the blog's vision and mission, revisited

People blog for many reasons. They think they've got something to say that people should hear. They want to develop a network outside of their local web of relationships. They love clothes. Or food. Or politics. Or something, anything, of interest that enough others share to provide an opportunity for common ground.

Why does this blog exist? 

It originally began as a Lenten discipline in 2014. At that time, my thoughts were so scattered between finishing graduate school and beginning my first call as a pastor, I needed an area to synthesize the academic and practical realms of theology, where the classroom and the congregation might bless one another. The hope, at that point, was to provide a sort of training ground for myself to pursue this application of study to ministry, to gestate reflection into the new birth of action.

Is that still the purpose? 

Definitely, yes, though the form and trajectory have shifted significantly. This reflects a natural progression of things in the meantime. Originally the posts were daily, and now they come weekly, which is largely due to the fact that I'm now a full time pastor who owns a house rather than a student renting a seminary apartment. There's an ebb and flow of topic, whether biblical theology or practical applications for ministry or Lutheran identity or social justice. This unpredictable path will likely continue, because like Luther, I find contextual theology most pressing. This allows me the space to reflect on our community here at CLC, as well as my wider digital network, to consider what the context calls for at a particular place and time. 

So what's the mission? 

To provide a space for reflection, conversation, and action around the identity of the church. Simple enough, huh? Except, of course, it's not simple at all. Reflection is easy enough, because readers can think about what's written, and that's the end of it. But more than reflection, I love when conversations arise, especially when they challenge me! This provides us an opportunity to not just think about the church's identity in our own minds, but with other church members, with other limbs of Christ's Body. Even more than that, though, is when action occurs. When the reflection and conversation lead to an actualization of the church in the world, that makes my heart sing. Even if it doesn't relate to the initial purpose of the post, that our reflections and conversations lead to active relationships is a blessing to be counted. 

The identity of the church, though, is the toughest part. Some of the toughest issues, those of race and sexual orientation and poverty, come to bear in these web pages. This is because they are close to the core of our identity as the church, which is because they are not just issues, but people close to the heart of Christ. This comes alongside questions of redeveloping the church for mission in the 21st century, about how we do ministry in a pluralistic age and stay faithful to the Triune God, because as the church our reflection, conversation, and action must address all these and a myriad of other areas. We're called to reflect God's image in the world through word and deed, so this blog is my meager offering to help further that conversation both for the congregation I serve and for the wider community of friends who are dear to me and gracious enough to read the ramblings found herein. 

It's not everyone's preferred media, nor does everyone think that this is the place for to have such conversations. I understand that, which is why I don't really advertise or invite others to read this that often, other than through social media shares. There's not expectation for congregants or Facebook friends or Twitter follows to read this, and no prize if you do (sorry). But I am thankful that it does make an impact for some of you out there, and I'm thankful that you let me know that as well. Your reactions help to keep that mission at the forefront of the dialogue and of my mind. 

So thank you for reading. I know you don't have to, and it means the world to me that you do anyway. I'm always open for feedback, so please stay in touch with me to help me continually hone this thing into something worth reading. Grace and peace be with you always.

+ FriarTucker +