“I get to experience such a diversity of voices, perspectives, and practices just in my own congregation”
– Shannon McAdam, Vancouver, British Columbia
Topics:
Ecumenicism | theology | Develop Disciples to Serve | Unity in Diversity | Non-Creedal | World Service Corps | World Conference | Community of Christ Seminary | LGBTQ+ | New Expressions | spiritual practices |
The boundlessness of possible expressions continues to inspire me to take part in this church. I went to theology school in an ecumenical institution where I learned a lot about different ways to experience the Christian path. As I saw aspects that were more or less appealing to me, the things I love about Community of Christ were more clearly revealed to me. While our primarily volunteer ministry model can be a struggle at times, ultimately it inspires me, because I get to experience such a diversity of voices, perspectives, and practices just in my own congregation, not to mention the beautiful tapestry of people in the wider community across Canada. And being non-creedal gives space for many different people to be involved.
It has been a safe place for me to grow and develop as a person and as a leader, a place where I’ve uncovered gifts and learned about myself. And while it is not the only place I turn to for feeding my soul and filling my cup, it is the place where I consistently feel comfortable expressing myself in various ways. As a child, it was where I learned how to be comfortable with public speaking and singing. As a teen, it was where I learned how to take on responsibilities as a camp counsellor and worship planner. As a young adult, it is where I learned to spread my wings and go outside my comfort zone with new experiences: like the summer I spent in Detroit with World Service Corps learning about my own biases and struggles; or the World Conference Young Adult session in the early 2000s where I shared as a young seminarian an inclusive message about homosexuality and the Bible to a full to bursting of young adults yearning for ways to address openly what was a very polarizing topic.
I look back and see my journey of at times being excluded from community, and sometimes wonder why I persist. I think of my Evangelist Blessing, on a rocky shore with wind in my hair and sun on my face and salt water in my nose, being called to be at the forefront of prophetic calling and ministry, pushing boundaries and forging ahead. That work is not easy, but I continue to strive to live it out.
And that leads me to where I’d like to move forward. I’m enthusiastic about new expressions and options for heart-centred spiritual growth, and also hope these expressions encourage engaged critical thinking and a justice-for-all mindset. There is a tendency in some “spiritual-but-not-religious” groups to lose the community-accountability aspect and become so inwardly focused that we don’t see the pain and longing in the world. I’m also cautious of any spiritual practice that feels driven by our consumerist society — where one needs to buy the right objects or pay the right person. There is a free-flowing sharing of spiritual gifts inherent to Community of Christ that I never want us to lose sight of.
I think of a Lent series I offered via Zoom to go through the book “The Cup of Our Life” by Joyce Rupp. I opened it up to my wider network of friends and acquaintances online and ended up having people join from all over western Canada. Even a friend who is a United Church minister and loved the chance to participate in an activity where she wasn’t in charge could just show up and be ministered too. That’s the kind of thing I’d like to continue offering as a minister and would hope others are able to share as well. Honouring our heritage, but also opening to possibility.
I feel called to push the edges and provide the critical lenses I learned to apply to the world when I was in theology school and since then have polished and honed. I also yearn to help people I know outside the church — whether through work or community connections — make meaning for themselves. When there is loss or crisis, so many people have no grounding or structure of belief to make sense of things. Now no structure is perfect but giving people some space to make their own meaning gives me hope and taps into my gifts as well.
It has been a safe place for me to grow and develop as a person and as a leader, a place where I’ve uncovered gifts and learned about myself. And while it is not the only place I turn to for feeding my soul and filling my cup, it is the place where I consistently feel comfortable expressing myself in various ways. As a child, it was where I learned how to be comfortable with public speaking and singing. As a teen, it was where I learned how to take on responsibilities as a camp counsellor and worship planner. As a young adult, it is where I learned to spread my wings and go outside my comfort zone with new experiences: like the summer I spent in Detroit with World Service Corps learning about my own biases and struggles; or the World Conference Young Adult session in the early 2000s where I shared as a young seminarian an inclusive message about homosexuality and the Bible to a full to bursting of young adults yearning for ways to address openly what was a very polarizing topic.
I look back and see my journey of at times being excluded from community, and sometimes wonder why I persist. I think of my Evangelist Blessing, on a rocky shore with wind in my hair and sun on my face and salt water in my nose, being called to be at the forefront of prophetic calling and ministry, pushing boundaries and forging ahead. That work is not easy, but I continue to strive to live it out.
And that leads me to where I’d like to move forward. I’m enthusiastic about new expressions and options for heart-centred spiritual growth, and also hope these expressions encourage engaged critical thinking and a justice-for-all mindset. There is a tendency in some “spiritual-but-not-religious” groups to lose the community-accountability aspect and become so inwardly focused that we don’t see the pain and longing in the world. I’m also cautious of any spiritual practice that feels driven by our consumerist society — where one needs to buy the right objects or pay the right person. There is a free-flowing sharing of spiritual gifts inherent to Community of Christ that I never want us to lose sight of.
I think of a Lent series I offered via Zoom to go through the book “The Cup of Our Life” by Joyce Rupp. I opened it up to my wider network of friends and acquaintances online and ended up having people join from all over western Canada. Even a friend who is a United Church minister and loved the chance to participate in an activity where she wasn’t in charge could just show up and be ministered too. That’s the kind of thing I’d like to continue offering as a minister and would hope others are able to share as well. Honouring our heritage, but also opening to possibility.
I feel called to push the edges and provide the critical lenses I learned to apply to the world when I was in theology school and since then have polished and honed. I also yearn to help people I know outside the church — whether through work or community connections — make meaning for themselves. When there is loss or crisis, so many people have no grounding or structure of belief to make sense of things. Now no structure is perfect but giving people some space to make their own meaning gives me hope and taps into my gifts as well.