Thursday, July 19, 2007
Gerardo Marti Speaks to Grant Participants
On Wednesday, July 18th, 20 grant recipients had the opportunity to sit down to a meal with Gerardo Marti, sociologist and author of A Mosaic of Believers, a study of a successfully multi-ethnic church which Marti was a member of for a time in Los Angeles, and hear and discuss the new material that Marti has been studying for his upcoming book.
Before dinner began Marti simply told the story of what peaked his interest for his new study. While still living in California, Marti took a trip to another ethnically diverse church in Hollywood. In comparison, Mosaic (Los Angeles) and Oasis (Hollywood) were both thriving with a diverse congregation with a specific intent towards church music, but the two churches had decided upon a different genre of music for their worship. This led Marti to ask the question, Does music style matter in forming a successful (an at least 20% diversity) multi-ethnic church, or in the grander scheme any church? Marti continued to say that yes music mattered, but not in the way most people would think. Music is probably most important as an encourager of relational community. The people in the choir or in the worship team spend time together in rehearsal, but also build relationship with each other beyond the church walls. And the relational aspect is what helps to build up a church, multi-ethnic or not.
With the stage set, as well as the table, each person around the table had an opportunity to introduce themselves, their church, and ask a question (with no promise of them all being answered, but an opportunity for sharing and learning about ministry). Once the introductions had been made, Marti explained the character of a “try-anything” church, in his experience the places that usually succeed bringing together a diverse congregation and the places that are invested in worship renewal. Marti first explained that there are three types of leadership found in the church. Pastoral leadership involves asking “How are you doing?” and “How can I help?” and providing care and comfort. Administrative leadership keeps the church running in order, these leaders focuses on when, where,and who sorts of questions. These two types of leaders can keep a church running on the same familiar path for a reasonably long time. The third variety of leader Marti labels a catalytic leader. This group of people are continually asking the reasons why the church does things in a particular way and suggests new ways to explore. The churches that welcome these catalytic leaders into their planning conversations are more likely to be open to change.
The character of the congregation is also important when working for renewal or diversity. Marti suggested two characteristics to strive for, hospitality and humility. Hospitality is more than the setting out of cookies and punch, greeting people at the door, or even opening your home. Hospitality, in Greek philoxenos, is defined more as “brotherly love toward strangers”, treating a person you have never met before as your brother, as family. Humility, as Marti puts it, is the willingness to give something up. In terms of worship, this may mean allowing a choir or instrumentalist who may not sound so good to sing or play their anthem, or singing a song in a language that you don’t understand.
A great many thanks to Gerardo and Laura Marti, to our grant recipients for an enjoyable, informative and formative evening.