I happened across an article on the website for Princeton’s student newspaper, that dealt with creating a conversation culture. The piece is written by a Rhodes Scholar from Princeton, and speaks about how the University should play more of a role in fostering a conversation culture on their campus. You can read the entire article here.
One comment he made stuck with me, and I think it applies to culture at large, and also has huge implications for the church.
…conversation culture is born not in elevators, lecture room seats or basement hallways before precepts — it flourishes in the smoky, sweaty corners of pubs; in cafeteria alcoves; and over beer in common rooms.
Pubs, cafeterias and common rooms. These three things share a commonality, which is that none of them are formal educational spaces. Colleges and Universities place a lot of focus on their formal spaces, but often neglect creating the culture that will foster growth in areas like critical thinking and classroom participation.
I think there is a takeaway for the church here as well. Great (faith) conversations don’t happen in church lobbies, pews or Sunday school classes – but thrive in pubs (or coffeehouses if that makes you more comfortable), cafeterias and common rooms.
Faith conversations rarely happen inside church buildings. Like many post secondary educational facilities, churches often focus on the building in which they gather once a week (formally), and neglect their responsibility to create a culture of conversation – which ultimately boils down to neglecting their responsibility to create disciples.
If the church can continue to move from a monologue to a dialogue, it can be a major player in the culture of conversation both in local communities and on a global scale.
In an interview, Bono once said the church should be the moral force in our society. The church can’t be the moral compass if it isn’t at the table when decisions are debated and executed.
I like the comment regarding coffeehouses vs pubs and the prior making us more comfortable. I think that is part of the problem with Us, the church, not always showing up to the table. We are looking to be comfortable rather than making other comfortable. What if we had a pub in the church lobby, would that make those that we want to share Christ with more comfortable to come to “us”? Just a thought…
I am not religious, but I for one have tried to start conversations with Christians and have been turned away. A rare few, such as Sam, are willing to have a dialogue, but there are others (who shall remain unnamed) who I have reached out to, but simply have been turned away by. These are the same poeple who say “lets do life together,” but when invited to, decline.
I hope the person who I am referring to doesnt read this and think of it as an attack, but sees it as a public invitation to have dialogue and a conversation, as Sam has just blogged about.
Steven, this is about conversation, not confrontation. Let's keep it as such.
I appreciate your comments and concerns, but this is not the place to call out those who don't act as you would like. Rather, this is a place where we can be the change we wish to see in the world – to borrow a phrase from Mr. Ghandi.
I love it, and believe you are on to something. We tend to seek comfort, knowing full and well that the very comfort we seek is the obstacle to making strides toward the fulfilment of the church's mission.
Sam,
Do I even have to comment on this post – of course I love it, live it, and believe it deeply. God has shaped my life and journey – the day a drunk man called me the mother ****ing Church Bartender was one of the most real moments I've experienced. The depth of that conversation still breaths life into all my other conversations.
Michael Trent
@ChurchBartender
Very cool, Michael. I'd be interested in knowing what role conversation has in the design and development of a third place?
Conversation is a two way street.
I simply want to point out that there are Christians out there who are willing to protest married gay couples at the state capital by chanting and yelling at the Governor, but when approached by a gay person to have a conversation at a coffeeshop, refuse to.
What does this story say about the church and its followers?
Conversation is a two way street.
I simply want to point out that there are Christians out there who are willing to protest married gay couples at the state capital by chanting and yelling at the Governor, but when approached by a gay person to have a conversation at a coffeeshop, refuse to.
What does this story say about the church and its followers?