{"id":1015,"date":"2012-03-27T16:52:32","date_gmt":"2012-03-27T16:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irreverin.com\/?p=1015"},"modified":"2013-02-10T11:03:16","modified_gmt":"2013-02-10T18:03:16","slug":"yes-and-the-gospel-of-tina-fey-for-congregational-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/irreverin\/2012\/03\/yes-and-the-gospel-of-tina-fey-for-congregational-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, AND: The Gospel of Tina Fey for Congregational Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s been about 6 months now since Foothills adopted an \u201cOpen and Affirming\u201d mission. \u00a0As we close in on Easter, I\u2019m reflecting on how it\u2019s changed us, and also,\u00a0the truths of transformation that we learned along the way.\u00a0 As ever, Tina Fey preaches it better than me. <\/em><\/p>\n

According to the gospel of Tina Fey, \u201cthe fun is always on the other side of a \u2018yes.\u2019<\/p>\n

In her memoir, \u201cBossypants,\u201d she expounds on the rules of improvisation. Call me a church nerd, but her rules of improv sound pretty dang theological to me:<\/p>\n

The first rule of improvisation is\u2026 SAY YES. When you\u2019re improvising, you are required to agree with whatever your partner has created. So if we\u2019re improvising and I say, \u201cFreeze, I have a gun,\u201d and you say, \u201cThat\u2019s not a gun. It\u2019s your finger,\u201d our improvised scene has ground to a halt\u2026 Respect what your partner has created. Agree and see where that takes you.<\/em><\/p>\n

As an improviser, I always find it jarring when I meet someone in real life whose first answer is no. \u201cNo, we can\u2019t do that.\u201d \u201cNo, it\u2019s not in the budget.\u201d \u201cNo, I won\u2019t hold your hand for a dollar.\u201d What kind of way is that to live?<\/em><\/p>\n

All I can say is: Tina, that will *^$#@* preach.<\/p>\n

Several years ago, our leaders learned an essential truth of congregational transformation: if it matters to mission and ministry; if it matters to your community and the future of your church; if your leaders have discerned the call of God and the moving of the Spirit in a particular direction; you don\u2019t take a vote. <\/em>Holy subversive operations, Batman! That was the most freeing thing we\u2019d ever heard.<\/p>\n

We still vote on business matters, like the budget, or the calling of ministry staff. But when it comes down to fundamentals of mission and vision, we pray, we discuss, and then we do. <\/em>It doesn\u2019t mean that a handful of leaders plows through, regardless of how the community feels. Rather, it means we must find creative ways of getting input, communicating vision, and building a sense of shared mission.<\/em><\/p>\n

In other words\u2026 we have to discern a clear \u2018yes,\u2019 without giving people an invitation to say \u2018no.\u2019<\/p>\n

Foothills took its time in the Open and Affirming journey. We began informal discussions, preaching and teaching moments, and practicing hospitality years ago. But we found, as every forward-moving church finds eventually, that silent welcome is not enough<\/em>. Those who have been hurt by the church, or those who have just grown to believe that the church is a mass-production center of hate and exclusion, need to hear an overt statement of welcome if they are ever going to trust us enough to darken the door. Besides, we were drowning in mega-church land with no real sense of identity or neighborhood presence. It was time to say out loud who we were, or die trying.<\/p>\n

So the question became, how to gain consensus and share the vision, without taking a vote? How to make this step a statement of faith, rather than a business item?<\/p>\n

Finally, we just invited people to say, \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

For several months, we had discussions in our small group ministry settings, and also held several open, all-church gatherings. We watched \u201cFor the Bible Tells Me So<\/a>\u201d about 84 times. We talked about it. We shared stories. And then, when the time came, we placed an open Mission Statement on the communion table. During the invitation portion of worship for several weeks, folks came forward to sign it.<\/p>\n

It was a powerful act of community. It did not set up \u201cwinners and losers,\u201d like a formal vote would do. It did not invite painful division or contentious debate. There was ample time in other settings for people to ask their questions and share their concerns.\u00a0 And of course, folks were free not <\/em>to sign, essentially voicing their opposition with a silent \u2018no.\u2019 However, the result was a resounding \u201cyes.\u201d \u00a0In just 3 Sundays of worship, we had signatures to equal a firm majority. Some who signed have been here for 20+ years. Some were first-time visitors. But you know what? They are not visitors any more. Their names are on our mission statement.<\/p>\n

Yes, we lost a few folks. And yes, we are the Body of Christ, and we are heartbroken to lose so much as a toenail. But in a few short months, we have gained far more people than we lost.<\/p>\n

Some things worth mentioning\u00a0about the folks who did not<\/em> say \u201cyes:\u201d<\/p>\n

1<\/strong>\u2013Most of those who did not sign are still with us. The invitation to yes<\/em> omitted the \u201cwinner\/loser\u201d dynamic that drives so many people away from church in times of change. \u00a0With the covenant approach to transformation, there is a lot more room for grace at our table; we come to church assuming that we are not going to agree with everyone about everything\u2026because really, what fun would that be?<\/p>\n

2<\/strong>\u2014I\u2019ll just say this out loud\u2026Our neighborhood is literally saturated with churches preaching everything from silent condemnation of LGBT people, to passive-aggressive \u201clove the sinner hate the sin\u201d stuff, to outright hate and bigotry. Thing is, the silent no-sayers have many, many other places to go. As for radical hospitality and being Jesus to everybody else\u2014well, let\u2019s just say there are many, many other folks who have only us.<\/p>\n

If we are called, and if we are lucky, then ministry, on our best days, is one part Holy Spirit and two parts improvisation. We say yes\u2026and see where that takes us.<\/p>\n

BUT, as Tina says, you can\u2019t just say \u2018yes.\u2019 You must say \u2018yes, AND\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n

You are supposed to agree and then add something of your own. If I start a scene by saying \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s so hot in here,\u201d and you just say, \u201cyeah\u2026\u201d we\u2019re kind of at a standstill. But if I say \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s so hot in here,\u201d and you say, \u201cyes, this can\u2019t be good for the wax figures\u2026\u201d now we\u2019re getting somewhere. <\/em><\/p>\n

The power of covenant is not just in saying \u2018yes.\u201d It is in saying \u201cyes, AND\u201d that we are transformed. We are not just agreeing with what has been put in front of us. We are helping to move the story along. In this case, it\u2019s a pretty great story, and we\u2019re blessed to be a part of it.<\/p>\n

How many people coming into our churches\u2014or, God forgive us, sitting outside them and wondering\u2014have been greeted with a firm \u201cNO\u201d every other\u00a0day of their lives?<\/p>\n

\u201cNO, you can\u2019t preach, you\u2019re a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo you can\u2019t sit here, your skin is too brown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you can\u2019t have a drink of water\u2026I\u2019d like to see your papers first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you may not love that person. And you certainly may\u00a0 not live with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you may not sit at this table.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Tina said\u2026What kind of way is that to live?<\/p>\n

The fun is always on the other side of \u201cyes!\u201d So is real ministry, mission, and vision for God\u2019s becoming Church. YES opens the door; AND pushes us through, the Spirit wind at our backs.<\/p>\n

On this journey to becoming an inclusive, radically welcoming Body of Christ\u2013 once all the cost has been weighed\u2013there is only yes. Yes<\/em> at the door, and yes<\/em> at the table of mercy.<\/p>\n

Yes,<\/em> you are welcome. AND<\/em> yes, you can sit by me.<\/p>\n

Yes,<\/em> I will let you speak, AND <\/em>yes, I will hear your story.<\/p>\n

Yes, brothers AND sisters. Yes, black AND brown AND white folks.<\/p>\n

Yes, gay, straight, bi-, trans, confused, lost AND<\/em> becoming\u2026<\/p>\n

YES you are the body of Christ AND<\/em> you are beloved of God.<\/p>\n

I<\/em>t is our mission:<\/em><\/p>\n

To embody the good news of Jesus Christ in Spirit, Service and Community<\/em><\/p>\n

To share inclusive hospitality* and reflect the fullness of God\u2019s love at the Table<\/em><\/p>\n

To feed our neighbors who hunger in body and soul, giving purpose to those with plenty, and abundance to those in need.<\/em><\/p>\n

*Foothills Christian Church welcomes all people into community and ministry, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual identity, economic status, faith heritage or ability. We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness, and we are all a part of the ONE body of Christ.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been about 6 months now since Foothills adopted an \u201cOpen and Affirming\u201d mission. \u00a0As we close in on Easter, I\u2019m reflecting on how it\u2019s changed us, and also,\u00a0the truths of transformation that we learned along the way.\u00a0 As ever, Tina Fey preaches it better than me. According to the gospel of Tina Fey, \u201cthe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1154,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,56],"tags":[207,8,645,40,646,243],"class_list":["post-1015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith-and-community","category-spirituality-in-culture","tag-bossypants","tag-congregational-transformation","tag-for-the-bible-tells-me-so","tag-hospitality","tag-lgbt-rights","tag-tina-fey"],"yoast_head":"\nYes, AND: The Gospel of Tina Fey for Congregational Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's been about 6 months now since Foothills adopted an "Open and Affirming" mission. \u00a0As we close in on Easter, I'm reflecting on how it's changed us,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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