Lyngine posted an interesting comment today which not only deserves to be highlighted but which has inspired in me at least 4 additional post topics (way to go Lyngine!). In her comment Lyngine points to a very important issue in our communities – using a clear sense of identity as a valued resource.

We have a history of refusing to define who we are, and to proudly, confidently present that vision and value set to all (and to even remind ourselves of it when needed). There are a few reasons for this but I’ll only mention three that I’ve seen repeatedly over the past 15 or so years in ministry. Many incomers (non-converts who participate) are uncomfortable making a clear distinction, a fresh break from their “Home Church”; another is that some incomers, wounded by their “Home Church” perceive anything that might create a solid identity as authoritarian, and unwelcoming. Finally, there is a very real problem of commitment and accountability that is intimately tied into the problem of forging and shaping that sense of identity. Many incomers arrive not necessarily out of a conviction that this community is the right one for me, but more out of a sense of I will get what I want, so I can do as I please because they don’t have any quality control, no “institutionalism” like my Home Church does.

The result is that many communities in the movement either don’t establish a clear, communicated (and communicable) “this is us, this is who we are”; or they cannibalise from the collections of the dominant “Home Church” with no intention of it being anything other than a show-piece. Both scenarios undermine the community’s cohesion, and are detrimental to long-term morale. Result – as we all know too well, few OC/IC communities last more than 5 years, before dissolving into a chaotic array of competing visions and value sets.

The caveat here is that you can’t draw up an identity over-night. It takes time – it took my community over 10 years, and indeed there were consequences when we finally arrived at some decisions – but what remains is “the community” those who are not just incomers but real members, people who are totally invested in the life and vision of the community.