Greening of the Church, 2022

Our family decorates just like yours. Ish.

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Partycularization

Christ the King became a real church on Sunday evening, November 13th, 2022. We ordained and installed Jimbo Bass and Scott Gentry as Elders, and called Rev. Soren Kornegay to be our first pastor. Then we did what we do best…party!

Meat Feast of St. Larry, 2022

Lawrence is the patron saint of cooks and comedians, who retained his sense of humor, even while being burned alive. We face much less persecution than him, and could learn from his example. Playfulness wins the world. “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”- GK Chesterton

When the Church Does Harm

Deconstruction. Losing your faith. Jesus and John Wayne. That Mars Hill podcast. I (Soren) gathered members, guests and lay leaders at CTK for a wide ranging discussion of what we do When the Church Does Harm.

We leaned heavily on Chuck Degroat’s Book When Narcissism Comes to Church… buy it here or on the bookshelf at CTK.

Before this became a roundtable, I was going to give a talk. I think our discussion was way more insightful, but my notes still provided the bones. They are below for your use, or disuse:

Outline of the discussion

1. Introduction

   1. ground rules

      1. not therapy-

         1. no church names

         2. (lets not be like mars hill, rallying around us being different)

      2. goal is to teach us to recognize quickly, respond graciously to the wounded and repair to prevent that sort of thing from happening again

   2. context

      1. Divided by Faith

      2. Jesus and John Wayne

      3. Mars Hill, Catholic Abuse, Ravi Zecharias, Sexual Abuse Report in the SBC

      4. What scenarios come to mind when you think of the church doing harm?

1. Recognition

   1. What is the mission of the church?

      1. 2 Corinthians 5:15-20- what words describe the church?

         1. new creation

         2. reconciled

         3. ambassadors

         4. heralds

      2. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18- what are some of the implications of that for them?

         1. god is with us

         2. we are separate and different

         3. we are part of Gods family

      3. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11- how will that feel?

         1. Grief is not harm.

   2. What is harm?

      1. Definition of spiritual abuse

         1. What it isn’t and why its important to recognize what it isn’t (Degroat, 15)

            1. diagnosis can be another form of power

         2. What it is (from Degroat 125, Mars Hill definition)

            1. principles of faith are wielded as weapons of command and control

            2. leverage eternal principles for power

            3. Silencing/moralizing/certainty/experioentialism/unquestionedhierarchy/utterly ambiguous (liberals who are using affirmation to feel safe)x

         3. “An attack on him was an attack on you.” (Mars Hill)

      2. Occurring on an individual and historical scale- examples

Transition: What do we do when somebody comes to us (or we ourselves realize) that this harm is happening?

1. Response

   1. Powerlessness

      1. feature of abuse

      2. so much of what we do is an attempt to avoid being powerless again

      3. sometimes that means run away

      4. sometimes that means conquer

      5. always it means retraumatization.

      6. Our task: address the underlying powerlessness). How do you empower somebody, or even yourself?

   2. Curiosity (not secrecy)

      1. takes gentle engagement to prevent running away.

      2. avoidance will lead to retraumatization

      3. that means being willing to risk a little wrath.

   3. Empathy (not defensiveness)

      1. Temptation (esp. among those of us who have had positive experiences- so much identity bound up in this) is to get defensive.

      2. Matthew 15:10-20: No need to worry about the symbols. Worry about the good.

      3. Matthew 24:1-2

      4. Question: What was that like for you? I’m so sorry that happened. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you, but thanks for telling me.

   4. Encouragement

      1. Growth vs. Deconstruction

      2. Josh Harris Example

      3. Bonhoeffer quote

      4. You have something to share with the church. Re-engage. Help us. But now you are in a better position to do it. What would be some signs that you were getting ready to be retraumatized again? How would you know?

Transition: How do we make sure it doesn’t happen again?

1. Repair

   1. The new reformation- an information rich age

   2. institutions of trust

      1. Clarity

      2. Communication

      3. Consistency- even when it hurts

      4. Humility

         1. a constant feast of misrule

         2. to build institutions on power is to invite deconstruction

         3. leader must be willing to be constant, and yet let him/herself be moved.

         4. like Jesus in Phillipians. Or Paul in

   3. in an information-rich environment, the ones that survive will be built on trust

Questions to prod your thinking:

1. Introduction:

   1. How did you get interested in the topic of “When the Church Does Harm?”

   2. Have you ever been harmed by the Church? Done the Harming?

2. Recognition (from 2 Cor. 5-7): What is it like?

   1. What does a harmful church culture look like?

   2. Have you experienced a helpful church culture?

   3. Have you ever experienced a godly grief?

3. Response: (from Matthew 15:10-20ish) How do we recover?

   1. What did it feel like to be you in that harmful culture?

   2. What was it like to be powerless?

   3. What were some meaningful responses to you as you sought to recover? What makes the responses so difficult to provide?

4. Repair:

   1. How do we build different institutions? (from Philippians 2:1-11)

   2. How do we teach people to re-engage?

“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idolized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands set up by their own law, and judge one another and God accordingly. It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. Whoever is mindful to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it, for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess he builds. We must proclaim, he builds. We must pray to him, and he will build. We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

New COVID Policies

Everything we do at CTK is guided by our mission: Love God. Love Neighbor. Love Savannah. Some of us are better at loving God: worshipping him, and at considering him more important than ourselves. Some of us are better at loving neighbors: at empathizing with them, and at considering them more important than ourselves. Walking with Jesus means being apprenticed to somebody who did both. 

The COVID situation is fluid and constantly changing. After speaking with many of you, it seems that, though there isn't much fear of dying from COVID in our community, none of us want to miss work days or cause classes to have to quarantine because we test positive. This is particularly true for the 25% of the CTK community who work in healthcare, and whose gifts and training are especially needed as our hospitals are full of patients.

In light of this dynamic reality, we are making a few relatively minor changes to our policies:

1. We will continue to gather and encourage corporate worship as being "worth the risk"; worth the risk of missing work days, of getting sick, or worse: having to stay home with our kids for a week while they quarantine.

2. The community is strongly encouraged to social distance and wear masks during worship. I cannot mandate this, as neither the session nor the civil government has issued any mandates relating to our gathering. However, only the last row will be reserved for those who are unable or unwilling to wear masks.

3. We will postpone the beginning of our parish groups until at least the week of August 29th and may extend the postponement.

4. We will have our final Hot Topic (masked, socially distanced) "When the Church Does Harm" on Wednesday, August 25th from 6-730.

5. CTK will continue to submit to governing authorities on all matters that do not conflict with our understanding of God's Law as it applies in a reasonable way to the matter in question.

One final word. I know we are all looking forward to a time in the future when none of us has to think about pandemics and plagues and what a mask does or does not say about who any of us is. I know masks are a symbol for much in our culture right now: for the tribe you belong to, for the social righteousness you possess, for your anxiety around COVID, for your responsibility to your employer or your patients. In my conversations with a variety of you over the last few days, I have heard other things from you, whispers of another Story, bigger than politics or public health. I've heard you say that the tribe you belong to is the body of Christ, that your righteousness flows from His atoning work alone, and that He has overcome the domain of death, whether that is sin in our hearts or disease in our bodies. So maybe, juuuuust maybe, regardless of our opinions on masks in the world, they could become in our community a symbol of something else: our desire to love our neighbor (particularly the immunocompromised and those in the medical community) as ourselves, or even as a monument to our willingness to "bear with one another in love (Eph. 4:2)." 

Onward, forward. See you Sunday, if you can make it. And if you can't—if you're quarantined or otherwise in need—let us know. We'll bring you some food.

Thanks
Soren

The Meat Feast of St Larry

Meat Feast of St. Larry
St. Lawrence is the patron saint of cooks and comedians. When the Roman Emperor Valerian order Lawrence to turn over all of the church's treasure, he showed up at the courthouse with all the poor the church was caring for. This joke got him roasted alive. But he wasn't finished, quipping "Turn me over, I'm well done on this side!" while being martyred. To honor St. Larry and live as Christians ourselves, on August 7th we are going to host a service project (a free back-to-school clothing swap), barbecue (smoked meat by Jacob Terry and Scott Gentry), and a creative modern retelling of the Lawrence story.

Below is the schedule and volunteer needs for August 6th and 7th. Click here to sign up!

1. Friday, August 6th from 6-9: 3-5 Volunteers needed at Church to sort through clothing and donations.

2. Saturday, August 7th

   1. from 8-11: 3 Volunteers needed to work the clothing swap.

   2. from 11-2: 3 more volunteers to work the clothing swap.

   3. from 2-4: 3 Volunteers to clean up

   4. 4-6: Meat Feast at Hull Park, BYOB and a Side to Share!

Hot Topics: Technology

How many likes did this get?

Summer is hot, and so is the culture war! Wooo! Join CTK June 16th from 6-730 pm at 728 E. 55th as we explore the friction between Jesus and the use of Technology, and try to bring grace and salt and light and pastoral wisdom to a contentious topic. Questions discussed will include:

1. What are positives and negatives of our infatuation with technology?

2. Ask not what you are doing with your tech, ask what your tech is doing with you?

3. What’s more important, the content of our tech or the way in which we access it?

4. How does our usage of technology contribute to human flourishing? Harm that same flourishing?

5. What practices does Jesus give his people to mitigate the harmful effects of technology

Childcare will be provided for ages 0-8, with a bag lunch dinner as well, for $5. Some of us will head to a nearby bar to keep the conversation going afterward. Spread the word, we would love to see you!

Easter 2021

"If you lose Christmas, you lose the first two chapters of Luke.
If you lose Easter, you lose Christianity."
-NT Wright

Easter is the most important day on the Christian calendar. Its the day when Jesus rose from the dead, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and gave hope to a dying world. Maybe, just maybe, if we are joined to Him, there might be hope for us too. Though many of us struggle to feel or express joy throughout the year under the weight of cynicism, sadness, or unmet expectation, on Easter we celebrate our lives and the world not as they are, but as they will be. We celebrate, not to forget our hardships, but because of them- because if Christ defeated death, what suffering can he not defeat?

Here are the practical logistics for how we will practice joy at CTK this Easter.

1. Because we expect many guests, and are planning a small parade (more on that in a second), please arrive early (930ish) and park atHull Park. Please park here in consideration of our guests and to help with the parade, even if you aren't staying for lunch!

2. Our parade will begin immediately following the service, and will be led by a small jazz band. There will be instruments for the kids, and something special for the adults for the road. Music and marching teach us joy, so feel free to take a risk and try something new.

3. Our lunch will be held at Hull Park for $5 per person. Your "best guess" RSVP is required by Wednesday at midnight. The food will be ordered Thursday morning, so don't delay!

4. An Easter egg hunt will be held for any kids at the park at that time at 1230. Please bring 10-12 pre-filled Easter eggs to contribute, and give them to a member of the Key family once you arrive at the park.

5. Bring chairs and blankets for a picnic!

Ted Lasso, Wendell Berry, and Pastoral Ministry

I mean. How can I avoid reposting this?

Announcements (2.1.21)

Bring Your Creeds- Write or type a short statement beginning with "I believe..." (as we demonstrated last week: "I believe I am the hero/villain") and tape it to wall behind the music team on Sunday. These are beliefs that we all hold, but which we need to submit to the Apostles Creed. Click here to submit it anonymously (just leave the name blank) and I will print it out for you!

1. Important Dates-

   1. Thursday, Feb. 5th at 830- Guys night.

      1. 517 E. 53rd.

      2. We will have a fire pit, drink a little bourbon, hang out and begin a once a month discussion on leading as Christians and as men. So often discussions of Christian leadership devolve into "Who is in charge?" In reaction to that authoritarianism, we often adopt a passivity designed not to offend. But what if Jesus offers us a better model for leadership, and for being men?

   2. Saturday, Feb. 13th- Women's Brunch.

      1. 10 am at Funky Brunch Broughton

      2. Contact Madi Crawley (madisonhcrawley@gmail.com) to RSVP!

   3. February 17th- Ash Wednesday Hymn Sing

      1. If the Psalms are the hymnbook of the ancient church, then one thing quickly becomes clear: we must learn how to lament both our own sin and the brokenness of the world.

      2. Join us for a drop-in pancake dinner from 530-630, and hymn sing from 6-7. Childcare provided.

   4. Sunday, February 21st- New Members Class.

      1. Meets at 9 am, through March 28th.

      2. This is a great chance to find out more about why CTK does the things it does, and where we see ourselves going. No commitment required at the end, but if you would like to take the next step, you are welcome to!

      3. Childcare provided

   5. The Week of Sunday, March 14th- St. Patrick's Day Festivities

      1. St. Patrick escaped slavery in Ireland, only to return and take responsibility for converting his old masters. How did he accomplish this mission? By being holy himself, founding intentional communities of Christians amidst the pagans, and gaining a reputation for justice, mercy, and the best beer on the island!

      2. Mission service and guest speaker discussing "Living as Missionaries At Home" on Sunday March 14th.

      3. Men's gathering- night of March 16th, at Lafayette Square.

      4. Family Party/Brunch- morning of March 17th, location TBD.

2. Parish Groups

   1. Meeting THIS week

      1. Islands- 156 Penrose Dr., 31410 (The Bass's) at 630 pm Wednesday

      2. Midtown- 203 E. 56th (The Jefferson's) at 7 pm Wednesday.

   2. Meeting NEXT week

      1. Girls Small Group- Meets Tuesday, February 9th from 630-8. Bring any girls 4th grade and up. Contact Alli at allistroud78@gmail.com for more info.

3. Clothing Swap- We have postponed our clothing swap until the spring to give us time to get more donations in. Go through your closets and bring gently used clothes any Sunday to donate!

4. Our sermon series is also updated online. Check it out, and share it with friends! Furthermore, if you are unable to participate in worship, we have videotaped this past week.