Rob Bell, founder and pastor of the Mars Hill Church in Michigan, recently announced he would leave that position. These thing happen. As Andy Rowell described in 2010, a number of high profile church leaders have left their positions in recent years. Rowell described those who left to take positions as speakers, writers, and teachers. Some had institutional affiliations that went with them: N.T. Wright to be a professor of theology at University of St. Andrews. But others gave up the institutional affiliation of a congregation to become – in essence – free-lancers.
Or maybe a different way of saying this is that in our day of living after – as in everything is post-something – we now have our authors, speakers and thinkers creating their own organizations. They speak, write and teach not only from the pulpit, platform and lectern we have previously looked to in the academy. church and conference events. Now they find new pulpits, platforms and lecterns. Some are shared with colleagues who are still connected to institutional positions. But others find ways to live without the same connections found in previous generations.
A few years ago Barbara Brown Taylor’s memoir Leaving Church created a buzz. Who was leaving whom – and what? But she remains a popular speaker and has many followers within “the church.”Taylor “left” the parish to take a position in the academy – but she also has a website where you can find out about her work and her speaking engagements. Peter Rollins, Francis Chan, Brian McLaren, Marcus Borg and Diana Butler Bass are looked to for their contributions to various Christian communities – and by the general public. Some have some institutional or organizational connections – yet each has his or her own operation. Arranging a speaking schedule has always required organization.
In nineteenth century America, the Chautauqua Institute developed as a way to share information and inspiration. The assembly in upstate New York has persisted – and been transformed. No longer is it just about religious instruction and edification – it has a larger cultural profile. In other regions and places there are similar gathering points.
Earlier this year I heard Rob Bell on his speaking tour to promote Love Wins. There was a buzz in the North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta that evening that I’m not sure happens that often. The place was packed for one thing. The crowd didn’t necessarily look ”Presbyterian.” (And I’ve seen a few Presbyterians in my time). Beyond what he said about the content of the book, I sensed a yearning that Bell had to be doing other things – other books and especially film. We will see what happens.
In our day of “new” and social media – as well as the “old” media of film and print – I have to wonder if we live with a new kind of Chautauqua. A new venue is emerging that mixes real location with electronic communication. Into that venue there are moving those who will be command the attention of the public – from the pew and from the street.
