Mark Scandrette

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So many of us want to live in the Way of Jesus—pursuing a life that is deeply soulful, connected to our real needs and good news to our world.  Yet so often our methods of spiritual formation are individualistic, information driven or disconnected from every day life in our society. We are simply not experiencing the kind of transformation that is the historically expected result of the Christ phenomenon. Perhaps what we need is a Jesus Dojo—a path for growth that is more like a karate studio than a college lecture hall.

In recent years increasing numbers of us have mentally “checked out” or physically left the churches or groups we’ve been apart of because we feel that they are not helping us believe, belong or live better. While it may be tempting or convenient to blame church leaders or structures for this, I believe that our dissatisfaction is a  symptom of the larger challenges we face as a society. Advances in technology, the explosion of information and increasing mobility have created a sense of disequilibrium and social fragmentation. As a result, a new consciousness is emerging, a connective ecological view, that is opening us up to new to ways of understanding the story of scripture, helping us renew our faith practices and making us more aware of needs in our world.  The church, along with every other social institution, is grappling with how to thrive in a rapidly changing, always connected mobile/ global culture.

Changes in our society and resulting consciousness are raising new questions about what it means to be faithful to the way of Jesus, and how to understand the unfolding story of the Judeo-Christian scriptures. Many of us are rediscovering the holistic and integrative nature of the message and work of Jesus– the message and reality that the kingdom of God is present and progressing. We bring new questions to ancient traditions and texts. Instead of primarily asking, “How do I get to heaven when I die?” more and more of us wonder “What does it mean to live conscious of God and God’s purposes in the hear and now? “

A shifting consciousness also raises new apologetical challenges. In a holistically oriented environment skeptical people are less convinced by the rationality of Christian belief and more curious to see if Christ-oriented faith actually makes a positive difference in the quality and character of a person’s life. Does a person who claims to have a relationship with Jesus: Exhibit more peace and less stress? Experience less fear and anxiety? Enjoy more fulfilling relationships? Handle crisis with more grace?  Exercise more compassion? Manifest more joy and conscious living?  Observers are left to wonder about the disparity between the way of Jesus and the way of “Christians.” The evidence leaves many Jesus seekers embarrassed and wishing to disassociate themselves from a sad but largely true public impression.

Twenty years ago the most ardent “Jesus Seekers” of my generation wanted to become pastors, teaching missionaries or evangelistic campus workers. We were asking, “How can I help people believe in Jesus?” Today when I travel to college campuses, more often I hear students asking, “How can I be  like Jesus and change the world?”  And the list of “Jesus seeking” vocations has shifted. I hear the most ardent young people saying: “I want to work with AIDs orphans in Africa, I want to start an intentional community, I want to be a legal defense lawyer, I want to be a teacher or social work an inner city neighborhood. I want to make films, paint pictures and write stories. I want to end human trafficking. I want to plant a garden and live more simply. I want to learn to pray. I want to start an ethically responsible company.”  The boundaries for what it means to “seek the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven” have radically expanded.

This revolution in spiritual consciousness is not isolated to younger people. People of all ages and cultural backgrounds are sensing a pull towards a way of faith that is more holistic, integrative and socially engaged. This is reflective of a yearning for orthopraxy– the desire to believe well and also to live well. It is a quest to embody a way of life that reflects the goodness and beauty of the kingdom of God. While many younger people are “native” to this emerging consciousness, older folks can often feel like discombobulated refugees in foreign land that is now their only home. It is not uncommon to feel “stuck” between nostalgia for the past and the promise of the future. I believe that what is needed in this transitional time is a Jesus Dojo, a creative space where we feel permission to ask questions and take risks to discover a way of life together.

Go here to register. This course is based on the material for my new book. Participants will get a sneak peak.
An Emerging Generation: Young Adult Ministry in the 21st Century Mark A. Scandrette
Registration Deadline: September 1, 2009
September 8 – October 25
2 CEUs

Today’s young people are passionate, spiritually engaged and socially active. They want to be the change that brings a revolution of hope. Yet they are largely absent from traditional forms of church life. How can we create Christ-conscious communities that connect the sensibilities of an emerging generation with the ancient roots of Christianity?  This course explores a practice-based and participatory model for creating vibrant spiritual communities among young adults.

All readings will be provided online.
Mark A. Scandrette is a minister, noted spiritual teacher and author of SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life in the Way of Jesus. He is the cofounder and Executive Director of ReIMAGINE, a Center for life integration based in San Francisco offering a series of workshops and retreats that integrate Christian spiritual formation, the arts, community-building and social action.

REIMAGINE SUMMER 2009

Hope you are having a lovely spring day!

Currently we are finishing up the last of six Learning Labs in our yearly cycle: Creating Community… in the Way of Jesus.  Thirty-five people have been meeting in two separate groups to work on applying what Jesus taught about forgiveness, reconciliation, boundaries, humility, servant hood and radical love. We are also leading each other in four communal practices of Christ-conscious community: hospitality meals, Eucharist, Midrash discussion and group prayer. In June we will launch two new ReIMAGINE Tribes in San Francisco—year-long group experiments in Christ-conscious community-making.

During the spring we’ve been hosting groups for Jesus Dojo intensives—one day and weeklong city-based learning and serving experiences. We’ve also been active telling our stories and inciting action with various groups around the bay area. Mark is putting the final touches on a book proposal for a project called “The Jesus Dojo: A Call to Action, Community & Change.”

“Fueled by the life and teachings of Jesus, the vision of Reimagine is to revolutionize how we live our lives. We inspire and equip people in the emerging culture to take new actions to pursue the kingdom of God–cultivating new leaders who will revolutionize their communities.”

Here are some ways you can be apart of the revolution with us:

1. Register for one of our Learning Labs, forums & serving events (see events below)

2. Invite us to speak or teach with your group. We often take our message and tools on the road with public talks, lectures and retreats.

3. Contact us about an individual or group leadership & life development consult.

4. Donate to support The Center and to provide scholarships for low-income participants in our Learning Labs.

ReIMAGINE PUBLIC OFFERINGS: SUMMER 2009 *Click on the link for more information and to register.

“Seeking the kingdom within.” A conversation & practice of stillness meditation. Facilitated by Mark Scandrette & Reverend Shinko Rick Slone

One night forum: June 16^th 7:30-9:30 P.M. $10-$15 sliding scale

Six-week Learning Lab June 16-July 21 $50-$100 sliding scale

Drop-in Dates: $10-$15 sliding scale June 23, 30, July 7,14 or 21

SIMPLIFY: A life planning & money management workshop. June 24^th 6:30-9:30 P.M.

BARRIO LIBRE! Mission Neighborhood Pride & Safety Project. Sunday July 11^th 1-5 P.M.

The Creative Risk: Exercises to unleash the voice within July 15^th 7-9:30 P.M. $5-$15 Sliding Scale

“voices of hope.” Community Feast and open mic. Sunday July 19^th 1-5 P.M.

ENTER SPACE: A silent prayer retreat  July 24-26

Making Art Public: ReIMAGINE Prayer Flag Project  Aug. 5^th 7-9:30 P.M. $10-$15

Last week I stopped off for lunch with my old friend and mentor, Dieter Zander. I first met Dieter 12 years ago when he was speaking at a Willow Creek Conference at Bethel Seminary in Minneapolis– and I was instantly smitten by his articulate gentleness and urbane creativity– qualities I had rarely encountered in the Christian leaders I had met. Dieter spoke of generational and societal shifts and the importance of chasing down the connection between the ancient ways of Jesus and the dynamics of a rapidly changing culture. Lisa and I walked out of his session stunned and convinced we had heard from God. In a small courtyard we quietly committed the next 15 years of our lives to wrestling with what had just been jawakened in us. Through a series of curious twists and serendipitous events, Dieter, Val and their children ended up moving to San Francisco two years after we did, and together with a few others we founded ReIMAGINE in the year 2000.

Last year Dieter had a sudden stroke that left him significantly disabled with a speech impediment and some physical paralysis. Known and loved for his ability to teach and inspire, with an exceptional gift for making people aware of God’s presence through music, this stroke, as you may well imagine, has been simply devastating.

“What does the second half of life look like when so much of what you have known and been identified with has taken from you? And how do I comfort a friend who has suffered and lost so much?”

I pondered these questions as I drove up to Dieter’s home. When he got into my car to go to lunch he turned to me and said, “Mark. Talk slow. We go slow. Talking with me will be relaxing– we take our time O.K?” I took this as a gentle chastisement for my hurry and wordiness– and as an invitation to be present and still.

I reflected to Dieter that I am now the age that he was when we met– and that I spend a lot of my time with people much like I once was–young, ambitious and idealistic. Over the years my respect and appreciation for Dieter has grown as I move through the various passages of adulthood.

We sit across from one another at a local brewpub, talking slowly, sometimes eating in awkward silence and with eyes full of tears. Even with his limited capacity for speech Dieter finds ways to convey his love, concerns and affirmation. I’ve come here today to pay my respects to a mentor, to receive his wisdom about the struggles and seasons of life, and maybe to offer some encouragement and comfort. “Mark, I’m in the winter, ” he says, “The spring. The summer. They were new and exciting. The fall was still colorful– even when you feel the chill of winter coming. But the winter, here it is dark and cold. You are in the fall, headed towards winter, where I am. We don’t know when or if spring and summer will come again.” I tentatively ask Dieter how he is learning to make sense of the unfolding story of his life. “It would take a long time for me to explain,” he says, “Its hard to talk about. Maybe you and I will go on a retreat someday and I will tell you. For now I will say– I know that God loves me more than I ever knew before– and that my family and my friends are so important– and I love the small things– the food and drink, sunshine, sleep, and walking with my dog. To love and be loved is what really matters to me now. It took me along time to learn this.”

On our way back from lunch Dieter asks me to stop by Costco so he can pick up some photo prints– a new way he has discovered to capture the beauty he finds in God’s world and the faces of people. Back in the car he flips through the small stack of pictures with great delight. And they are simple and lovely scenes. At great cost, Dieter and Val are teaching me, and many others, how to embrace hope in the seasons and sufferings of life.