Dispersed communities

[Margaret Claire Harvey]

I'm working on an MA thesis with the title 'Dispersed Christian Communities- an expression of the monastic ideal?' The subject has its birth from

 a meeting of the small dispersed Christian Community, of which I am a founder member some years ago when we considered the challenge to build a community which is not located in one place. This led to a number of questions.  In a culture where ‘stability of place’ is foreign to many can a valid community be formed which uses communication technology to provide ‘place’ and connection? Is ‘place’ essential in monasticism? How would such a community be different from an interest group or a group of friends or network? How far can a dispersed community be a valid expression of the monastic vision today? I would really appreciate any thoughts from members. I've put together a short list of questions. If anyone would like to add their comments/responses to it this would be great.

Here is is.

 Questionaire%20text.docx

 

 

 

 

 

[Tessa Holland]

Hi Margaret - am happy to give some response to your questionnaire. What is your timescale for contributions? Tessa

[Margaret Claire Harvey]

Thanks Tessa. I really need to finish collecting material this term in order to get down to actually writing it up by Easter. 

Margaret

[Ian Mobsby]

Hi Margaret

Not sure if you have seen Bruggemann's new book Subversive obedience - this title alone I think states what new monastic communities are called to be as an expression of ekklesia.  Interested that you have looked at obedience - but think new monastic communities have a place regarding challenging an over consumptive culture - hence some ethical responses to a form of poverty and celibacy I think is a response to hedonism - and a covenanted relational approach is also a response to that.  Also - I think there are two influences in new monasticism - friar and monk - they are quite different - and new monasticism I think draws on the history of both, and so a continuation of the tradition, but is being called to live out a particular expression of this in a new way.