Paradoxology: 2008 AEF Conference: Jenell W. Paris

Blog-within-a-Blog

Seven Mistakes Every Church Should Avoid
Whether you agree with any or all of the "mistakes" mentioned in this article, it is certainly worth the read and can serve as a helpful springboard for discussion on the biblical/theological/historical nature of the Church.
Why men have stopped singing in church
A fascinating discussion is unfolding at churchformen.com regarding the disappearance of singing (especially by men) in most churches with a contemporary bent. Although I consider worship to be much more holistic and diverse than what the author is focused on, the discussion there is nonetheless a worthwhile read.
The Anglican-Episcopal Divide Widens Further
NT Wright offers a honest and somewhat heavy-hearted perspective regarding The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the U.S., and their decision to further formalize their decision to appoint to all orders of ministry, persons in active same-sex relationships. This marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion.
"I Am Second"- Incredible Personal Stories
Personal testimony stories are a dime-a-dozen on the internet. YouTube and a plethora of other sites offer them. But you will NEVER find striking personal stories about life and loss and struggle and victory and faith like you will encounter at www.iamsecond.com. This is a resource site you MUST visit for yourself and then bookmark.
Charles Wesley's secret code diary cracked by priest
An Anglican priest has unlocked the 270-year-old secrets of Charles Wesley's coded diary, throwing light on the turbulent relationship that he had with his brother John in the early years of the Methodist movement they founded... The “hidden” material offers an insight into Wesley's fierce determination to prevent the Methodist societies from breaking away from the Church of England, and disagreements with his more influential older brother.

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October 10, 2008

2008 AEF Conference: Jenell W. Paris

Day Two is now off and running. This morning's speaker was Jenell W. Paris, professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Messiah College, PA. Her research interests include women's issues, transgressive sexualities, postmodern Christianity, race, and African-American urban poverty. Jenell is also a prolific blogger and is quite connected to the emerging church conversation. Today's topic: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ridiculous: The Church Visible."

As an anthropologist, Jenell brought a refreshing scholarly prespective to our ancient-future faith in this postmodern world of ours. Especially inspiring, is how she points out the purpose-filled roles which imperfection, stress, and crisis play in our participation within's God's great story.

If you missed Jenell live, I'm embedding an her talk at the bottom of this post so you can watch at your convenience.

Here are the discussion Questions Jenell has provided for some initial discussion. I'd love to dialog with you about your responses, as well as what you thought of her talk.

Tell a story about a time you've seen a local congregation successfully integrate the good, the bad, and the ridiculous into its everyday life.
What does it mean to you to call the church "the continuation of God's narrative?" Consider the elements of narrative structure like character, conflict, narrator, and plot. How can a consideration of narrative help us think about what the church is?
If you were a sheep in Valerie Lew's art project, what word(s) would you want spray-painted on your back, and why?

Enjoy!

PART ONE:

PART TWO:

October 10, 2008 at 07:24 AM | Permalink