Formally or informally, St. Joseph's House is now a reality. Yesterday Colin and Lisa moved into a new dwelling with lots of space for hospitality in a neighborhood that will likely take them up on the offer.
So, now the questions become a little more pointed. What should a house of hospitality be, functionally? What practices will be associated with life at the house. Open meals, a place to sleep... How will the house fit into the community? Who will stay there, for how long, with what needs?
Most of these questions will be answered concretely as the answers impose themselves in human form. Still, there is a need for reflection on the challenges that a house of hospitality will face and how to receive those challenges.
So consider the ice broken and the floor prepared for debate/discussion. What is a modern house of hospitality? Who does it serve and how does it serve them?
Monday, May 18, 2009
St. Joseph's House
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2 comments:
First, this is extremely exciting! I'm really eager to see how this turns out.
Secondly, it might be worth a call or visit to Shane Claiborne's community. They've been in this sort of business for quite some time now and they'd have some valuable insights I think.
Third, a word of caution about safety: the vast majority of those you'll help will bring no harm (I'm guessing, though I don't know your context). But consider thinking thru that one or two rare exception cases. If it were just men, thats one thing, but with Lisa being there also, maybe just some intelligent protocols in place for that one or two rare deviant individual(s) whose motives might be askew.
Otherwise, for now I remain very excited and eagerly look forward to stories!
REV
Hi Rev,
1.) Indeed it is exciting.
2.) We know some of the other folks associated with the "New Monasticism" here in Durham and will lean on them for experiential insight.
3.) I understand the worry here, but we need to do more work on this topic. See for example the post "Chrysostom on personal safety". As I understand things now, I'm committed to the notion that we have to get over personal safety. This is not, however, the same thing as opening the door to recklessness. Rather than worrying about securing ourselves against "deviants" I think we have to be wise/prudent/clever in acting in ways that will not tempt a brother to sin (e.g., a female alone with a stranger). Personal safety is too easily an idol. Holiness is about allowing God's love so much room in our lives that sin no longer has a place, and that is not essentially a private pursuit since that love will be a love for others and a love that abhors sin. We are annexing this world for the kingdom, and that means loving the "deviant" in such a way that he is not tempted to sin, against us or others.
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