Since this whole Catholic business has broken out, I've had a few questions concerning the faith community that I planted and have lead for almost 7 years, Vine & Branches. "What will happen to your church?" "What about vbcc?" Those are good questions. Quite a few people have followed us as a community over the last few years, watched us being church in the way that we were. There were even a couple of books that featured our name and a bit about what we were about, not to mention the whole bloggish emerging church phenomenon, conferences, etc. So, even though we were only a very few faithful people, doing what we were doing, we were not anonymous in the world.
Anyway, of course our own people were wondering (and we've already, of course, talked about all this within) and others were as well, so I thought I'd put up a post concerning that subject in particular. I'll do a little cutting and pasting from some things I've already said in other places and then add some. I'll try not to make this too long of a post.
from the original why not? post: So we talked to them, asked them to pray with/for us. Of course, it was a very good thing. And later, recently, when the word came down - "Go" - the reactions were just as, if not more, positive. They saw it. They see that it's a good thing and we know that we will continue to be a community of people helping each other along the journey, but not as "a church," properly speaking. And that is fine. It may, in fact, as we talked about it, free some things up. We have become "a monastery in waiting," as it were (thanks Kyle) - those rural monastic plans are still ON, only slightly varied. We will now be meeting only once a month for a potluck meal, hanging out, and to pray the evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. Our relationships will be maintained. What else? Good stuff.
from the comments section on Kyle's blog: Very briefly, we have effectively ceased to be "a church" properly speaking. We will no longer celebrate the Eucharist in my living room. I will not officially be "the pastor" any more.
My family and I will begin the process of working our way into being a part of a local Catholic parish here in Lexington. For us all to be technically "Catholic" more than that needs to happen. It's not like "moving your letter" to a new church and there you go. We're working on that. No pressure has been put on anyone to swim the river with us (they can attest to that I think).
Now, our community will remain a community of people who are a part of the Church - the whole Church at large. We may receive the Sacraments in different places but we will continue to be a self-identified community of believers who pray with one another and encourage one another along the faith journey. Our relationships are not being cut off. They will remain intact and hopefully grow. Can I help be spiritual director to people and not be "their pastor?" Sure, and I will, as I can. We will now only meet once a month for potluck and prayer, as I said.
The monastery plans are basically the same. Do a google search on John Michael Talbot or Little Portion Hermitage and you'll get some idea of something akin to what we're going to do - not a carbon copy. It's a big change, but not a bad change. Some things will be missed. We'll learn to adapt. No worries, and if I'm saying that, there really are no worries. Hope that makes sense. Peace.
So, there's the basics. All the people who are a part of this community, while we will miss certain aspects of what we were together, are fine. We are looking forward to another leg in the journey. We talked about the fact that I just couldn't do both things at once - maintain vbcc as it was and figure this whole Catholic thing out at the same time. It would have driven me nuttier than I already am. And then, the decision was made, so the logical conclusion followed (there we go again with those) - we shifted gears from being one thing while stating that we would continue to be another. Well, not altogether "another thing" really. It's more like continuing to be one thing that we definitely already are, a community of people, while allowing another part of that to come to an end - the "church" part.
And as I said, and I've said this numerous times in private to many people, the rural monastic community is still happening. This does not change this vocational vision I believe has come from God. It may even be easier in some ways. The only thing that will change about it is that it won't be the base of a "church" but more, to use more Catholic terminology, an apostolate working within the greater Church. Benedict and some friends saw some things, were called to do something, and they did it. Francis and many others did that same, all through the history of the Church. No different here. The monastic community of vine & branches will be a small, rural, contemplative (with active outworkings) monastic community with a Catholic base and an ecumenical spirit. I'm looking forward to the day when that becomes a reality. God give us Grace to move well in that direction. Monastic Fathers, pray for us.
"Then, if we cannot as yet think alike in all things, at least we may love alike. Herein we cannot possibly do amiss." John Wesley
"Keep your eyes on the crucifix, for Jesus without the cross
is a man without a mission, and the cross without Jesus
is a burden without a reliever." Fulton J. Sheen
"...I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be
completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self." Henri Nouwen
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