(KIM THODAY) Rather like a person in adolescence, a new community takes time to grow, mature and find it's identity. In theological language, this is about the journey of discovering God's specific vision, mission and giftings for your Church. There are growing pains involved such as: the shattering of certain illusions, grief, disappointment, insecurity, discovery and ultimately the openness to the transition into the next stage: developing significant and meaningful relationships, being open to learn and the cultivation of an intra-dependent identity. For instance, in planting a new Church, it is not surprising that after the initial pubescent flurry of rapid growth that we begin to ask: "Lord, who are we?" and "Lord, what do you want us to be and do?" A conversation about identity is one that should continue in Church life. And a clear but open understanding of identity and ethos will be an important galvanising force for the continued spiritual growth of any Church. What I have been talking about is really the issue of transition or change from an old identity to a new identity. Someone has said of our era: "even the nature of change has changed." Certainly change is inevitable, whether we like it or not. The question for Church leaders is: will we as a community of faith let the chaotic forces of change dictate us or will we be a leadership that will manage all the changes around us in order to build a distinctively Christian community for our time? We need leaders who are capable of managing this transition. We need leaders who are actively engaged with bringing a strong Biblical understanding to our present rapidly changing society. This means we need leaders who are biblically and culturally savvy. This is my definition of what is means to have a theological consciousness. One of the hardest times to be a leader is in a crisis. A transition time has about it a sense of crisis. Think about this. Really spend time considering this. I want to assert that Australians are largely a reasonable people. However, there are times when we are not, when like all peoples, we easily stoop to base human impulses. One of these times, characteristically, is when we are afraid or threatened. A crisis is very threatening; a severe crisis threatens us at the most core levels. In times of crisis it is tempting to go with popular opinion and make compromises. Great leadership never compromises upon key principles of morality and integrity. The Church in our era of exponential change calls out for leaders of moral courage who are devoted to the on-going development of a theological consciousness for God's people. Such a model of leadership was/is provided by Jesus of Nazareth. No matter what situation of crisis Jesus encountered, he always remained steadfast in his theological consciousness that works to resist the human tendencies for self-interest and the accumulation of wealth and power. This God-consciousness, embodied in Jesus' life, ministry, Death and Resurrection dreams an irrepressible dream that love, justice, compassion and mercy will one day reclaim this world as it was created to be at the beginning of time. Jesus never stopped dreaming this dream even to the point of execution upon the cross of great crisis. (by KIM THODAY, HEWETT COMMUNITY CHURCH OF CHRIST)
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