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When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity
""That they all may be one"" was Jesus' first-century prayer. With mind and emotions set towards Golgotha, he poured out his heart to the Father. But what is our twenty-first-century reality? Local churches are siloed. Pastors do not know one another and rarely work together. Christians drive by church buildings on their way to Sunday worship and seldom pray for one another. Vitriolic disunity spews across social media in front of an onlooking world. Our culture sees our fractured reality and increasingly dismisses Christianity as a viable option for their lives. And it is time for believers to recognize that it is our fault. But there is hope! When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity is a timely invitation for local churches to make the practice of unity our new normal. Avery Stafford presents a biblical model to actualize this invitation. He details four rhythms that mirror the loving community of the Triune God. Each one can help pastors, lay leaders, and faith communities deepen their resolve to bless the world through effective gospel partnerships. This work is a bold call for believers to discover an untapped resource for the gospel--the believers who attend other churches in their city.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2022
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April 7, 2022
For those of us who claim to be part of the Stone-Campbell Movement, Christian unity is one of our core values (see my book Freedom in Covenant: Reflections on the Distinctive Values and Practices of the Christian Church. Barton Stone is said to have proclaimed that unity is our polar star, our guiding principle. Now, we don't always fully embody our core values, but they do beckon us to embrace the message. As for the Trinity, well, Stone-Campbell folks aren't always completely committed to that theological element of the Christian faith. For some, the fact that the word isn't present in the New Testament means we shouldn't use the term. I disagree, but I can't speak for everyone.
I provide this introduction to Avery Stafford's book "When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity." Now, Avery Stafford is part of another branch of the Stone-Campbell Movement. He's Churches of Christ and I'm Disciples of Christ. We have the same roots, but we've gone our own way over time. We've done that despite the fact that unity is supposed to be our polar star. What Stafford and I share though is a commitment not only to unity, which can be theoretical but we are both committed to collaboration across traditional boundaries. In other words, he has imbibed the message of the founders, even if in this book they don't make a major appearance.
Stafford is a pastor of a multicultural congregation in the Portland, Oregon suburb of Beaverton. He is, by self-identification African American. That is important to note because while at times he draws on more theologically conservative conversation partners, he is very upfront about the realities of being Black in predominantly White denominational circles. At a time when the racial divide seems to be widening within Christianity (witness recent Supreme Court nominee hearings and anti-CRT efforts), it is important to note that persons of color, even those who are evangelically inclined, are speaking out against injustice committed against them.
This book has roots in a DMin project by the author at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. It's a study of collaborative efforts by churches. He advocates for such efforts but also uncovers the challenges. Even pastors who might be open to collaboration face the reality that such efforts are rarely rewarded by congregations or denominations. We tend to live in silos. He knows to be true from experience, as do I. We can be very protective of our turf, but ultimately that is short-sighted. He brings that reality out in this book.
This is an intriguing book because Stafford brings his experiences as a pastor and as a musician into the conversation. The latter has to do with helping us understand the nature of music and how it illustrates ways in which collaboration is rewarding. The central image here is the Trinity. He suggests that we look to the Trinity for guidance. He suggests that collaboration among the churches should mirror the relationship that exists within the Trinity. Thus, we start with the premise that the church is one even as God is one. However, within the unity that is God, there is diversity. That is God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He writes that "The Trinity's uniqueness and perfect community is both a theological reality and the ideal model for local church collaboration." The model here, as he shares it reflects the nature of God. Thus, "Collaboration imitates how the Father is for us, the Son is with us, and the Holy Spirit lives in us." (p. 36).
One of the elements that stands out in the book (and reflects Stafford's musical background) is the chapter titled "Four Rhythms of Collaboration" (chapter 5). He suggests that these four rhythms (relationship, trust, diversity, and inclusion) reflect "four traits of the Trinity's loving unity." Everything starts with relationships. Specifically, relationships between church leaders (pastors). He points out that one of the challenges to collaboration is that pastors often don't have a relationship with other pastors. We live in our silos and we don't know each other. Part of that is due to the lack of reward on the part of congregations. There is no reward given to pastors who spend time regularly with other pastors -- you know going to coffee with each other. That's true. The collaborative efforts that I've been involved with have started in relationships. From there we build trust. That provides the foundation for a diversity of relationships (here again, he speaks to the importance of celebrating diversity when we tend not to embrace it). Finally, there is inclusion. This is really an important chapter that can prove helpful for collaborative efforts, if only we will pursue them. He builds on this chapter by exploring what he calls the essentials, and there are six of them, along with the hurdles. I will let the reader discover what these are through their own reading (ch. 6).
At times the book reads like a dissertation. It's full of charts and graphs. It records for us the results of interviews. Nevertheless, the message of this book is one the larger church needs to hear. If God's realm is to impact the world in a positive way, then those of good faith will need to collaborate. We can't do this on our own. Even if collaboration is not rewarded, we need to take the risk. We need to see each other not as rivals but as partners in the work of God. For that, I give thanks to Avery Stafford for bringing this to our attention. As I noted that he is both a pastor and a musician, I will note that the book includes the words to a song he wrote called "One." It's a reflection on Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17. I was able to listen to the song on Spotify, though it's also present on other streaming services. The chorus goes like this:
I provide this introduction to Avery Stafford's book "When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity." Now, Avery Stafford is part of another branch of the Stone-Campbell Movement. He's Churches of Christ and I'm Disciples of Christ. We have the same roots, but we've gone our own way over time. We've done that despite the fact that unity is supposed to be our polar star. What Stafford and I share though is a commitment not only to unity, which can be theoretical but we are both committed to collaboration across traditional boundaries. In other words, he has imbibed the message of the founders, even if in this book they don't make a major appearance.
Stafford is a pastor of a multicultural congregation in the Portland, Oregon suburb of Beaverton. He is, by self-identification African American. That is important to note because while at times he draws on more theologically conservative conversation partners, he is very upfront about the realities of being Black in predominantly White denominational circles. At a time when the racial divide seems to be widening within Christianity (witness recent Supreme Court nominee hearings and anti-CRT efforts), it is important to note that persons of color, even those who are evangelically inclined, are speaking out against injustice committed against them.
This book has roots in a DMin project by the author at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. It's a study of collaborative efforts by churches. He advocates for such efforts but also uncovers the challenges. Even pastors who might be open to collaboration face the reality that such efforts are rarely rewarded by congregations or denominations. We tend to live in silos. He knows to be true from experience, as do I. We can be very protective of our turf, but ultimately that is short-sighted. He brings that reality out in this book.
This is an intriguing book because Stafford brings his experiences as a pastor and as a musician into the conversation. The latter has to do with helping us understand the nature of music and how it illustrates ways in which collaboration is rewarding. The central image here is the Trinity. He suggests that we look to the Trinity for guidance. He suggests that collaboration among the churches should mirror the relationship that exists within the Trinity. Thus, we start with the premise that the church is one even as God is one. However, within the unity that is God, there is diversity. That is God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He writes that "The Trinity's uniqueness and perfect community is both a theological reality and the ideal model for local church collaboration." The model here, as he shares it reflects the nature of God. Thus, "Collaboration imitates how the Father is for us, the Son is with us, and the Holy Spirit lives in us." (p. 36).
One of the elements that stands out in the book (and reflects Stafford's musical background) is the chapter titled "Four Rhythms of Collaboration" (chapter 5). He suggests that these four rhythms (relationship, trust, diversity, and inclusion) reflect "four traits of the Trinity's loving unity." Everything starts with relationships. Specifically, relationships between church leaders (pastors). He points out that one of the challenges to collaboration is that pastors often don't have a relationship with other pastors. We live in our silos and we don't know each other. Part of that is due to the lack of reward on the part of congregations. There is no reward given to pastors who spend time regularly with other pastors -- you know going to coffee with each other. That's true. The collaborative efforts that I've been involved with have started in relationships. From there we build trust. That provides the foundation for a diversity of relationships (here again, he speaks to the importance of celebrating diversity when we tend not to embrace it). Finally, there is inclusion. This is really an important chapter that can prove helpful for collaborative efforts, if only we will pursue them. He builds on this chapter by exploring what he calls the essentials, and there are six of them, along with the hurdles. I will let the reader discover what these are through their own reading (ch. 6).
At times the book reads like a dissertation. It's full of charts and graphs. It records for us the results of interviews. Nevertheless, the message of this book is one the larger church needs to hear. If God's realm is to impact the world in a positive way, then those of good faith will need to collaborate. We can't do this on our own. Even if collaboration is not rewarded, we need to take the risk. We need to see each other not as rivals but as partners in the work of God. For that, I give thanks to Avery Stafford for bringing this to our attention. As I noted that he is both a pastor and a musician, I will note that the book includes the words to a song he wrote called "One." It's a reflection on Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17. I was able to listen to the song on Spotify, though it's also present on other streaming services. The chorus goes like this:
They would all be one (2x)
Like the Father and the Son
Could you imagine what could be done
If they all were one
Community of one
Brothers and Sisters---if they all were one?
February 9, 2022
I so appreciate this book, written by my friend, Avery Stafford. Having experienced numerous failures and a few successes, in "partnering" my church with other churches, I know well the challenges of sharing ministry resources. In "When Collaboration Mirrors. . . " Avery lays out the indispensable requirement that ministry partners for being ministry family, ministry friends, and only out of such relationships can our ministry endeavors be shared, and witnessed in such a way as to result in God being perceived, understood, and even worshiped by the surrounding culture. I highly recommend this work for any who desire a fresh understanding of inter-church ministry, grounded in solid theology and the experience of a veteran pastor.
January 20, 2022
Reimagining the Path to Christian Unity
Were you disheartened by the Church’s response to 2020? Then this book is for you.
Do you think your local congregation is doing just fine on its own and that calls for inclusion and collaboration are a bit much? Then this book is for you, too.
2020 didn’t create the western Christian community’s human tendency to hang out with their own crowd. It wasn't the first time the Church has displayed a very fragmented picture to the rest of the world. But it certainly put that tendency in high relief. How are non-believers expected to embrace the message of Jesus as savior, redeemer, and friend if His followers don’t embrace one another?
“This twenty-first-century world, especially younger generations, turns away from our verbal message because it does not visibly match our lived-out experiences. . . Our Christian dissonance persuades outsiders that we have little or nothing to offer their lives.”
Pastor Avery Stafford examines this reality from the trenches of church leadership and suggests a different path: mirroring the Trinity and unity in Jesus through collaboration. He proposes real, practical suggestions of how the local church can weave this idea of partnering with other local congregations into the fabric of its church culture.
Stafford doesn’t pull any punches. Collaboration isn’t easy. It can be hindered by the business model that many churches use. It can be hampered by differences in race, creed, economic inequalities, politics, and cost. It can be undone by pride, territorialism, and fear. Church leaders — and the congregations that support them — have to be all in and willing to dream a new dream of unity in Jesus.
He also takes a moment to remind us of the importance of standing with brothers and sisters in Christ who may have been wounded by the disunity. He urges us to dream of a big-C church “where silence amid a broken world turns into compassionate acts of mercy and grace.”
When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity goes well with a cup of coffee and open conversation. Get a copy for yourself and another for your favorite church leader. Let the dreaming begin!
Were you disheartened by the Church’s response to 2020? Then this book is for you.
Do you think your local congregation is doing just fine on its own and that calls for inclusion and collaboration are a bit much? Then this book is for you, too.
2020 didn’t create the western Christian community’s human tendency to hang out with their own crowd. It wasn't the first time the Church has displayed a very fragmented picture to the rest of the world. But it certainly put that tendency in high relief. How are non-believers expected to embrace the message of Jesus as savior, redeemer, and friend if His followers don’t embrace one another?
“This twenty-first-century world, especially younger generations, turns away from our verbal message because it does not visibly match our lived-out experiences. . . Our Christian dissonance persuades outsiders that we have little or nothing to offer their lives.”
Pastor Avery Stafford examines this reality from the trenches of church leadership and suggests a different path: mirroring the Trinity and unity in Jesus through collaboration. He proposes real, practical suggestions of how the local church can weave this idea of partnering with other local congregations into the fabric of its church culture.
Stafford doesn’t pull any punches. Collaboration isn’t easy. It can be hindered by the business model that many churches use. It can be hampered by differences in race, creed, economic inequalities, politics, and cost. It can be undone by pride, territorialism, and fear. Church leaders — and the congregations that support them — have to be all in and willing to dream a new dream of unity in Jesus.
He also takes a moment to remind us of the importance of standing with brothers and sisters in Christ who may have been wounded by the disunity. He urges us to dream of a big-C church “where silence amid a broken world turns into compassionate acts of mercy and grace.”
When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity goes well with a cup of coffee and open conversation. Get a copy for yourself and another for your favorite church leader. Let the dreaming begin!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews