Importance: 10%
The Big Idea
The idea of a pattern language was originally laid out by Christopher Alexander (Architect, Author). He developed this idea deeply over the course of his career for the use of constructing building and other physical spaces. I believe that it can also be very useful for forming a clear shared picture of life together as a congregation within a local community.
Quote
If you can’t draw a picture of it, it isn’t a pattern.
- Christopher Alexander
Here are some examples of Pattern languages for various Projects:
- Composed by Alexander:
- Composed by Students:
I think the reason we often have a hard time applying scriptural directives, commands and or methods is that we have gotten caught in western mechanistic thinking A Holistic versus Mechanistic Perspective.
A pattern language is a tool to try and bridge us back to thinking and applying things according to patterns like our ancestors naturally did. Some example is Luther’s treatment of the Ten Commandments expanding each commandments to logical and ordinary applications. Or Paul’s arguments from nature that he assumes are self evident.
Alexander worked from a concept he defined as Deep Feeling. This is not normal touchy feely emotion but is a sense of how a space works on or affects the person who encounters it. This puts the direction of causation in the external environment moving to the person. This is why he argues deep feeling is an objective realty rather than the inside out idea of emotions. He conceptualized this human reaction to a space’s “life” as a kind of objective steady reaction across cultures and individuals. See: The Quality of Life in Environments and Objects. Which I think can be helpful as far as it goes but as a community of faith our primary grounding is the word of God.
Therefore while a pattern language for use in a congregation can take into account deep feeling, wholeness and the needs of individuals as Alexander defines them. They should not be the primary foundation.
Therefore the construction of a faith based pattern language should start with Scripture. Patterns can then be drawn from areas that are clear with often repeated concepts for living and relating to others being given more weight than those that do not occur as often.
From that foundation more specific and smaller patterns can be developed that derive from these scriptural patterns but take into account the specifics of a community’s needs, culture, opportunities, etc. to guide a wholistic approach of deep feeling and good order. This secondary level allows for the needs and feelings of the actual community members to be integrated into the pattern language. While also remaining grounded in Scripture.
This follows the principle of the “primary process” that Alexander defined as differentiation which basically means that a good development or “unfolding” process should start from the big picture whole and then slowly differentiate and strengthen smaller wholes with each step. An example is how a human grows from a single cell but then grows by splitting or differentiating new cells.
This whole idea of a pattern language needs to be put squarely where it belongs in the Corom Mundo realm of relating with other humans and the world. It does not speak about our salvation relationship with Jesus. To clarify it is not our way to Heaven but a clear description of how we want our life together to look and how we stay focused on the primary mission of sharing the gospel.
Another way to think about the function of the pattern language is that every decision we make to move something forward or choose between options is driven by some kind of implicit pattern that is being worked toward. A big picture lifecycle pattern is the “work hard and then retire at ease.” If someone is working toward embodying this pattern they will make very different decisions than someone who is not. A pattern language helps make this kind of decision making intentional and specific.
Also it helps bridge our theology and doctrine to the real world needs and feelings of people in a practical way.
Structures to Start From
Use two commissions as basic identification of mission toward the created world and gospel mission
From Gospel DNA by Michael Newman
- A deep and passionate love and care for People.
- Multiplication of love, followers, and overall focus on spreading the Gospel.
- Commitment to walking humbly in the Truth of Scripture.
- Ability to be Adaptable and continually learning and growing.
- Willingness to Self-Sacrifice for the upbuilding of the body of Christ and our witness to the world.
Table of duties maybe another option take things in a more vocational direction or the confessional documents Use two commissions as basic identification of mission toward the created world and gospel mission
The use Bonhoeffer’s Chapter of Life Together that Talks about Ministry. This is from the perspective of the Priesthood of all Believers and not necessarily from the perspective of the Pastoral office.
- The Ministry of Holding Ones Tongue - Life Together, p. 91
- The Ministry of Meekness - Life Together, p. 94
- The Ministry of Listening - Life Together, p. 97
- The Ministry of Helpfulness - Life Together, p. 99
- The Ministry of Bearing - Life Together, p. 101
- The Ministry of Proclaiming - Life Together, p. 103
- The Ministry of Authority - Life Together, p. 108
Levels of Community Scale
The broad levels of scale from which to approach different conversations about the physical community surrounding and forming LCOS.
Level 0: California Central Coast
Level 1: Larger Santa Maria Area
Level 2: Orcutt Community Proper
Level 3: Immediate neighborhoods Surrounding LCOS
Level 4: Church and Preschool Communities
Levels of Scale for God’s Church
The broad levels of scale from which to approach different conversations about the Fellowship of Christians surrounding and forming LCOS.
Level 0: The Whole Church throughout Time and Space
Level 1: The Whole Church across the World Today
Level 2: Those Believers we are in Direct Fellowship with because of Agreement in Doctrine and Practice
Level 3: Those Believers we meet and interact with Personally from Our surrounding area and Community connections
Level 4: Our direct Church Family at LCOS
Interview or conversation with people What are things you feel like your board or group has to do?
What are things your board or group does well to support our mission?
What are things your board or group does that do not further our mission? Especially things that have been “drifted” into.
What are things you want to see your board or group do in the future to grow and further our mission?
- What keeps you at LCOS?
- The warm and supporting people
- The willingness of people to help out