Developing Leaders in Hard Places: Equipping Urban Leaders for Shalom

“Developing Leaders in Hard Places.” Onramps

Table of Contents Welcome Aboard! Who’s Here? Destination: Where Are We Going? GPS Navigation: How Do We Engage our City Contextually? 4. Major Boulevards: What Perspectives Connect us to Life in the City? Bright Lights and Dark Alleys: What Hazards & Roadside Assistance Awaits? Wrong Turns Textual Onramps Traveling Temptations Roadside Inns: When Do We rest? Gas Stations: How Do We Access Resources? Sending: Who Will Send Us? W

A global training collaborative that equips the head, heart and hands of urban leaders and organizations, who seek the social and spiritual renewal of cities. Our vision is drawn from Jesus’ first public address in Luke 4:18-19, which speaks of good news and liberation for the poor.

Mission The Urban Training Collaborative is a dynamic global training collaborative that equips the head (Reflection), heart (Discernment) and hands (Action) of urban community leaders and organizations who seek the social and spiritual renewal of cities. Vision This vision is drawn from Jesus’ first public address in Luke 4:18-19, which speaks of good news and liberation for the poor. Core Outcomes Train more urban leadersto more effectively seek the shalom of their cities through social and spiritual transformation, with special attention to the most vulnerable communities. Develop, strengthen, and sustain more organizationsthat seek the shalom of their cities (Local Leadership Foundations, city-wide organizations, community-based organizations). Leverage financial resourcesto more effectively sustain spiritual and social transformation of cities.

Model of Transformation“Give me a lever and a place to stand I will move the world.” (Archimedes) Transforming Practice - A Way of Doing- Three Functions Engage Leaders From All Sectors Develop Joint Initiatives Build Capacity Transforming Perspective - A Way of Seeing - M’s of Mission Message – Scarcity to Abundance Method – Theory Above to Incarnational Practice Below Manner – Rivalry to Peacemaking Messenger – Fear to Freedom Transforming Presence- A Way of Being- Global Eucharistic Community Contemplative Activists Ecumenical Discerners Engaged Peacemakers

Transforming Assumptions Impossibility to Normalcy is Normative. Orientation – Disorientation – Reorientation. (Liminal Space). Relationship is the Vehicle of Transformation Desire Fuels Transformation Gateways – Prayer, Praise and Pain. The Unbounded Spirit is at work in the city inviting us to play. The Gift of the Enemy. The Power of Love.

1. DestinationWhere are we Going? I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21:2) Towards a city that is coming to us.

Features of the New Jerusalem A Gift being given. Coming down…(the hard work of this is on God, not us) 2. NOW, HERE, THIS. (“I am making all things new…now (v. 5). The city is of “this world” a concrete reality, not an other worldly abstraction. It’s happening now, it’s happening here and it’s happening in this world. 3. A City That Bears the Wounds of Creation: The (Slain) Lamb is the head of the city. (v. 9) The one who bears the wounds of creation eternally is the author of new creation. 4. No Temple: No need for a particular place, because of the reality of God’s presence in all places. (v. 22) Human and Divine Glory: Our glory is incorporated into the new city. Vs. 24 (The glory of this city reflects the glory of Jesus who is both human and divine. What qualities of the New Jerusalem (City of Peace) speaks loudest in your context?

The City as Magnet & Magnifier Importing The Nations The Global City Seeking Fleeing Oppression Opportunity Exporting Culture Relocation Media

City as Mirror The city is the most accurate reflection of humanity at its best and worst. Cities are a mirror of our societies, a part of our economy, an element of our environment. But above all else they are a measure of our ability to live with each other. When we examine our cities we examine ourselves. (J.R. Short, The urban order: an introduction to cities, culture, and power.)

City Psalm The killings continue, each second pain and misfortune extend themselves in the genetic chain, injustice is done knowingly, and the air bears the dust of decayed hopes, yet breathing those fumes, walking the thronged pavements among crippled lives, jackhammers raging, a parking lot painfully agleam in the May sun, I have seen not behind but within, within the dull grief, blown grit, hideous concrete facades, another grief, a gleam as of dew, an abode of mercy, have heard not behind but within noise a humming that drifted into a quiet smile. Nothing was changed, all was revealed otherwise; not that horror was not, not that killings did not continue, but that as if transparent all disclosed an otherness that was blessed, that was bliss. I saw Paradise in the dust of the street. Denise Levertov

Developing Leaders in Hard Places: Equipping Urban Leaders for Shalom