team Leader)
 Tribes, Men’s, and Women’s (With Kirsten as Team Leader)
 Students and Families (With Angela W. as Team Leader)
 Education and Events (With Steve B. as Team Leader)
Seven Ministry Teams