The Ressourcement holds out three challenges for me vocationally:

(1) As a biblical scholar, how does the historical and theological work that I do relate to the interpretive tradition of the church? As a scholar of early Judaism and earliest Christianity, who do these forms help us live in continuity with the forms of thought and life of those who have come before?

(2)As a professor within a Christian liberal arts school, how do we respond to the modern and post-modern trends of the state and surogate state institutions that would reduce the Christian witness to "values" or "spirituality" or "religious psychotherapy" or "social justice" within these institutions? Is there a truthful, intellectual life that can reorder our understanding to call us to a more faithful practice as a Christian institution?

(3) As a pastor, how do we keep this from being merely abstract cognitive games, interacting persuasively and critically with other thinkers, but participating with bodily habits the undercutting of the actual ecclesial witness that demanded the theological thought to take place in the first place?

My quest for Ressourcement sees these all as intertwined for faithful witness into the future, as well as the sanctification of the present. As a vision for our congregation, I'm trying to put forth the image of a "pilgrim way-station." Last week at our Board meeting I put forth certain practices that I thought are central to sustaining such a place. But maybe the "pilgrim way-station" isn't the only image -- some were concerned that it did not account for those of us who stay. While I reminded us that we are all "pilgrims" here, passing through, I've been trying to work more with the image, searching for concrete examples from the past. I recently found this description of the early Benedictine monasteries:

"The Order of St Benedict spread like wildfire through mediaeval Europe. In addition to the houses' obvious purpose of worship of God, they also became de facto medical centers, shelters for travellers, sources of employment, places of pilgrimage, and important intellectual centers and repositories for the manuscripts of antiquity in an increasingly chaotic world. It is not too much to say that the Benedictine monasteries were the last fortresses of civilization after the Fall of the Roman Empire. As everything else grew increasingly primitive, the monasteries continued to inspire art, literature, music, and the higher things of God of man."

donjim.blogspot.com/2005_07_01_donjim_archive.html#112108529169902984

This is the time, as Alasdair MacIntryre reminded us at the end of After Virtue, for a new monasticism -- or better, a Ressourcement of monasticism within late capitalism. Thus, I want to offer for the congregation the document that I gave to the board for your comments, and hopefully, for our common embodiment.

A Congregation Committed to Ressourcement for our Sanctification:
A Vision for the Church of the Nazarene in Mid-City, San Diego

(1) A vowed order of members, living a common discipline from the General Rules of the Church of the Nazarene, for the care of those passing through and each other through a common worship life together at 4101 University Avenue, San Diego.

(2) Eucharistic (thanksgiving) center of worship through the ministry of Word and Sacrament. We will commit ourselves to the historic norms of worship with fresh expressions of faith, hope, and love for the Triune God.

(3) Small group meetings for immersion in Word through common life in Scriptures and encouragement for works of mercy.

(4) Distribution of food to the hungry, and shelter from the elements for those without housing.

(5) Establishing stable housing for vowed members; adequate, sustainable housing for those we encounter through our works of mercy and amidst those who are moving through the area.

(6) Inviting others into an active life of faith in Jesus Christ, from sin into the church catholic in baptism, and into sanctification, the renewal of the image of God, through active participation, even membership, in the life of the vowed order.