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In this, the second of two podcasts, the conversation between Phyllis Tickle and Ian Mobsby continues with an exploration of models of church, participation and commitment to faith communities and new monasticism. We apologise for the loss of sound quality at points in this recording caused by an electrical storm over Phyllis Tickle’s house in the south of the USA. So listen nd enjoy, Phyllis is a great person to converse with.

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POSTED 01.09.10 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

Too often I have felt uncomfortable or unsure of what I was saying when professing the Creed. It makes me feel like my faith is being reduced to a series of bullet points that are irrelevant to whom I am and how I choose to live.Not that I want to be heretical or question the veracity of what is stated, but it does not mirror what I see as being my faith. Professing the Creed does not make me feel like I am a Christian. I don’t really relate. Rather, I feel labelled and it segregates me from others I profoundly love and who profoundly love me.

When I talk to others about my faith, about what I believe to be true, and about what kind of person I want to be, it is the Beatitudes that come to my mind. When I see others suffer, whether from poverty, because of abuse, or just because they do not get back what they have freely given to others, and yet see them carry on, moved by a higher spirit, a faith, a hope of what is to come; this is what I relate those narratives to:

³Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted

⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,

for they will be filled

⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

¹¹Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

[Matthew 5:3-12]

These word have moved me very profoundly over the past weeks and I can only invite you to also meditate on them. I would particularly encourage you to listen to how they also inspired contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (Arvo Pärt – The Beatitudes). Please, do not just listen to it once but allow his musical interpretation to accompany you daily and help you further grasp the Beatitudes.

POSTED 21.08.10 BY: Nicolas | Comments (1)

In 2009, some will know that the Fresh Expressions initiative in the UK sponsored a Symposium day to explore New Monasticism. This gathered a number of participants from traditional and new monastic communities. The papers presented on that day are about so to be published by Canterbury Press in the second of a series called Ancient Faith Future Mission, which will explore Fresh Expressions and New Monasticism.

Additionally, after discussions with a number of different parties, we have agreed to fund a New Monastics Network Ning for a year, to help build up the network of new monastics in the UK, and promote a number of new events and gatherings planned for 2011. So we are now encouraging people who are involved or interested in new monastic models of missional communities, to join with this Ning group – so follow the link and participate in what seems to be a growing and interesting new movement of the Spirit. Click here to go to the site, and join with what seems to be bubbling up. Let’s see what will happen.  Mooters – you are more than welcome to get involved in the Ning site.

POSTED 30.07.10 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

While on a week-end away in a monastery, I came to seek the deep wisdom of Father Marc, a Cistercian monk I had befriendedon a previous retreat. Our short but very intense discussions were enlightening (here some bits and pieces):

We all belong to some community, whether this is family, a business or a spiritual home. These define us as much as we should in fact be defining them. We do not usually consciously choose them, we often just find ourselves being part of one. Even if we chose a community rationally and therefore consciously, it would be almost impossible to fully understand why. This is because it is a journey only God knows but does not yet fully reveal.

With this in mind, a question still worth asking is why do we want to be part of a particular community, what is it that it offers and we do not find anywhere else. This should in fact be part of a deeper reflexion on one’s past and one’s lessons learnt (whether we have reached the right conclusions on previous experiences or not). The question is vital not only to the one looking to join a community, but also for the community itself. One of the best ways for a community to fail is to have its members each being there for a different reason, or even worse, a reason that has only to do with their own selves rather than in relation to other members in the community. Monks and nuns are part of a monastic community because they are to serve Christ together (in whatever creative way that may be) and this is what holds them together – nothing else.

Father Marc and I also discussed the ‘fluidity’ of moot: people joining, people leaving, but also and in particular because there are effectively different levels of commitment. Singles might be in a position to commit more to the community than married couple (although I think this is not necessarily true). Also, those abroad can only participate to a certain extent. Add to this the fact that faith and beliefs are not provided through dogma but through discussions, the sharing of experiences, and non-normative narratives. This effectively forces mooters to define themselves, their beliefs and their roles much more so than in a traditional monastic community. He saw that as being very positive: indeed following the temptation to offer some consumption-ready experience instead of leaving it up to community members to discover why they have ended up with a particular community would mean the beginning of the end.

Because of this particular constellation however, the danger of theological drifts is also greater. Being part of an established Church provides a safety net. Being under the supervision of a Bishop is also a guarantee that a community will not turn into a cult. There is obviously a need for individuals to keep their own (critical) thinking, and perhaps also to have a spiritual father or mother from another monastic community outside moot. Through that will they not only enrich the community, but also preserve their own integrity and that of others.

[No particular conclusion here, but I guess this is already some food for further meditation…]

POSTED 12.07.10 BY: Nicolas | Comments (3)

Finding Happiness is Abbot Jamison’s follow up to Finding Sanctuary. In this book he contrasts happiness as defined by society, with how it is understood by the monastic. In so doing Abbot Jamison examines the limiting ‘8 Thoughts’ identified by the desert fathers and the necessary virtues we are called to practice in their place. These being: Spiritual Carelessness – Spiritual Awareness; Gluttony – Sufficiency; Lust – Chaste Love; Greed – Generosity, Anger -Patience; Sadness – Hope; Vanity – Magnanimity; Pride – Humility.

As with Finding Sanctuary, the Abbot challenges his reader with a wise, non-judgemental insight into the human condition, and provides powerful tools for the pursuit of interior freedom and peace.

Currently in Moot we are in the process of developing postures and practices based on the virtues Abbot Jamison has outlined. Ian has therefore purchased several copies of Finding Happiness which are presently doing the rounds in the community. I therefore recommend that you either contact info@moot.uk.net to track one of these down, or buy your own copy (following this link generates 10% income for Moot) click here for UK and here for US

POSTED 26.05.10 BY: ianmobsby | Comments (9)

On the weekend of 14th-16th May 2010, the Moot community held a short spiritual retreat to explore the theme of participating in God. Mark Berry, Missioner and leader of the Safespace Community led the retreat. This is the 1st of 4 recordings. The handouts for the session will be uploaded shortly.

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 God's Way - Trinity - participating in God by Mark Berry [31:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

POSTED 17.05.10 BY: ianmobsby | Comments (2)

On the weekend of 14th-16th May 2010, the Moot community held a short spiritual retreat to explore the theme of participating in God. Mark Berry, Missioner and leader of the Safespace Community led the retreat. This is the 1st of 4 recordings. The handouts for the session will be uploaded shortly.

subscribe to podcasts in itunes |  subscribing to podcasts through RSS feed | other podcast subscribing | podcast player for your site

 

 God's Way - Trinity - participating in God by Mark Berry [31:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

POSTED 17.05.10 BY: ianmobsby | Comments (2)

“Atheism and unemployment prevail as the lasting legacy of Communism in the villages around Leipzig, East Germany. But there is hope! Meet a truly radical modern-day, monastic community which has moved into the picturesque village of Ramsdorf. They pray five times a day, renovate a derelict school, play football and offer free art-classes for the locals. “Our neighbours just call us ‘The Christians’ because we’re the only ones they’ve ever known,” says Markus Laegel. “It’s scary because the way we live will define Jesus to them.”

POSTED 30.04.10 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

For the beginning of the last week of Lent, we have published an interview with Brother Samuel, the leading Friar of the Anglican Franciscans in England. Like Abbot Stuart, Brother Samuel is very wise. Here Brother Samuel discusses Franciscan Spirituality, the life of St Francis of Assisi and New Monasticism, with some very helpful advice to Moot. Listen to the podcast here.

POSTED 12.03.10 BY: ianmobsby | No Comments

Today I had the opportunity for one of those privileged conversations you look forward to. Shane Claiborne, writer, new monastic, speaker and radical conversed with me about his faith and passion about new monasticism and the living in the way of hope.

He is an inspiration. The podcast will go live on 20th December. Interestingly, Shane let on that he returns to Iraq in January 2010. He returns from the last time he was there, in the middle of the Iraq war.

To subscribe to moot podcasts on itunes (for free), please click here. To go to the moot podcasting site, click here.

So if you are involved with or thinking about starting or developing some form of ecclesial community, and want to explore new monasticism, I commend this podcast and Shane’s books.

 

 Shane Claiborne: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

POSTED 15.12.09 BY: admin | No Comments