The Journey of 180: Part II

As you read this, the Journey of 180 is in the second phase, 60 Days of Dialogue. In my last Blog, I explained that for the last year I have regularly used words such as journey, paradigm, rebirth, geopolitan, and community stakeholder. In part one, I discussed the meanings for the particular use of the words journey, paradigm and rebirth. In this BLOG, I will address the concept of “geopolitan” and offer some thoughts about the importance of community stakeholders.

Geopolitan is a word and concept of the future. I was given this word by Dr. Bob Dale, who has discussed the meaning and implications of such a word at length with his son, Cass. Since you will not be able to find a definition of the word—not even using Google—let me offer one. Geo- is a prefix taken from the Greek word γη or γαια meaning “earth.” Politan- is a term taken from the Greek root word polis (pɒlɨs) or πόλις meaning “city.” Combined the literal translation gives us the term “earth city.” Driving through the D.C. metropolitan area, it is easy to see how this term “earth city” or “geopolitan” could describe our unique setting, especially since we are the home to someone from nearly every nation and culture in the world. While our geographic location defines us as the nation’s capital, we also know that our region is where the world comes to meet. It is the place where every action has worldwide impact, like a pebble hitting the proverbial global waters. No less should be the mindset and attitude of D.C. Baptists. Everything we do impacts the world and everything the world does impacts us because the world resides here in our backyard.

Unlike most conventions across the nation, our region is far from homogenous. As a result of being an “earth city,” people who migrate here bring their culture, language, beliefs and mores with them. Our member churches often help to meet the needs of the people who move here and we must continue to equip them to effectively minister to all who walk into our churches. In addition, we must work to build deeper relationships with international leaders and embassy personnel to further support our churches as well as to advance God’s kingdom in our area. As D.C. Baptists journey these 180 days, we are mindful of the fact that the traditional geographical boundaries that once existed no longer do. We are beginning to discern, dialogue and dream about how our future story might be impacted as we explore what it would mean to become an "earth city" convention with an international focus.

As you probably know, a community stakeholder is a generic term for a person or an entity that takes a legitimate interest in the well-being of a community as a whole and those who live there. Community stakeholders are also concerned about the issues that affect the community it serves. We know that the community of D.C. Baptists is large and complex. Our community includes: the Baptist community, the Christian community, the religious community, the national capital region and its sub-communities, the local governmental community, the federal government, human service providers and the distant global community. The interests we have are of freedom, faith and life dignity for all humankind.

All of our community relationships are important and provide an opportunity for us to become a geopolitan convention, one whose boundaries are nonexistent.  Partnerships help us to leverage our diversity, collaborate on issues of mutual concern and share resources to address the issues that haunt our communities both locally as well as on an international level. By breaking through a traditional mindset of “convention work,” we will be able to propel D.C. Baptists into a world arena of involvement among groups that are making a difference in the daily lives of people around the globe. The challenge for D.C. Baptists as we continue to dream about our future is to go beyond the trappings of what we “should” do as a Convention to keep an institution and denomination alive into a mindset that partners our convention with the communities that we serve—including the global community. We must not fear sitting at the table with those who are not Baptist, not of like faith or not of faith at all.

The Journey of 180 holds a lot of promise for the D.C. Baptist Convention and the only question left to be answered is “Will we join the emerging work of God that we discover and travel to the new land of mission that He has prepared?”

The Journey of 180: Part I

For the last year, I have been speaking in the language of journey as I seek to lead the DC Baptist Convention to a new land. As you read this, the long talked about and anticipated Journey of 180 has begun. I have been a minister for over 29 years and have used a lot of words…probably more than I should have. Some of my language has been blunt, bottomed-lined, filled with grammatical errors but nonetheless just raw honesty. Then there are those times when I use a language to convey a meaning larger than me, whose scope is outside of myself and only can be realized by a people united in heart through the divine power of God. The language of journey is one of those times.

If you have been keeping up with my writings, blog, Facebook page, reports to Convention leadership or public presentations you have come across words like journey, paradigm, rebirth, geopolitan, community stakeholder, and service (these are not all, but a few key ones). Permit me a moment to simply flesh-out the use of these words in my journey language in my next several Blogs.

Journey: defined as ―an act or instance of traveling from one place to another. Beginning with my very first conversation with the Search Committee, the Committee wanted to know about my vision for DCBC and where I thought the next destination for Baptist Conventions would lead. My answer was very simple; I do not know the future story or destination of DCBC or any other Convention. If DCBC were to hire an Executive Director/Minister based on his or her vision/destination then failure would surely follow. The future of DCBC or any organization rests in the hands, hearts and minds of the stakeholders. The stakeholders for DCBC are the elected leadership, clergy, congregational leaders AND community. In order to get from our present reality to our envisioned future we have to be willing to take a journey…to travel from one place to another, travelling in caravan (together) and travelling forward. We also have to be willing to embark knowing that some will not go on this journey, others will get tired and sit along the way, others will take an exit and the committed will eventually reach the destination. It is in journeying together that we learn more about ourselves and where God is calling us. So as we travel…we continue to expand our capacity to create the results we truly desire, we find that new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, we see collective aspiration set free, and witness individuals begin to see the preferred destination as a whole.

Paradigm: I think Albert Einstein said it best; No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. Thus, conventional formulations and solutions based on the current environment are inadequate to deal with future change. Although most organizational leaders recognize this to be an issue, few have a paradigm that would assist them with organizational transformation. The template we have for being and doing as a Baptist convention is based largely on a paradigm developed in the 1950s and guess what? It isn‘t working anymore—for us or any other Baptist convention. 

Our present structure (staff, bylaws, programs, services) also needs to be updated. And, DCBC‘s presence as a corporate body in the community at-large is virtually non-existent. Yet, the responsibilities of Convention staff and elected leadership have increased! Why? Because we are stuck in a paradigm that causes us to keep doing what we have been doing for years with less staff and less financial support. A new movement, a new way must develop or we will continue to focus on keeping an institution on life support until someone decides to pull the plug. Through the Journey of 180 we will spend time discerning and dialoguing about the emerging possible paradigms. 

Rebirth: basic and bottom-lined…the day is over for re-tweaking, re-organizing, re-arranging, re-shuffling and resurrecting. The Convention has experienced the re‘s for 135 years and they have served us well. However, the environment, culture, needs and expectations have reached a point that now calls for something totally and drastically new. The journey calls for a rebirth.

Our future is not found in past successes but in future realizations of concepts and direction conceived during the Journey of 180. We have to ask the right questions, not the easy ones, and seek solutions, not responses that sound politically correct. My questions are: If you had the opportunity to create a cooperative organization of Baptists uniting in mission and service, what would the organization look like, be doing and be focused upon? What Baptists would be invited to the partnership table? Would we partner with non-Baptists? What core values will guide the Mission and Vision of the rebirth?

I am blessed to be with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention during this most important time of their history. My primary objective when I accepted the call to be the Executive Director/Minister was to facilitate this journey. What will be the end result, the final destination? I have no idea but I am looking forward to getting there with DC Baptists and finding that place together! Part II and Part III to follow soon.