andi's perspective

REFLEXIVE MODERNISATION

Recently i did an excerpt on a pretty well-known book of current sociological analysis of our times:

• Ulrich Beck on Reflexive Modernisation

My (watch out: 12 page German) summary should be a far more easy reading than his quite elaborate way of wordsmithing.

His key idea is that we have entered a new epoch (of reflexivity) where it is no longer about making progress (modernization), but about realising that our automatised progress is putting the globe in unmanageable risk (collateral hazard).  A sociology for this uncharted territory, he says, has yet to be invented.

A very good deconstructivist and a courageous constructivist. I'd like to learn from his sharpness for the kingdom challenge.

U TEACH WHAT U R

Can you be a reformator and still pastor an old-system church? I for certain could not, but some of our Connect friends feel called so. (God help them!..!) I remember challenging them in Prague to "think structure":

• What pattern are you actually setting with your behaviour?
• What behaviour are you reinforcing by the infrastructure of your building or the way the chairs are positioned?
• To what percentage are you (or "leaders") talking and to what extent do the participants actually do something else than listen, sing'n pray?
• Who is actually doing what - and why - when you meet? And what are the people expecting to happen?
• How can you break free from established patterns of interaction and experiment with participatory forms of interaction?

My suggestion for alternatives went into the direction of adopting the "second view" perspective, employing sound moderation techniques, and experimenting with established large group facilitation methods like Future Search Conferences.
This for sure is not a miracle remedy, but i'm convinced here is one key to the future:

• be sensitive to the patterns of interaction actually happening and
• take steps to cautiously & courageously increase interaction quality by structure, guidance, and role model.

CONNECT VOW PROCESS

Under the influence of the "Zinzendorfstraße" the Connect family decided to go ahead with the COVENANT idea while recognizing that we would need something more Connect-specific than just going with the original = revived Mustard Seed Order Vow.
We are in drafting stage. Here is the kernel of my most recent suggestion:

• That His Body be built - we connect the tribes of Europe.
• That His Kingdom come - we labour for reformation in church and society.
• That His Will be done - we bond our lifes together in obedience to Him.

Any spontaneous feedback to this?

CONNECT-ING IN PRAGUE

Christine and me are downtown Prague right now exploring the future of the ConnectEurope network in the circle of close and trusted friends. In a small group of 12 we enjoy friendship among South (PT), North (FI), Central  (CZ, HU, SK) and West (NL, DE) Europe (UK and NO missing!).

The first point that i took from our initial sharing/ prayer was that with a view of seeing God's kingdom advance in Europe, we are set to stay for the long term:

• Building the Body into the Future. As forerunners paving the way for the next generation. So, not to over-expect in the short-term, rather build wisely and measure in decades.

Curious to see where our very relaxed and family-feeling meeting goes towards tomorrow.

PROCEDURAL REVOLUTION

Not only in reformational or emerging circles there is talk about high-participative structures and procedures of interaction. The "world" is tackling the same issues.

Here is a great opportunity for German speakers to get engaged in this pan-societal revolution:
The Procedere Conference is a high-participative event bringing together innovators from business, politics, and all spheres of society asking "Woran hängt's?" to stimulate a breakthrough of cooperative procedures bottom-up.

I am going to support Oliver Schippers who has been asked to facilitate the discussion of the church track and am looking forward to fresh meetings with innovative minds from all kind of backgrounds of this God-beloved world.

Join us if you can!