Being Interrupted: Reimagining the Church’s Mission from the Outside, In

by Al Barrett, Ruth Harley

Beginning with a ‘Street Nativity Play’ that didn’t end as planned, and finishing with an open-ended conversation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Being Interrupted" locates an institutionally-anxious Church of England within the wider contexts of divisions of race and class in ‘the ruins of empire’, alongside ongoing gender inequalities, the marginalization of children, and catastrophic ecological breakdown.In the midst of this bleak picture, Al Barrett and Ruth Harley open a door to a creative disruption of the status quo, ‘from the outside, in’: the in-breaking of the wild reality of the ‘Kin-dom’ of God. Through careful and unsettling readings in Mark’s gospel, alongside stories from a multicultural outer estate in east Birmingham, they paint a vivid picture of an 'alternative economy' for the Church's life and mission, which begins with transformative encounters with neighbours and strangers at the edges of our churches, our neighbourhoods and our imaginations, and offers new possibilities for repentance and resurrection.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2020

Reviews

[Mim Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed so much of this book and welcomed the challenges it sought to bring on issues around class, gender, children and the environment in modern churches. It had so much potential to be helpful for the church.

However, I thought it ironic that the authors criticise “insidious theologies” within the church (which they do not detail or expand upon) while then going on to interpret stories of Jesus being interrupted in Mark’s gospel in a harmful way themselves. They suggest that Jesus is fallible - that he is influenced by his cultural context which leads to racism; that he is uninterested in helping women/gentiles unless convinced by their verbal dexterity, audacity and wit; that he acts out of anger in an anthropocentric and egocentric way. While the authors do acknowledge that these interpretations might make the reader feel “profoundly uncomfortable”, they don’t follow them through to their conclusion or justify how their reading might be correct. If Jesus is fallible like other humans, what does this mean for our understanding of the Trinity, of Jesus as the Son of God, of Jesus as the Living Word, and of the Word of God itself?

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflections on community and ways of viewing the role of the church. Challenging, in a good way, from a Quaker perspective not least because we are so protective of our worship space, silence, and guidelines.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot write a simple review of this book because there is too much inside it to encapsulate in a few simple paragraphs.

At its heart this book challenges those of us who live in privileged circumstances (by dint of not just income but educational background, class, gender, sex, and genetic heritage) to allow our “being” to be “interrupted” by those who have traditionally been silenced or felt voiceless. The last few pages include a poem about taking a breath - allowing others to have their say, and morte importantly to feel listened to by the way we act not in that moment but in subsequent moments.

There is a wealth of biblically based teaching here, but more importantly the pragmatic and practical out-workings of the teaching. This allows even the most hardened sceptic to have their “but how” questions answered.

If you want to move your community on to one that is more inclusive, more genuinely welcoming (i.e. people are valued for who they are rather than what place they can safely be put on the rota) , and one where a table is made bigger so that all can have a seat at it, then read this book.

And then put it into action.

[Christopher Trend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A challenging and refreshing book looking at the issues of being church today in a pandemic world.
It is full of examples and insights which engage with creative thinking.
The Bible studies bring new perspectives to well known stories.
It remains also a book rooted in Anglicanism & shows how broad a church we can potentially be.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. From the illustrations, the models, the questions it forces those engaged or starting to engage in their community to reflect on. Some interesting angles on Jesus being interrupted by people. Looks at some big questions about the church and power and the service provider/client model. Thoroughly enjoyed the stories from the community and was provoked to think about my own practice.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book traces important questions for the church (of any denomination) around being open to creative disruptions of the status quo through interruptions from others excluded by the power and privilege of the systems and structures the church so often operates within.

[Andy Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rethinking the mission of the church and how those on the edges may help us find the answers we are all seeking.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst rooted in the Anglican tradition, this book is a praxis of life in urban Britain today (specifically a parish in Birmingham). The contextual critique is both incisive and open-handed, recognising the backgrounds of the authors and the gifts of the communities around them. Utilising a mixture of writing styles the reader is invited on a journey of self-examination towards a de-centred and de-colonised interaction with God's word and world.
By using Mark's gospel as a backdrop, the framework of the book is styled with movement. Unsurprisingly, particular attention is given to interruptions. The climax of the book draws together the threads and themes of scholarship, insight, scenes and scenarios through the realities of cross and resurrection.
Just as the gospel ends abruptly with a sense of unspoken continuance, this book ends with a conversational reflection on the writing the the book and the inturruption of Covid-19. The reader is left in no doubt that moving forward in mission will never look neat and packaged but will need a sense of messy 'decomposition' with creative possibilities, 'intentional attention' to previously unnoticed or unengaged 'underground' connections and a determination of those from privileged backgrounds to listen to, learn from, live with, resist leading and recognise God's love in uncomfortable places, spaces and people.
This is a fresh resource that any urban minister should read and take seriously in reflecting engagement in mission in these days.