When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity (Avery Stafford) - A Review
WHEN COLLABORATION MIRRORS THE TRINITY: Leveraging Unityto Bless Our World. By Avery Stafford. Foreword by Kevin Palau. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2022
For those of us who claim to be part of the Stone-Campbell Movement, Christian unity is said to be one of our core values (see my book Freedom in Covenant: Reflections on the Distinctive Values and Practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)). Barton Stone, one of the founders of the movement, is said to have proclaimed unity as our polar star, our guiding principle. The truth is, while this motto of unity is an important core value, we have often failed to fully embody it. Nevertheless, for those with ears to hear, the message continues to beckon. While unity is a core value, Stone-Campbell folks are not of one mind when it comes to the Trinity. That is, not all of us are comfortable with the designation Trinitarian. Many will follow the founders and simply note that the word Trinity isn’t found in the New Testament and so we’re better off not using the term. Now, I’m comfortable with the term and the concept of Trinity and find it to be a useful theological concept to envision unity within diversity (See The Triune Nature of God: Conversations Regarding the Trinity by a Disciples of Christ Pastor/Theologian). One who agrees with me on this is Avery Stafford, the author of When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity.
While
Avery Stafford is also a member of the broader Stone-Campbell Movement, he’s
part of another branch of the movement. While I’m a minister within the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) he is a minister within the Churches of Christ. We
have the same roots, but we've gone our own way over time [See Anthony L.
Dunnavant, Richard T. Hughes, Paul Blowers, Founding Vocation & Future
Vision, (Chalice Press)]. The movement of which each of us, Avery and me, is
a part has divided several times even though unity is supposed to be our polar
star. What Avery and I share though is a commitment not only to unity, which
can be theoretical in nature but also 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. I share this with the reader so
that they might understand where the two of us come from.
Avery 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
a predominantly White denominational circle. At a time when the racial divide
seems to be widening within Christianity (witness recent Supreme Court nomination
hearings and anti-CRT efforts across the country), it is important to note that
persons of color, even those who are evangelically inclined, are speaking out
against injustice committed against them.
When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity has roots in a D.Min. project undertaken by
the author at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. It's a study of collaborative
efforts engaged in by churches. He advocates for such efforts but also uncovers
the challenges. Even pastors who might be open to collaboration often face the
reality that such efforts are rarely rewarded by congregations or
denominations. We tend to live in silos that keep us separated from one another.
Stafford knows this to be true from personal experience, even as do I. We can
be very protective of our turf, but as he makes clear, ultimately this is
short-sighted. Therefore, it needs to be challenged.
One of
the intriguing elements of the book is the way Stafford brings his experiences both
as a pastor and as a musician into the conversation. He uses his experience as
a musician to help us understand the nature of music and how it illustrates
ways in which collaboration is rewarding. While this is intriguing, so is the
theological foundation of the conversation. That’s because the central image in
this conversation is the Trinity. Stafford suggests that we should look to the
Trinity for guidance. He proposes 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, it starts with
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. As noted earlier, he reminds us that we tend to live in our
silos. Therefore, we often 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, such as going out for coffee
with each other. I know that to be true. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity
to participate in collaborative efforts and know they start in relationships. As
we build relationships, we also 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 truly 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 presents
records of the results of the interviews he has undertaken. Nevertheless, the
message of Avery Stafford’s When Collaboration Mirrors the Trinity is
one that the larger church needs to hear. If God's realm is to impact the world
positively, then those of good faith will need to collaborate. We can't do this
work on our own. Even if collaboration is not rewarded, we need to take the
risk. And we also need to remember that we’re not rivals but partners in the
work of God. For that, I give thanks to Avery Stafford for bringing this to our
attention.
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?
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