Greetings again with another edition of CityVoices. This month you’ll find an array of practical and thought-provoking resources as we work to further Christ’s mission in the cities of America and beyond. Increasing numbers of comments, in several directions of thought regarding city mission have been returned to us. As we begin the discussion on “planting, vs. building the city church,” we look for more city ministers to offer their comments. Do respond to this dialogue as you are led.

Again, browse the CityVoices website (www.cityvoices.com) from time to time. We are now offering:
1) All of Curtiss DeYoung’s books: “Coming Together,” “Reconciliation,” and “Beyond Rhetoric.”($12 each)
2) “The Black Presence in the Bible,” by Rev. Walter Arthur McCray ($12)
3) Andrew Davey’s newly-published, “Urban Christianity and Global Order,” ($12)
4) And, “Mision Integral,” the Spanish edition of Ray Bakke’s “Biblical Word for an Urban World” ($10)

To place orders, call CityVoices at (773) 477-8163, or email roger@cityvoices.com

God’s grace and peace today,
Let’s stay in touch,

Roger Johnson, Editor – CityVoices

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The Case for Construction

Spring! Trees budding, grass sprouting: it’s a time for planting the fields and gardens at hand. In the city, bricks and stone are unloaded, entire building trusses are delivered, concrete and mortar are mixed with abandon. Spring is a season for new construction, additions and long-needed maintenance.

While the city has its room for blossoms and shrubs in neatly designed parks, yards and gardens; open spaces are increasingly squeezed out by the ever-greater needs for stores, office buildings and new homes. Construction continues unabated, making the city much of what it is.

As pastors and lay people work to increase both the size and scope of God’s kingdom, the metaphor of planter, or “church planter,” has long been called upon to give vision, form and inspiration to the task. While some thinkers have called on God’s people to be “builders of churches,” fewer practitioners have taken the construction metaphor seriously. When we face the sometimes-daunting challenges of assisting in the expansion of God’s church in the city, building is an ever more appropriate way to conceive of our task.

Pastor, think of yourself as the foreman of a construction crew building a large, and complex city structure. Your job involves far more than wood and nails, bricks and mortar: you work with complex plumbing, intricate wiring and varied floor plans, all holding an entire house together as one. Lay people, realize that you are members of a talented, hard-working crew that operates best in coordination with your foreman, and with each other. You’re equipped to construct the city’s most amazing buildings, but only when you work as a unit.

As the “pastor-foreman” you pay close attention to the advance work of surveyors, architects and financial planners. Their correct planning is crucial to your success. As onsite manager, you inspire and instruct each one of your crew, not in equal amounts, but to keep the “unit” working smoothly. As the crew’s leader, you make sure that good quality bricks, studs, drywall, windows, pipes, wiring and fasteners of all sorts are delivered to you’re your worksite. You’ll never have a second chance to do this job right.

And your most important task is to make sure that the construction job gets done! You can’t do it by yourself. You don’t have enough muscle power, or all the necessary skills. But your crew can’t do it by themselves either. They have the skills needed, but not the direction or discipline needed to produce a good end product.

Construction crew, realize that a complete building is dependent upon your hard work! A half-way effort will not get the job done, nor will hard work by some and loafing by the remainder of your workers. You must have the passion to turn the construction site into a finished building, and you must work hard, with your foreman’s guidance and direction, to see it happen.

Sounds like building God’s church in the city may be too much work for everybody? Consider the alternative.

We could try thinking of ourselves as planters, just as a farmer who tend his crop growing in a field. We’d plant the seeds of the gospel in the city, and after some “watering and sunlight,” we’d expect them to produce God’s kingdom of salvation and justice in our concrete and brick-laden environs. But not much happens with seeds hit a hard city lot, and even less when they fall in the cracks of sidewalks and playgrounds. As a good planter, you’d try every type of seed and fertilizing method available, but nothing would really sprout and takes hold.

Such “planter-pastors” become easily discouraged and leave the city after a few failed seasons. Any small plants that they’ve helped grow are left with no one to do the cultivating. Tough weeds or the hot summer sun soon overtakes them. Clearly, something is wrong in how we think of our task.

God’s church in the city is built and expanded with the determined, concerted effort of pastors and lay people as they seek the Spirit’s guidance. It’s just that simple, and every bit that difficult. After we look to our God for direction through prayer, we come away as builders of individual parts of His kingdom, sometimes entire communities. Our work is hard and demands careful attention to detail. But when the building is complete, we realize all that God does through his people in the city. At our very best, we are builders: constructing a city as witness to our Lord.

Contact: Roger Johnson, CityVoices, 1242 W. Addison Street, Chicago, IL 60613, ph: (773) 477-8163, roger@cityvoices.com

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Bible Study: Ephesians 2:19-22 “Built Upon the Foundation, Christ Jesus”

Each morning I get off the #77 Belmont Avenue bus at Lakewood Avenue, one of Chicago’s infinite number of “side streets,” the places where people in our city really live. On good weather days, the four-block walk north, up Lakewood, to my office is pleasant; on cold, rainy days it is bearable at best. But part of the delight of that daily walk is checking progress: progress that nature is making with its spring show of leaves and blossoms, and progress that home builders and rehabbers are making on their often over-priced projects.

One new home that stands out in both size and presumptive appearance is especially fun to inspect these days. Tuck-pointers are feverishly finishing their work. Windows are now set in place. Only a few more interior projects need finishing before the owner/developers of the project move in. And they do intend to move in and claim the building as theirs! For in the front, northwest corner of this magnificent house is implanted a stone with the names of the owners and the construction date “2002 A.D.” Clearly, these homeowners are staking their place in the history of western civilization.

While it is nothing of the sort, many people think of this artificial nameplate as a cornerstone. In fact, it lends no actual support to the house, as did real cornerstones in massive archways of days gone by. But this cosmetic touch will have to do for the early 21st century. We’ve really forgotten, or ignored, the actual place, and role, of a cornerstone in a solidly constructed brick or stone building, the kind alluded to in the ending verses of Ephesians, chapter two. Upon close examination of verses 19-22, we see that the Apostle Paul was telling his audience, and us today, that each Christian has an integral role in the “rock solid” construction of Christ’s church.

Not only is it beautiful and freeing to hear Paul’s words of v. 19 (we no longer live as aliens and strangers), but it is supremely significant to know that we are citizens in-full of a new kingdom, right along with other members and saints. For we now abide in God’s household, a family living within a house built upon the strongest of foundations (apostles of the faith, prophets and Jesus Christ himself). For Jesus is that building’s cornerstone (v.20) around which that house has been built together. With Christ at the center, nothing can be destroyed, only much more can be added. The foundation and strength exists for a second, third, fourth floor (and beyond). We don’t yet know what a finished kingdom of God will look like, and we never will be able to see that magnificent finished product. For the church is constantly adding to itself, Christ’s church must grow as the gospel is proclaimed to all peoples and nations.

What we can know for sure is summarized in the message of verse 22, “you are also built into it, for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Each one of us is another stone, another brick put into place in the solid construction of the church. Now that’s either 1) a good and reassuring thought to rest in or 2) a daily challenge for you and I to realize that we play a specific and tangible role in both how this building holds together, and in how it is able to add to itself in further construction. Obviously, both #1 and #2 are truths for us to claim and hold onto. We both enjoy our place within God’s kingdom, and we constantly play out our own roles in building God’s kingdom to greater heights.

While the scriptures are filled with instructions on how we are to build (wisely, Luke 14:27-29, on a solid foundation, Luke 6:46-49, striving to excel, I Corinthians 14:12), the Apostle Paul was obviously urging Christians to take seriously their role in the structure of the church. With his instructions, he calls urban Christians of the 21st century to an important reality of obedience of both strength and obedience.

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“Pastors’ Page” – Planting or Building the Urban Church?

Responses from City Pastors Across America

Rodney F. Price, Mattapan Baptist Church, Boston, Massachusetts,
Rprice1492@aol.com, www.forministry.com/02186MBC

The plan that has been successful in our area of Boston has been the "rebuilding" or construction of existing church congregations. There has been some success in doing this, especially when the city church has reached a certain point in its decline. Pastors finding a congregation (number of members is not important) that still want God to use them to do a work for God in the city can be successful. The introduction of biblically sound Bible teaching; simplifying the structure of polity; and a carefully laid out "preferred future" for the church leadership has been the key ingredients. Mattapan Baptist 5 years ago averaged 15 in the morning service. There was not any Adult Bible classes, Youth ministries, Women's/Men's Ministries, or mission programs. I believe that when God's people recognize that Christ still wants to "build His church" in their area, any church can be constructed from the bottom up.

Damon Laaker, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries (ELCA), Omaha, Nebraska, dlaakers@bigfoot.com

I guess I'm old fashioned but the parable of the sower seems to be much more appropriate for the work that we do in the city. We have opportunity to touch many lives. Some bear fruit, grow instantly, others grow up and are smothered by a multitude of cares, others produce fruit in a variety of places. In many cases, we do not get to see the results of our work.

It is true that we must serve as a good foreman in balancing all of the work possibilities, but God is the one who grows the crop. We are but stewards. The metaphor of the builder seems to suggest that we are the ones who hold everything together. I just don't find that to be the case.

Earl Thompson, Wilshire Ministry -- Wilshire United Methodist Church, Los Angeles, California, wilshireministrywumc@yahoo.com

The gifts our Lord gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

I am the pastor of the English worshipping congregation in a four-language faith community. We have 1,000 families worshipping on any given Sunday in four languages. I refer to the Ephesians scripture because I believe this is why we come together as congregations. It is not the building, but what we do for Christ in the building. It is not a person or minister, but what the person or minister does for Christ. It is not success or failure, but faithfulness to the cause of Christ. If we stand on the same corner for 20 years and only one soul comes to Christ, then those 20 years were not in vain. We look for results instead of being faithful to the cause of Christ. Yes, it is easy to get weary at well doing, but if we are faithful, God will bless and reward us.

So often pastors and congregations get caught up in numbers. Small congregations want to be bigger congregations. Big congregations want to be mega-churches. Mega-churches want to expand and plant new mega-churches in other areas. There is nothing wrong with growth or expansion. But God calls us just to be faithful. Just to witness for Christ, wherever we are, to whomever we see. If we focus on "equipping the saints," then it does not matter if there are 50 or 5,000 out there. We are charged with taking care of whomever we have and God will bless us for it. "The faithful will abound with blessings, but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 25:20)

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Books Worth Your Attention:

“The Life and Death of Great American Cities,” by Jane Jacobs, Vantage Books, New York, 1992. (* First published in 1961, and has attained a classic status in its several re-printings.) The appeal for city pastors here should be obvious: pastor, study and understand the modern American city, become an expert on the growth, development, strengths and problems of your own city, and cities all around you. As you make sense of “city,” the work of parish and community ministry will take on greater meaning for both you and your ministry leaders.

Jane Jacobs has written some of the best, common sense descriptions on the nature of living in city blocks, the good and bad design of city streets and other basic systems. Trained as an economist, Jacobs has understood better than most anyone of her time, what makes up a healthy city neighborhood. And her understandings of the 60s still make great sense today. She goes on to focus on such practical issues as city slums, human diversity, subsidized housing and the role of greater numbers of cars in modern cities.

She tackles a variety of other urban subjects in further writings. One of her best books is:
“Cities and the Wealth of Nations,” Vintage Books, New York, 1984, (reprint edition, 1985).
In this more advanced volume, Jacobs turns to her background in economics and takes the role of cities extremely seriously in the development (of lack thereof) of modern national economies. The strength, and delight of this book is to be found in the careful historical documentation of cities (of all kinds) in countries around the globe that have multiplied their trade patterns, and thereby helped their nation’s currency and economy to develop. The value for ministers lies in a better understanding of the economic forces (both micro and macro) that spell either success of doom for community residents in particularly volatile urban economies. Coupled with “Life and Death of Great American Cities,” this volume will make you want to read further into the economic forces that impinge upon all of our city communities.

While CityVoices does not presently carry either these, of any of Jane Jacobs books, they can be obtained online for the best prices at Overstock.com, or other online bookstores. Look for especially good deals on used copies.

“The Continuing Conversion of the Church,” by Darrell L. Guder, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2000. Darrell Guder’s work not only holds together well, but also makes good sense for churches in all types of North American settings, especially urban churches. The subject is mission, the target is the modern-day church – with all its forms and foibles. The author clearly loves both his subject and his audience. He wants to see both of them work in close coordination, not simply succeed in an artificial or atrophied format.

Important themes for Guder include: mission and witness (in all forms that those should be properly carried out by the modern-day church), reductionism and how it has hurt gospel outreach, and all that the church’s own “continuing conversion” can mean for the growth of God’s kingdom today. Darrell Guder’s work is an energy-filled text that makes both theological and practical good sense for local churches in today’s complex cities. Again, CityVoices does not carry this book, but you can find it at good prices through online distributors.

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Online Chat With Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., a renowned preacher, author, and community leader of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago will be the featured guest for a live web chat, Thursday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. (EST) at www.JudsonPress.com/TAAP/chat, sponsored by The African American Pulpit. For your review, we have included the background information for this event for your use in supporting this live web chat with Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. For more on this web event, call Mary Mihalik at Judson Press, (610) 768-2148.

Dr. Wright has been named by Ebony magazine as one of the nation's top 15 preachers. He is in demand as a speaker both nationally and internationally. He's one of the most prominent revivalists, pastors, theologians, and African-American musicologists of our time. This is your opportunity to ask him questions, get his thoughts, and understand his particular insights on the black church in America. Dr. Wright is a former professor at United Theological Seminary, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary. Since 1972, he has been the Senior Pastor to over 8,000 members at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He is the author of nine books, including “From One Brother to Another, Vol. 2” (Judson Press, 2003); “Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today's Families” (Judson Press, 1995), and “What Makes You So Strong? Sermons of Joy and Strength from Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.” (Judson Press, 1993).

To join Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. in this very special online conversation, simply log onto www.judsonpress.com/taap/chat. This chat is proudly sponsored by The African American Pulpit, the nation's only journal devoted solely to the art of black preaching. Subscribe today by calling 1-800-458-3766.

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Thanks for reading CityVoices!

Thanks for taking the time to think through the topic of how we do “build urban churches.” E-mail any of your comments back to CityVoices at roger@cityvoices.com.

Remember to take a good look at the CityVoices website: www.cityvoices.com and browse the growing number of resources available within that site.

To place orders on any resource materials we offer, call CityVoices at (773) 477-8163, or email roger@cityvoices.com

Thank You!

Roger Johnson – Editor, CityVoices (Chicago)

Roger@cityvoices.com