Tribe of Los Angeles

Welcome...

Welcome to everybody:

This is a brand new blog for the Tribe Church in LA,  just kicked off this week to be in time to help capture some of the details of Tribe's involvement at Burning Man.

Jimmy5 did a great job setting up design and other parts of the blog, and we hope he can do some remote blogging from the Playa...and here is where we will post pictures and stories from "Playa con Dios..." And after folks are back you should see a lot of different postings from folks who want to...and everyone can begin adding their additions to the blog via comments and open threads that we'll set up.

It is a work in progress, and we hope you find it a good on line place to spend some time, join in conversation, and bring up ways it could be better. Like all blogs, it really isn't meant to be a monologue -- it should be a dialog at least, at a better analogy might be that of a multi part chorus or jazz band... Chime in, improv here.

We'll be adding more photos, lists of books and music you all recommend, and lots more.

Hard to predict what this blog will morph into, but let's all find out together...

Tim

Leaving for Burning Man!

In about 8-12 hours, five of us (5, Dave, Patrick, Eric, Cameron) leave for the playa!  We'll be caravanning with Patrick's SUV, a camper-trailer, and my hybrid.  Pray for us as we travel tonight and tomorrow.  On Thursday, we're joined by Rev. Rebecca, and on Friday by Rob and Selena; pray for their travels as well.

While you're in the praying mood, also pray for us as we're on the playa; pray for our daily Playa Con Dios services, for our camp, for the people God brings to us and brings us to, for Burning Man in general.

I've heard there's wifi on the playa, but I'm not bringing my computer because I fear the dust's effects on it... if I do manage to get to a computer with access and am in the mood for having contact with the world, I'll post from the playa; otherwise, I'll definitely have a report - and maybe pictures - sometime in the week we get back.

Also, in case you needed reminding, please keep the people of New Orleans and the surrounding area in your prayers as they weather the hurricane and its aftermath.

Kevin's Art Created at the Emergent Conference 2005

Created at EC 05 gathering:

Tribe Covenant of August 2002

Covenant of August 4, 2002.

"We covenant together in the presence of God to gather in worship; loving God, loving each other and loving creation with all that we are and all that we have. We covenant to hold high the Scriptures: the revelation of an infinite God's love, purpose and desire for healing a finite and broken world. By the love of the Spirit we covenant to be participants in God's work and will for creation, growing the kingdom in which everything finds its connectedness in Jesus Christ who is the logos, the ordering principle of the universe as God intends it to be."

Statements of Faith

Rev. Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, November 2003:

Tribe's "gathering call" is a call to be a group who constantly has significant conversation going on about how and what we believe. The conversation will never be as easy as some would like, that is, as in other churches, but that is part of the point of our existence. There is only one overarching statement of belief: "Jesus is Lord." That is not to say that we do not have at the core some clear, identifying beliefs. Some of those are stated in our Community Covenant, created together on August 4, 2002... It IS to say that we will not say that you cannot be an active part of Tribe if still have major questions about your beliefs, nor that you cannot become an "official member" of Tribe if you are not certain of all of those core beliefs.

"Official membership" does not mean membership to exclusive meetings or a club. Everyone is asked to join our rare community meetings and discussions. Membership is simply for those who want to be committed to the community through a deeper level of responsibility and identification.

Ultimate accountability and responsibility for the community of Tribe is the ultimate reason for membership. There needs to be a higher level of commitment that some are willing to take to help us fulfill the vision of our call.

Having said that, I also truly believe we need to be connected with other believers in an organizational way around the globe. If we are not, we will say it in word but never get around to acting it out so that it requires anything of us. There is a particular global community that we have chosen to be a part of that seems to fit with our diverse community. It is the Congregational Church. It emphasizes simplicity in organization and has only one over-arching statement: "Jesus is Lord." It refuses to have a long creed to which all must subscribe. It encourages intelligent theological study and questioning so that "fossilization" of belief does not occur. Congregationalists are autonomous and non-hierarchical. They grow churches from indigenous leaders around the world and connect globally in their love and passion for Jesus. Congregationalists do not want to be identified as a denomination (very sensitive about that) but consider themselves an association: The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches.

It is important to state what is the content of the vows that one would take to become a member. The actual vow is much more basic than what you will hear me or other leaders of Tribe teach. That is to say that I will continue to teach/preach the whole of what I believe (basic Orthodox Christianity--Trinity, virgin birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, ministry of the Holy Spirit, second coming of Christ but w/o a fundamentalist/literalistic view of Revelation), but that does not insist that you be exactly where I am. It does insist that you believe the vows as stated. We are on a journey together and if my part is to help you to listen well, and you do, you will arrive at the deep beliefs that God has called you to in order to share His life and light in the world.

The vows:
Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
I DO.

Who is your Lord and Savior?
JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR.

Will you be the faithful disciple of Jesus, obeying his Word and showing his love?
I WILL, WITH GOD'S HELP.

You have publicly professed your faith. Will you be a faithful member of this community, share in its worship and ministry
through your prayers and gifts, your study and service, and so fulfill your called to be a disciple of Jesus?
I WILL, WITH GOD'S HELP.

The sacramental prerequisite of membership is baptism. As with any faith, there are initiating rites that say "I turn from this to that." At is simplest, that is what baptism signifies.

I invite your comments, affirmations and questions of this process always. We need to be asking some of these same questions 2-10 years down the line, so that our life and organizational practices are congruent with our belief."

Hello, World

Tribe LA Blog is now live...

Hello, World