People matter
be warned this is a lengthy post BUT please read on.i attended the most inspiring little seminar last weekend. i've been in some pretty inspiring settings in the last year so to say "the most" is saying a lot. i keep hearing phrases like mercy/justice, living the prayers, urban christianity, orphans/widows and seeing His kingdom come here on Earth. in our little house of prayer i think the Lord has stamped Isaiah 61 and 62 on our foreheads, it is the foundation of the ministry. BUT how does that all play out in real time/life? well, this little gathering i attended, which reminded so much of sitting around in a study session with a prof in college, was stimulating, inspiring and has me rethinking everything i've ever thot about missions whether that be in urban settings, overseas, stateside or simply in my own neighborhood.
we first met Ron who is a rep of SCUPE which was developed in the late 70's primarily by Ray Bakke who has been standing in the wilderness of the world's mega-metropolis' crying out to the churches be the church to these areas. Ron challenged us to recognize how condescending and patronizing (my words) most of the church's (and most humanitarian organizations for that matter) attempts at missions or outreach has been for centuries. most outreach efforts come from this place of saying "we have something you don't that you need." However, our God is Triune which means the creator of all things is inter-ralating and dialogical. So if we are made in His image we should be like Him by being inter-relating and inconversation. the problem with conversation is that i can be changed or transformed by the experience with the other part vs staying the same, unchanged and of my own opinion. that was Ron's whole point. we need to begin to see "mission" as having interactions and exchanges with those around. isn't that what Jesus did? in no means am I suggesting to water down the gospel rather to explore what it means "preach good news to the poor."
The guest speaker was this lovely, gifted articulate man named Edgar Cahn, who by trade is an attorney. Ron invited him because this man had developed a "program" which enbodied what he was trying to teach us. Edgar Cahn developed a new monetary system that is transforming communties and inner cities around the US and the world. he said simply giving to people "in need" does not affirm them as valuable nor does it draw them into community. they just stay "in need" and the one with "supposed means" stays unaffected in a position of power. after decades of serving as a lawyer for pro-bono, he decided that he would "charge" his clients by requiring them to serve/give an hour of their time to various people in the community in exchange for his services. this quickly tied people together who otherwise wouldn't have associated AND those he served gained a sense of self worth and contribution. this lead to the development of what Edgar calls an experiment called TIME DOLLARS.
Edgar explained monetary systems are based on those things that are scarce. people are not scarce. so in the worst form we will exploit, enslave or even kill people for monetary gain. the TIME DOLLAR system hinges on just the opposite. the bench mark value is an hour of time. so people can earn and exchange TIME DOLLARS regardless of how they earned the time dollar. an example is a person could earn a time dollar for tutoring a child. then someone could come their house to do some weeding and they would be paid in TIME DOLLARS. if it sounds like a bartering system it basically is. in many communities due to expanse of the network the role of coordinators/matchmakers and TIME BANKS were instituted. this is the mission: "Time Banks mission is to build local economies and communities that reward decency, caring and a passion for justice." for further explanation check out the four core values.
here are just a few examples:
BRAZIL - a school was set up. the teachers are paid 60% in Brazilian money and 40% TIME DOLLARS. parents who enroll their children pay a nominal fee and another percentage in TIME DOLLARS. parent's time dollars are earned in tutoring, various service projects at the school or various acts of service for other members of the TIME DOLLAR co-operative. so the teacher working there can affored to give their time because they know that they can get work done on their house or some to watch their kids for time dollars.
An un-named Islamic country - women are not able to have money or own property. this system flying completely under the radar tied women together has transformed several communities.
KOREA - some people have the their hospital bills off-set because they earn time dollars by doing things at the hospital.
WALES - new life was brought to a community that realing from the fishing industry moving away.
WASHINGTON DC - the recivitism rate decreased as young people who had run ins with the law earned time dollars by serving as jurors.
as i heard example after example i inquired of Edgar that TIME DOLLARS didn't seem new but anchient - that it seemed to be the reinstitution of villaging. to which he replied "exactly!" he went on to say, so many concentrated urban settings have no sense of community or the communities that exist revolve around illicit activity or poverty. edgar cahn has met with leaders around the world, including most recently, Tony Blair. this is being used in 22 countries to date. there are websites for UK, Israel, Japan, and more.
i'm really excited about this. i've been commited to communities since i was in college. but, the thing that is challenging me the most is that i think i'm in need of a paradigm shift. Jesus valued people. how much of my/our desire to give or serve is really for me so that i can feel better about myself OR do i really want to allow myself to be transformed by the ones i'm seeking to serve.
(i hardly proofed this post - i just wanted to get it done. so sorry if its sloppy)
posted by kt @ 2/22/2006 10:06:00 PM
4 Comments:
Great thoughts, great revelations.
He just keeps showing us more and more who He was, is, and is to come. More incredibly it is so awesome how He continues to show us how we can stop all our vain efforts and just walk in His love.
Do we love Him, or, is it really just something we think we would like to do; should be doing?
Great discussion. Thanks, Kathleen.
Ken
Thanks Kathleen, for sharing that. That's the framework the Father set up for us, but i agree our current system is broken. We are equal in value but the concept of reciprocity is seen as useless(or wrong) and that causes us to miss out big on relationship. Big loss on all our parts, and empty in result. Thanks for the exciting reminder! Just think...
oops, anonymous unintended...duh.
Hi.. we're developing that kind of vibe in the estate where I live- trying to link it with state benefits and stuff too.. how you doing by the by?
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