Throughout the posts from last week there was some mutual consensus that we should be putting out a newsletter, and addressing false beliefs and misunderstandings about Christianity in th wider culture. There was also an idea of the Order producing materials to help with these important evangelical and discipleship concerns.
Great ideas, but how do we implement them?
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Sounds like a Tractarian enterprise to me. I have not read the Tracts, only about them and the ones who generated them. Did they start with a question, misunderstanding, or false teaching and then develop a response? To whom did they distribute their material? The basis for a newsletter needs a starting point; a reason for being. Who would be the audience and how would it be distributed? I suppose my questions and comments are what Bro Kevin is trying to do: get some focus. Anyway, thought I’d get something posted (unhelpful as it may seem) just to stir the pot.
One day I was sitting in a church office and saw a newsletter from an Episcopal religious order (I can't remember which one). This was an order that lives together in a community, and for the most part it was about events in their community. A publication from us would be more about what we are discussing among ourselves, the recent discussion about evangelism being a good example.
The content should reflect a broad consensus among the community, because this should be a joint effort and no one should feel alienated by the final product. (This may be the hard part and might be a great exercise for all of us.) I do think the basic idea should be to represent the core of the Christian faith as best we can.
As to the audience, that depends on the product. If it's a newsletter, we could send it unsolicited to offices we think wouldn't mind receiving it, i.e., as many dioceses and parishes as we would want to send it to. If it's a video/DVD, we could make it available to people searching for Christian education materials. As many of you probably have experienced, adult education classes search for video materials for groups that are reluctant to read. Until recently, I was co-leading such a group and would have loved to find something like "Christianity 101" for our group.
This may end up being the longest response that I have ever made, so please bear with me for a few moments.
I'd like to address the concerns and needs from several Brothers/Sisters.
Let me start by saying that this Order may be the fastest growing order in the US/Anglican Community. That is obviously do to the great work done by our Masters, past and present. It is also do to the great work of our "doorkeepers," Br. Kevin and Br. George. They have done incredible work.
I personally have the greatest admiration for both of these brothers. Br. Kevin brought me into this Order and when I first met Br. George I felt that I was as close to Christ on Earth as I had ever felt.
I have had the opportunity to get as close to two of the founders of the Order, Bros. Jeff and Guy as anyone. I attended Br. Jimmy's Life Profession and admire his great work..... you really have to see what he does to truly understand the total scope of his Christ-like ministry.
I have been fortunate to have acquired friends such as my close friend and ally Br. Harris. Never miss a chance to hang-out with him. You will have lost a chance to feel true brotherly love and you'll have lost a chance for great eating if he is cooking.
Br. Tom, the last of my novice class, has always reminded me that there is nothing greater than the true love of Christ, and sometimes we suffer for for Him, but He will be with us.
Bros. Micheal (my peace brother) and Rick (he was and always will be a member of the Jamestown 4) have gone RC. I don't give up on bringing them back.
All of our Canadian brothers, Br. Don, to whom I feel a special connection ( he likes my jokes and I like him). Br. David has a special gift... maybe the only person that I would let wash my feet (but I won't hold you to it.)
Br. Bob, what can I say about him that will do him justice.... he may be my spiritual adviser from afar and my close friend ( a member of the Jamestown 4).
Sr. Jackie, a beautiful lady(1968? Miss North Dakota), and a beautiful soul! She housed a homeless Dominican in August and made his profession Chapter wonderful.
Bros. Carl (Jamestown 4) Scott, and Phil who always find the time to talk to us about our Lord and Savior on this blog have been daily relief from our times of struggle.
I enjoy all comments by the Rev. Dr. AKM Adam.... the ones I can understand.... some people are just smarter than ..... me....
Anybody that wasn't mentioned, it's because I have to have someone to write about after Chapter.
I, must however, mention our Master of the Order, Sr. Elena, who has taught me so much about representation and diplomacy. She is the representative of our Order that I dream to be.
Now what does all this have to do with the present question? EVERYTHING! I don't believe that we can come up with a "one size fits all" solution to how we need to do what we need to do. I think we need a "one way fits all" or "one direction fits all" and I think that we find it in the Gospels..... but all of the brothers and sisters in the Order have special gifts and we need to use these gifts to tell the Good News.
Maybe we just need to look at our
"parts" and see how they fit best with the only message that we need to tell.
There are two RC parishes here in Columbia with Dominicans as pastors, as a result they are well stocked with things Dominican. I grabbed a newsletter they publish and can probably scan it and attach it for all to see.
I would imagine a newsletter is just something that we do and then it sort of spreads, like how the Order has spread, mostly organic I assume. I found it on either the TEC or AC website as a link.
I would further offer that there are two types of newsletters, one by us mainly for us, that others can see if they want, and one that we specifically make as a proslethetizing venture. Regardless I think we need to stay true to our internet/virtual being.
I have been pondering an iTunes related thing, let me develop it more and I will share it when done.
I think a good option to look at in terms of offering sermons and classes to the church and world, would be to put them on youtube for anyone to download.
Father Matthew presents (type it in, on youtube) is a great example of a free source Anglican teaching resource.
I watched some of the Father Matthew presents videos on youtube and think the idea is a good one.
After teaching a class last night in Jamestown using some other resources about basic Christianity, I am convinced that while there are tremendous resources out there. There is a need for an Introduction to Christianity, via the classic Anglican way. And this is not out there, perhaps our Order could do that?
We will talk about this. I am convinced there are three major holes in
the anglo-catholic space. This is one of them.
Br carl
I'm definitely behind this and will be happy to contribute in any way needed.
The OJN newsletter is a really neat one. It is (physically) made of two legal-sized sheets of paper, folded in half to make a booklet. The outer booklet is about the life of the community. The inner booklet has reflections and sermons - good food for the spirit.
Of course, one must consider the audience. Is the newsletter to update our community on what's happening in our Houses and in our lives? Or is the primary audience those outside the community, who have an interest?
This is something that greatly interests me, so if the consensus is that we need a newsletter, I would love to help make this happen for our community.
Peace,
Heather (postulant)
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