DC Bound
It’s hard to believe we’re preparing for our final advance. It seems like only yesterday when I arrived in Cape Town with NO IDEA what to expect. I remember thinking the 3rd year students were so… advanced. And that this was going to be an exceptionally long process.
However, this program has sped by, and now I am a third-year student with a significant amount of imposter syndrome (the shores of my ignorance, and all that…). At this point, I’m pondering whether I think the program should have been longer.
I recall how unhappy I was with hearing about the change from Asia to DC for our 3rd advance location. One of the reasons I joined this program was the promise of traveling around the world and learning in far-flung locations. But after considering the details of our upcoming time, I’ve turned a corner and am genuinely excited about the location and the people we will hear from.
One of those people is Bret Fuller, who has been a Senior Pastor for over 30 years in Washington, D.C., as well as an author and pro-sports chaplain; he authored the books Dreaming in Black and White about racism and High Ceilings about women in leadership. Another speaker we will engage is Jim Wallis, a politically progressive evangelical thinker who wrote God’s Politics: A New Vision for Faith and Politics in America.
These three books mentioned will provide a starting point for our time with these two authors. And in preparation for that time, we are being asked to answer the following questions:
First, “what are the main pivotal points/these of the books?”
High Ceilings is a concise book that stakes out what Fuller calls a “Complementary-Egalitarian” position on women in leadership. This stance distinguishes itself from both the Egalitarian perspective, which allows for full availability of every aspect of leadership within the home, church, and society for both men and women, and the Complementarian viewpoint, which asserts equal value but distinct roles in family, church, and culture. Fuller’s position combines aspects of both and suggests that the Bible calls men and women to separate roles in the family but allows for full access to leadership in every other domain.
In Dreaming in Black and White Fuller approaches the problem of race relations in the US from an open-eyed but hopeful perspective. While he explores how systemic racial issues have affected (and continue to affect) everything from broader culture to economic reality to personal relationships, he points to the need for honest dialogue and greater understanding between those of different races. His belief is that racial harmony and reconciliation are possible, that injustice can be addressed, and that the answer can be found in Jesus’s example.
God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It by Jim Wallis promises “a new vision for faith and politics in America.” His main point seems to be that the right has often manipulated religion to act as a bully-pulpit for politically conservative issues and that the left has frequently ignored issues of justice that are tied to moral and spiritual realities. He calls his readers to embrace prophetic politics that aligns with justice, humility, and compassion and that majors on issues such as poverty, systemic brokenness, peace, and the environment.
Second, “based on pivotal points/thesis of the books, what questions would you like to ask the authors when you meet them?”
Concerning High Ceilings, I would like to ask Brett Fuller about how he came to the “Complementary-Egalitarian” position. While I resonated with the book’s brevity and “lay-style” and agreed with its take on women in culture and the church, I had questions about its understanding of family gender roles. I wonder how he dealt with arguments about the words “headship” and “submission” and his response to those who would read Genesis 2 differently than he does.
Dreaming in Black and White was compelling, and while I did an inspectional reading of it, I intend to read it entirely on my trip to DC. My one question from that book comes from the recognition that even though I pastor an urban, multiethnic church, I have not really paid the price to adjust the culture to shape a genuinely reconciling congregation; the black people in our church are likely simply accommodating the dominant culture in which I have continued to lead. While I aim to do this with humility, compassion, and curiosity, there is still much more to do, especially in adjusting our staff’s composure. My question would be: “How can a church leader intentionally hire a specific minority (black) on the leadership team without making it a ‘token or ‘diversity’ hire?”
God’s Politics is a book written nearly 20 years ago that speaks to vital issues today. It would be fascinating to discuss some of Wallis’s political positions and ideology in detail. However, if I had one question, it would be something like: “The church I serve is politically diverse; how can I disciple my congregation to engage in the political process without compromising their beliefs and values (where “their” party doesn’t align with those values), but also lead them to demonstrate the love of Jesus and the unity of the Body across partisan lines both in our church and in our community?”
About the Author
Tim Clark
I'm on a lifelong journey of discovering the person God has created me to be and aligning that with the purpose God has created me for. I've been pressing hard after Jesus for 40 years, and I currently serve Him as the lead pastor of vision and voice at The Church On The Way in Los Angeles. I live with my wife and 3 kids in Burbank California.13 responses to “DC Bound”
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You are pondering whether the program should extend beyond the 3 years. I have also pondered the length, as I believe I’m going to have SO much more to do after the spring of ’25, as the doctoral project is almost like a teaser for a later, longer work. However, I may feel differently in a few months.
At any rate, you have some great questions. I am quite sure there are other majority culture leaders and pastors who have had the same / similar question regarding hiring practices.
Ok, on further reflection, 3 years is enough. I’m ready to be done! 🙂
It’s just I feel like I have so much more to learn. But that’s the point of a doctorate, isn’t it? It’s helping us reframe our lives so we keep learning and growing and teaching at this critial level for the rest of our lives!
Tim, You are asking such a good question:
“if I had one question, it would be something like: “The church I serve is politically diverse; how can I disciple my congregation to engage in the political process without compromising their beliefs and values (where “their” party doesn’t align with those values), but also lead them to demonstrate the love of Jesus and the unity of the Body across partisan lines both in our church and in our community?”
Last week I heard Michael Wear say something like this: Christians today are using politics for their spiritual formation. I am curious how your church institutes the spiritual disciplines? Are those under your pastoral care drawn to the writings/work of Dallas Willard? Richard Foster? I know many others are now writing on the spiritual disciplines–but I am wondering about this for the church I attend, as well.
Let’s be sure to have time for a good conversation next week!
I have apprecitaed and integrated Foster and Willard, etc. over the years personally, but honestly haven’t led our church down that road in our discipleship processes (besides an occasional sermon or reference). I’m not sure why…maybe because our approach is pentecostal we don’t tend to cultivate those dynamics as much. Not that they are bad (it’s great) but it’s just a blind spot I think. Thanks for helping me see that.
Yea, let’s connect in DC
I totally thought the third-year students were so “advanced!” And now, just look at us, heading into our third Advance. Yikes! You wonder if the program should have been longer. Um, while I am enjoying it, I am also ready to be DONE. (I say that, but also find that I come alive during the school year, when my brain is so engaged!)
But on to other parts of your post: I appreciated each question you asked the authors. I especially appreciated how you pointed out that some people read Genesis 2 differently than he does.
Oh, I’m done too. In fact in rereading my post I don’t know what I was thinking!!!
See you in DC.
Hi Tim,
In part, I feel a bit of an outsider. Black/White, no yellow involved.
But this cohort has caused me to rethink the issue. The lived experience of Fuller is undeniable. But then, neither is mine. Neither is yours.
It is what it is.
I have been thinking of “identifying as a Male – Banana.” Male (gender), and Yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
Senator Hiram Fong (Hawaii) called my generation a bunch of Bananas. Funny but very true.
I realized that I have grown up in two subcultures. One Hawaii (a paradise but uber multi-ethnic) and Two the U.S. Army (where we are all green).
The lived experiences of Jonita both as a black woman and as a black woman (is that redundant), cannot be denied…thus her thesis attempts to tackle these two issues.
My mind goes back to Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change Hardcover – April 3, 2019, by Greg Satell.
I was sort of inspired by this book and in my own feeble way, hosted an Immigration Symposium for students on the Immigration issue. I wanted to try my hand at creating my own cascade. Not sure if it worked.
After my time in Ukraine, two books comes to mind.
1) Stay In Your Lane: worry less, love more, and get things done Paperback – April 20, 2023
by Kevin A Thompson, and
2) Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits For Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead, by Marcus Warner, Jim Wilder
The first book cautions me about focusing my emotional, physical and spiritual capital on the tasks God has set before me.
The second reminds me that God has prepared me for work in Eastern Europe and the joy I experienced being back there should serve a reminder to stay focused.
A return to “tunnel vision” perhaps. But I am wrestling with this thought these days. Letting all the presidential election rhetoric pass me by.
Shalom
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Cascades and RARE Leadership were two of my favorite and most impacting books in this program.
I’m really looking forward to seeing you in DC.
This is blog reply #8 and, you know the week I have had Tim, so this one is gonna be short and sweet…
The big question I can seem to shake is how nobody, you, me, anybody…OK, especially ME, didn’t entitle this weeks blog:
DC TALK.
That, my friend, was a missed opportunity!
Missed opportunity, indeed. I doubt I will ever get over it.
I’m with you Tim, I was VERY bummed about the shift from Asia to DC, but we are coming here at a very unique time in American history, It’s almost unreal that Jim Wallis’ book was written 20 years ago, it is still so relevant and captures what is happening in our country. Looking forward to see you man!
Agreed about Wallis’ book and our ‘such a time as this’ moment in DC.
I guess we just need to learn to ‘trust the process’.
Can’t wait to see you.
Tim, I like your question to Fuller on the High Ceilings book or your wonderings:
I wonder how he dealt with arguments about the words “headship” and “submission” and his response to those who would read Genesis 2 differently than he does. I’m curious too:)