Greetings from TCL’s Board of Directors!

written by TCL Board member Wendy Cooper

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Wendy Cooper is a long-time TCL cheerleader and first-year Board member. She earned a Master of Arts in Family Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston. Wendy currently works in legal compliance in the energy industry and hopes The Church Lab one days expands to Houston. 

In mid-August, The Church Lab Board of Directors and staff met for their annual Board Retreat. Like many things in 2020, it looked a little different than years past, with Board members logging into the virtual meetings from across the country. While many aspects of the retreat were different, the core elements remained the same. We talked strategy, vision, budgets, and fundraising. We set goals for ourselves and the organization. We celebrated the past, honored the present, and prayed for the future of TCL.  

 Although this is my first year as a Board member, I am not new to The Church Lab. I have been supporting TCL with my prayers, gifts, and encouragement from the beginning. Not only does TCL’s mission of exploring innovative paths to spiritual maturity resonate deeply with my own spiritual journey, but I have also experienced God’s profound presence through my interfaith friendships. Carrie’s gift for building bridges has always been inspiring, and I think the need for that kind of passion will only continue to grow. After engaging with TCL from the periphery for many years, it is now my honor to serve the organization as a Board member.  

A highlight of this year’s Board Retreat was the opportunity to join dialoguers for a special Thursday evening dialogue. TCL has long embraced the idea of participating in dialogues virtually, but it was wonderful to see the group thriving and connecting even without the majority of participants being in Carrie’s living room. The regular dialoguers graciously welcomed us as we explored the topic of Suffering and Inequity. The entire group’s ability to collectively hold space for one another allowed us to discuss this deeply personal topic in an open and supportive way.  

 True to the spirit of TCL, the retreat was filled with moments of fun and creativity, fueled in no small part to the goodie boxes Carrie and Ollie mailed to each participant beforehand. There were post-it notes and workbooks for those who like to write things down but also play-doh and stickers for those who choose to express themselves more creatively. If you want to know what makes a Zoom meeting a party, give everyone on the call a maraca and see what happens.   

 In addition to connecting over moments of fun, the work we engaged in as a Board of Directors is an essential component of the continued success of TCL. The Board approved a budget and fundraising goals that are higher than ever, not as an aspiration but as an accurate reflection of where The Church Lab is going. The seeds Carrie planted many years ago are beginning to grow and with that comes the need for additional resources. As a Board of Directors, we are committed to taking active roles in supporting the mission and work of TCL.  

 Although 2020 has brought us endless uncertainty, it has become clear that the work of The Church Lab is indispensable to individuals and faith communities adapting to non-traditional worship experiences. And it could certainly be argued that building bridges among people of differing perspectives is now an essential skill as the world continues to bend toward justice. Guided by God and connected to the community, TCL will continue to innovate and boldly move into the future. 

The Telling of American Muslim Experiences

WRITTEN BY JINANE SOUNNY-SLITINE, LMSW

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Jinane and her friend Jasmine at the Women’s March.

The negative portrayal of Muslims in media and pop culture directly affects the rates of Islamophobia, discrimination, and violence towards Muslims in the United States. Muslims make up 1% of the US population and according to a 2019 report are the most negatively portrayed minority in American media. Terrorist attacks committed by Muslim extremists are covered at a 357% higher rate than those made by other groups. When these crimes are committed by individuals of color or those identifying as Muslims, they are quickly reported as terrorist attacks. However, similar crimes made by White supremacists are considered to be results of mental health issues. In 2018 the majority of domestic-terrorists attacks in the United States were committed by White supremacists, making up 78% of domestic-terrorist murders while 2% were made by Muslim extremists. Being American Muslim, I saw the direct impact American media and pop culture had in my life. I hid my religion from others because once they knew that I was Muslim they would treat me differently, distance themselves from me, or look to me to represent the entire faith.

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign ran on hatred towards Muslims, Mexicans, and immigrants. His administration’s agenda and policies set the tone that religious intolerance and institutional Islamophobia are acceptable. Political campaign narratives have a direct impact on our communities and influence what people believe, how they behave, and how they vote. In 2015 anti-Muslim hate crimes had the highest levels since September 11, 2001, suggesting that Trump’s anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric influenced the increase of hate crimes towards Muslims. Immediately after Trump called for a travel ban on several majority-Muslim nations there was an 87.5% increase in hate crimes made towards Muslim individuals. The majority of US citizens report not knowing any Muslims personally. If individuals are relying on the media to educate them on this religion and its followers, then it is likely that many will believe the stereotypes depicted and consequently fear Muslims.

Growing up American Muslim, I never saw my culture depicted in the stories of people in books, on television, or in films unless they were being portrayed as terrorists. It was not until a friend of mine gave me the book, A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi, that I realized how much the lack of positive representation of Muslims in pop culture affected me. I remember becoming overwhelmed with a wave of emotions and crying as I read the book jacket and realizing that I never saw anything like this before. The novel was written by a Muslim author, and the main character Shirin, was a Muslim teenager growing up in a post 9/11 America. I had hope for the first time in my life that I would see pieces of my identity represented in a positive way. I enjoyed being able to connect with the book in a way I was never able to before, and felt validated in ways I didn’t know I needed. I related to Shirin’s struggles of being misunderstood as an American Muslim and her need to fit in.

American Muslims are now sharing their stories in mainstream media such as Ramy Youssef’s comedy show Ramy, Mo Amer’s standup The Vagabond, and Hassan Minhaj’s political show Patriot Act. Books and television shows like these allow the general public to see non-violent American Muslim stories, and helps to normalize what it means to be Muslim. In addition, we have seen American Muslim politicians like Debbie Mucarsel-Poweel, Ilhan Omar, Donna Shalala, and Rashida Tlaib lead the way towards creating spaces for Islamic representation in national politics. American Muslims are being shown as active members in their communities, educated, family orientated, and hardworking. Their stories show their personalities, senses of humor, love and heartbreak, and vulnerability. These stories normalize their experiences to the general public.

Society needs to acknowledge that negative narratives impact impressions of American Muslims in media and pop culture by perpetuating negative stereotypes and hate. This contributes to promoting systematic Islamophobia, increasing discrimination and violence, and the othering of American Muslims. It is critical to examine if stories are being told by Muslims or through the lenses of people who have not lived the Muslim experience. Publishing companies and the television and film industry should prioritize investing and supporting Muslim storytellers and provide them the platforms needed to share their stories with the public. Lastly, journalists should start to address the ways in which news coverage contributes to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes of Muslims, and should work towards removing biased agendas.

I hope to see an increase of positive Muslim representation in society. Muslims need to be portrayed as peaceful, not as extremists or terrorists. The general public has the right to see stories about American Muslims and their lived experiences. With increased positive and realistic representation in the media, the general public can move towards seeing Muslims in a new light and without fear.

*Please email help@thechurchlab.org for the original pdf version of this op-ed, complete with links to references.

Gallery of TCL Creatives in Response to COVID-19

The Church Lab is blessed with a creative community. We invited our members to contribute poems, photos, videos, and prose to a gallery to be shared with you. Please enjoy these reflections offered as inspiration or solace during this period.

Dialoguer Shelley shares this video and its accompanying sound of her backyard in Georgia.

Dialogue member Rev. Shannon Shannon-Wildt wrote this passage as part of a sermon just as the scope of the pandemic was becoming clear.

We all know that this is a scary and unprecedented time. So many of us are struggling with not being with our loved ones and even with not being with strangers. Loneliness is prevalent. Fear can feel overwhelming. I mean even going to the grocery store is a challenge! We are being asked to stay away from the very thing we most need--community. We are staying away in order to keep our community safe, which brings some solace, but not enough. The loneliness we feel, the fear we feel, the anxiety we feel are all valid and real, and we absolutely are allowed to feel them. Isolation can be overwhelming for some and even dangerous for others who experience mental illness. We must allow the feelings to be present, and to give ourselves space to experience them. But we also can find hope and peace in knowing that Jesus stays with us too. That just as Jesus’ death was not permanent, this too shall pass. Even though we are isolated, we are creatively finding new and exciting ways to stay connected. Recently I have heard of people tailgating outside others’ homes to see each other from a distance. I’ve heard of people dropping off baked goods for a loved ones’ birthday. I’ve heard of online yoga and meditation and support groups and even scavenger hunts. As much as this is a devastating time, we can also be so grateful we have high-speed internet and cell phones to remain connected. We are in unprecedented times, with so much unknown, but Jesus and the disciples were in unprecedented times too after his death and resurrection. No one knew what the future would hold; no one knew how long Jesus would remain with them; no one knew of the impact that one man would make on the entire world--changing it completely. The other day I was listening to a webinar and the speaker said something along the lines of, “Yes we are in unprecedented times, and we don’t know what the future will bring; but really if you think about it, we never know what the future will bring.” We never know what the future will bring. But the one thing we do know it’ll bring is community. And as we stay inside, as we stay in isolation, we are able to stay connected--to each other and to Jesus.

Melissa shared this image of her family’s new vegetable garden, which is just sprouting! She is a member of TCL’s Board of Directors.

Melissa shared this image of her family’s new vegetable garden, which is just sprouting! She is a member of TCL’s Board of Directors.

Pam, TCL’s pastoral assistant wrote this piece just before shelter-in-place, when the possibility of travel was still an option.

“We got in the car and Seph put on music. It was dark out. Nine or so. In that moment I just wanted to drive. To keep driving into the dark. To drive away.”

Matthew: “What music?”

“I think rap. Driving beat? almost yelling at you?”

“If you drive away, where do you go?”

“New Orleans. Or Mississippi. Someplace that feels different.”

“Go to New Orleans. Imagine and walk there. Where are you there? A restaurant? A cemetery? A bar?”

A club. A club with live music. It’s filled with people. We’re sitting at a table. We just ate. We are surrounded by real. The leather the wood the people the alcohol. The music.

Right outside, the river. The churning the driving being that is the Mississippi. You can’t miss it. In the Quarter it’s right there. There’s only a levee separating it from you. When you’re in the Quarter, you feel it. You can’t forget. It’s just right there.

A liminal place. There are so few to begin with. So rare. Even more so an entire city. A thin place. Holding both the sacred and the profane. The deeply sacred and the deeply profane. Holding life and holding death. Death in life and life in death.

Holding the broken, especially since the flood, and being the heart of New Orleans. The whole the core the center that is New Orleans and can’t be touched no matter what. What draws you near and swallows you and makes you never forget about New Orleans.

In my chest under my sternum, the churn of dark. Its companion, the bright center of my being. Not two sides of one coin, rather each contained in the other. The broken contained in the ever-generating whole. Broken open. No one is remade entirely anew. Jesus himself, rising with marks. The Incarnation. My own self.

……

Seph: “It was rap.”

A Few Things.

The Church Lab is grieved and deeply angered by the long line of wrongful deaths in our country which result from racism. We unequivocally condemn racist behaviors, mindsets and conditioning. We repent of the ways in which we are complicit, committed to what we must do to improve when we fall short, such that we can contribute in every way possible to the cause of equity and opportunity for every human being.

We stand with the seas of peaceful protesters across this country who are exercising all of our rights to be substantively heard and seen. They are engaging in efforts which have historically ushered in better chapters in our country’s history, and not without great sacrifice.

We do not support acts which would harm the livelihoods of already-hurting business owners. That said, we recognize that acts of outrage represent deep wounds, about which we have the opportunity to listen deeply, and which offers the possibility of healing over time.

In fact, we recognize that many layers of our societal structure contribute to many of the tragic inequities we have witnessed and encountered in 2020 around race, healthcare, the economy and the list goes on. TCL is committed to exploring these various threads, how they contribute to inequities, and the parts we can play as people of faith to make a difference in these arenas. This also includes lifting up and supporting servants of our communities, including but not limited to police officers. For instance, how can civil servants be enveloped with the care and support they need as they protect and serve, as they chronically encounter trauma and risk each day, such that a well-intended officer does not find themselves on a devolving journey into reprehensible harm or outright hatred?

Turning to the application of religion in this cultural moment, TCL unequivocally condemns the cheap use of sacred religious symbols, sites and spaces for the purposes of harnessing political power to “dominate” citizens. The faith traditions across our community are diverse and all precious to our understanding of purpose. It is paramount that faith not be used, as it has been in destructive periods in global history, to prop up bids for power which are unrelated, if not flat out antithetical, to the purposes of faith and religious pursuits.

TCL is grateful and humbled to offer our dialogical and workshop spaces to be very welcome environments for people compelled by the cause of anti-racism, who are wishing to gain tools toward bridge-building and peacemaking.

We offer ourselves to the cause of healing and unity, that every soul may be given dignity, a voice and the willing ears of neighbors to hear, that we may fully embrace one another.

We cannot offer a perfect path, but we certainly offer a space and community of perseverance.

We are holding the door open for you, the torch of hope for each other.

Prayers from the TCL Dialogue Community for the Age of COVID-19

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The Church Lab has gathered these prayers from members of our dialogue community to share with you during the unusual period we find ourselves in as a larger community. We at TCL offer them for your comfort. We continue to keep you and your loved ones’ health and well-being in our prayers.

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Dear Lord, 

Thank you for your goodness and love toward us. 

As we continue to experience the effects of the virus throughout the world, may you bring unity among your church and may we be a blessing to our communities. 

May familial relationships be nurtured and may you deepen our relationship with you. 

May we show your love in every interaction and would you encourage those who are discouraged?

Would you provide for those who need provision and would you heal in mighty ways?

You are the God of the heavens and the earth. 

Would you send down your blessings to cover the earth?

Thank you Lord. 

In your name we pray,

Amen

Churches around the world are singing blessings over their cities. These videos have been a great encouragement and blessing to me. 

Here is a beautiful video from Pittsburgh: click here to witness

With love,

Eileen

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Everlasting God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
give us, we pray,
a firm foundation
in your truth
as the Holy Spirit
moves in our hearts.

May we practice peace,
in the midst of chaos;
create beauty,
in the midst of darkness;
express gratitude,
in the midst of change;
and guide us ever forward,
through the life and light
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

—Joanna

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Lamentation for a Pandemic

How lonely sits the city that was full of people.

Hear how we groan; there are few to comfort us.

Oh! Our homes have become our prisons,

locked away from those who would give us succor.

We are weary and faint of heart.

The disease has descended upon the earth.

It reaches into the markets and across the tables.

The malady has stretched out its hands over us,

our breath taken away as we burn with fever.

In the house is perpetual death.

 We remember the times of joyful company!

Our arms clasped one another in friendship!

Our hands found meaningful tasks,

we sat at tables and worshiped in your house.

Side by side your people lived together!

 Survivors bear perpetual sorrow, crying out for mercy.

We are desolate in our suffering.

Those left behind weep rivers of tears,

they cannot lay their eyes on their dead.

Our hearts are broken forever.

O Lord, the earth and its people are in tumult.

Our souls cry out for comfort.

Workers are prevented from their labor;

healers carry burdens too heavy to bear,

No relief appears.

 Pam

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I'd like to share the last paragraph from Anne Lamott's book "Almost Everything:  Notes on Hope" published in 2018.  She concludes: 

"We have all need to come through.  Against all odds, no matter what we've lost, no matter what messes we've made over time, no matter how dark the night, we offer and are offered kindness, soul, light, and food, which create breath and spaciousness, which create hope, sufficient unto the day."

Even though she wrote these words two years ago, they apply equally today.

Donna

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Here are two short prayers from the Baha'i Prayer Book that are both iconic and comforting:

1)

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. 

Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. 

Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. 

Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.—Bahá’u’lláh

2)

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit.

Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. 

I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. 

Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. 

I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. 

O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord. - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Warmest Regards,

Curtis

Where and How to Give: Corona-related Causes

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The Church Lab is a small, experimental organization. As such, during a crisis situation, we seek to be nimble and find localized, creative needs that might be invisible otherwise.

Here are some local (to Central Texas), national and international causes that we recommend if you’re able to help with donations even a little. We know right now it might be overwhelming to try to sort out where your donations can make the most meaningful impact; hopefully this helps with that process a bit.

In parallel with our own mission and values, many of these organizations are doing very highly contextualized and creative work, and their services mean the world to those whom they impact. Check these orgs out! Please be generous if you are lucky enough to be able to be generous in this season.

LOCAL:

a) Relational: If you’d like to give to an individual in our TCL community that might be needing some extra help during this time, please email carrie@thechurchlab.org to coordinate that.

*Also know that TCL’s board has a running prayer list and we are praying for anyone and everyone that lets us know how we can be lifting you up! Email carrie@thechurchlab.org to let us know your needs and how you are.

b) Food access: We highly recommend giving to the Central Texas Food Bank, who is feeding a staggering and increasing number of folks in our community.

c) Marginalized communities: Refugees in Austin that are cared for by Casa Marianella are struggling with lost jobs and other steps they usually take to get on their feet. Casa Marianella is trying to help pay rents for immigrants and refugees in sudden hard times. They have a fundraiser specific to this cause, and you can donate to that here.

d) Marginalized communities: Folks experiencing chronic homelessness in Austin often work with Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Donating to this organization is giving a boost to folks advocating for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. They have also asked for specific items, which can be found on the linked website as well.

STATE / NATIONAL:

a) Border Kindness is an organization focused on helping vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers regardless of the season.

b) La Posada Providencia is a refugee shelter run by nuns of the Sisters of Divine Providence in San Benito, Texas. We have volunteered there before and recommend supporting them whenever you are able.

INTERNATIONAL

a) Some of the most vulnerable during this pandemic are folks in refugee camps around the world. We recommend checking out Beirut and Beyond as a highly localized non-profit seeking to help refugees durin this crisis.

LARGER ORGANIZATIONS:

If you’d like to give to larger organizations, we recommend:

a) Doctors Without Borders

A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL MENU:

a) Austin’s local NPR station created this more comprehensive list of ways to both help and be helped. Check it out here!

Vision for 2020 from Pastor Carrie Graham

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For The Church Lab, the year 2020 means experimenting with being a full-time operation. It means continuing to deepen our dialogue community while also walking with other leaders as they learn how to try their own ministry experiments. It means new efforts in asking granting entities to partner with us to reach new experiments we haven't been able to try before. It means 4 new board members, a new chair and a new fundraising chair! 

Most importantly is what remains the same for The Church Lab this year:

God's guidance comes first in our experiments, which seek to help folks spiritually grow. 

Shrewd stewardship and resourceful strategy are points of pride in our operational culture.

Yet the filter for our decisions - stewardship, programmatic and otherwise- is the heart of our mission, and we seek to faithfully go wherever this mission takes us. Sometimes this means risk or sacrifice. Sometimes it means those of us serving The Church Lab doing our own spiritual work to be prepared for the uncertainties involved in non-traditional ministry.

The most central aspect of this experiment is the hypothesis that we are guided by God who is Love itself, that we are being directed toward wisdom and into the places and spaces which makes our world more fully alive, one relationship at a time.

I am grateful to all who are a part of TCL's community, and I am excited to see where God guides each and all of us this year!

The key words I'm excited to be using for faithful discernment processes this year are:

*Whole-hearted
*Mission-centric
*Action-oriented
*Creative!
*Spirit-led

With gratitude,

Rev. Carrie Graham

Dialogues Pave the Way to a Better World

Over the last half year, it has been a joy to regularly participate in The Church Lab’s ‘Dialogue’ group. As someone who endeavors to live a life of faith and service, balanced with an ongoing search for truth, the dialogue group’s mission of bringing together people from many faith (or no faith), cultural, philosophical, and political backgrounds holds very strong appeal. I love that each meeting’s different topic provides for a broad range of deep conversations.

Introducing myself, I am a Bahá’í, which is a Faith I learned of a number of years ago, while a student at The University of Texas, here in Austin. I grew up mainly Methodist, and in the Midwest. From a young age, faith has been important to me though, from around age 12, I’ve experienced some not-uncommon questions and dilemmas about certain ideas taught in church. In short, I wondered how a loving God could send good people of different faiths, especially those born into a different faith, to an afterlife of eternal punishment.

For me, it is the Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, discovered as a sophomore in college, that bring resolution for this dilemma. The Bahá’í concept of progressive revelation teaches that the founders of the world’s major religions are sent from the same loving God, kindling a process of divine education which spans human history. While initially this concept raised more questions for me, further investigation yielded answers which I found resonated with the God of the “still, small voice”, affirming that, while the "Kingdom of God" can be found within each person, God's Kingdom is also furthered as love and cooperation increase among all people. As more awaken to this truth, more of us become able and willing to work toward a bright future of justice and peace for all of God's children.

The Church Lab’s ‘Dialogue’ group, infused with spiritual growth via discussion and fellowship, is a tremendous example of the path to this inspirited future. Of discussions attended so far, the most powerful for me personally have been “When Faith Kept Me Afloat”, “Violence & Pacifism”, and “Grace & Forgiveness”. In each of these meetings I witnessed growth in attendees as they shared thoughts connected with the topics, and I am  grateful to be pursuing growth here also. On a further personal note, in recent years I have spent time reflecting upon my father’s drafted combatant service in the Vietnam War. Dad passed in 2013 due to war-related health complications, and his final years were, sadly, difficult ones for himself and those close to him. TCL’s ‘Dialogues’ group is one venue that has provided me perspective on these life events. In the “When Faith Kept Me Afloat” conversation, I shared about connecting with, then later meeting, some men from my father’s infantry company, just over a year ago. My faith in a brighter future led me to these connections, which have brought context and healing for the pain of Dad’s final years, and early passing. During the “Violence & Pacifism” meeting, TCL Dialoguers shared a broad range of views about war, spanning from “necessary and inevitable”, to “we must end it”. I found remembrance that my own strong belief in peace is best-lived by viewing non-violence as an active endeavor, fueled by the conviction (as taught in Bahá’í Scripture) that cooperation and harmony are far better means of problem-solving than warfare and violence. Finally, I was moved by the “Grace & Forgiveness” conversation, where the group elucidated that Grace comes from God. While we humans only catch glimpses, we can reflect this divine attribute in the practice of forgiveness, a vital part of the spiritually-attuned life.

As conversations and lessons like these enlighten and transform hearts, I know that TCL’s Dialogue group is an integral part of creating a better world, and a group of which I am grateful to have become a small part.

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Jay Braden, member of the Austin Bahá’í Community, has a Visual Arts Studies degree from The University of Texas at Austin. A free-lance artist and designer, he reads voraciously and loves to joke about being a “self-guided Grad. student in 5 or 6 different subjects”

TCL's Border Trip Pt 3

In October, The Church Lab sent a small contingent to explore and build relationships along the Mexico-Texas border in order to address the immigration crisis occurring there. Sara Burbank, one of TCL’s board members, flew in from out of state to make the journey. She shares her story here.

Click HERE to read

Waiting at the Border: A First Hand Account of Conditions in Tent Cities

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Sara Burback served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan, and received her MA in International Human Rights at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies. She is on the Board of The Church Lab and recently completed a contract with UNRWA USA, where she organized its first Relay Run for Refugees. She is currently studying at the Spanish Language Institute in Puebla, Mexico.

TCL's Border Trip, part 2

Terra McDaniel traveled with TCL to the Texas-Mexico border last month to serve the migrants waiting there and as a witness to their treatment and resilience. She reflects this month upon her experience in a recent blog.

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Click HERE to read:

I Spent a Week at the Texas-Mexico Border

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Terra is a spiritual director, pastor, teacher, and writer who loves making space for people of all ages to tune into their own souls. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and at terramcdaniel.com.

TCL's Border Trip, Part I

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TCL friend and colleague Rev. Matt Gaventa took a trip to the border with Texas Impact’s Courts and Ports just before TCL did so in early October. He wrote the following article for The Christian Century about his experience in the precise areas where we spent time, and his reflection so resonates with ours, we wanted to share this first. More stories to come from our experiences. We hope Matt’s reflections will be a great start to gaining awareness and being empowered to take the next faithful step to help.

Click HERE to read:

VISITING A TENT CITY IN MEXICO…

Rev. Matt Gaventa is the senior pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. His favorite prophet is Charlie Brown.

Rev. Matt Gaventa is the senior pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. His favorite prophet is Charlie Brown.



Yearly Board Meeting and Retreat!

"I know the plans I have for you..." Jeremiah 29:11

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Our staff and Board of Directors met together in August to strategize, recap, imagine and inspire. We got to know each other better, bonded in common mission, and established roles and responsibilities for the coming year! We set and prioritized strategic goals for the Board members and assigned committees, approved the budget for 2020, engaged in a workshop under the care of Megan Carvajal from Mission Capital, voted on policies, and gained clarity on fundraising. We had naps and hikes and cooking together. We met our incoming first ever TCL intern Marianne Garvey. We told our stories and listened intently, learning to love and appreciate our histories and paths. We wound up our weekend by praying together in worship and communion led by Carrie.

We are also excited to announce our 2 local incoming board members and their roles:

Rev. Trey Haddon has accepted the role of Board Chair.
Andrea Ballard Carroll has accepted the role of Fundraising Chair.

We wish to extend a warm welcome to these new team members!



As we wrapped up our work, Carrie invited everyone present to prayerfully reflect on key questions. Here are some responses!

What are your prayers and hopes for our board team?
"more and more possibilities; a slingshot of momentum;
cohesion and drive; a tangible togetherness;
seek and recognize God's provision; ownership & agency"

Where are you with your role in TCL?
"Inspired, encouraged; energized;
joyful and excited; confident and hopeful"

How is God moving through TCL?
"Building bridges across social divides; finding meaning and understanding in our differences; meaningfulness and connection is being created and discovered;
pioneering, innovative + healing spaces for discipleship"

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The BOD participated with the TCL dialoguers in a discussion on the topic of "Violence and Pacifism" prior to the retreat, joining long-time, online, and brand new attendees!


The Church Lab is strong and growing. We look forward to amazing work in the coming year!

"And you shall be called repairers of the breach..."
Isaiah 58:12b

Community and D&D

This month The Church Lab welcomes aspiring pastor Erica Nelson.
We invited Erica to ponder the ways she finds community outside of the church, and what the church could learn from such groups. Welcome, Erica!

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Erica Nelson is a Presbyterian candidate for ministry who graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She works at Texas Impact, an interfaith advocacy organization that helps people of faith connect their faith with public policy.

Growing up, my parents played a game called Dungeons and Dragons. This game, nicknamed D&D, is a role-playing game where the success of decisions is determined by dice rolling. You create a fantasy character alongside several other people, and you all play a storyline put together by the Game Master. Within this storyline, you will work through combat situations, puzzles, and social interactions using skills, spells, and equipment that your character possesses, which are determined by a carefully cultivated set of rules.

Watching my parents play, I was always fascinated by the storytelling, the fantasy, the ingenuity, and the fun that my parents and their friends experienced. So, when I came to Austin Seminary to pursue theological education and found out there was a student led D&D group, I was eager to join. We met for two of the three years I attended seminary and out of this group, I formed some of my best friends, friends I still have even though we have almost all graduated. I also enjoyed D&D itself so much that I went out and found other groups to join.

There is a sort of magic that comes out of the community formed between people who laugh together, solve problems together, write a story together. There is power in exploring new ideas or ways of being by embodying a character who may be completely alike or different from yourself. There is growth in the experience of team building, learning to adapt to new situations both real and imaginary, and exploring different ways of problem solving.

For me, that community was formed out of shared interests and fun. But more importantly, that community was formed in learning that we are not alone. For this reason, that community lasted because we found that those of us who came together, despite our vast differences and walks of life, had more in common than anything else.

As a member of the Christian community, I know that D&D has a lot of stigma for being ‘satanic’ or ‘blasphemous’. Some of the people I play with were surprised when I told them I was going to seminary to become a Christian minister. But I do not view this as something that is opposite of my faith. I view this as an expression of my God given gifts, a way to use the imagination, the critical thinking skills, and the curiosity that God imparted to me.

Ultimately, what I get out of this type of community that I could not get in the Church is a form of self-expression that encourages ways of being that are outside of ordinary. Many of my friends, and I myself, have used our characters as a way of exploring alternative gender expressions, sexualities, manners of speaking, behaviors or quirks that might otherwise be shunned or mocked in more conventional settings. The Church could learn to encourage this kind of exploration, this kind of self-expression. But most importantly, the Church could learn to encourage this kind of fun and storytelling.

Strategies for Successful Dialogue, No Matter the Setting

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After the 2016 election, TCL’s pastor Carrie Graham shared some thoughts on building community in successful dialogue. In a charged cultural setting growing more divided each day, TCL revisits some strategies gleaned within our community that not only keep us healthy and productive, but that may be carried out to the community at large.

  • Expand Proximity! Sometimes we mistake being “open-minded” for being around like-minded people. Take note that embracing diversity and trying to understand people you don’t already understand are at times different things. We have good work to do. To do it, it takes intentionally placing ourselves in less comfortable, less like-minded environments. It may not be comfortable, but it is fruitful over time!

  • Note the Narrative! Strongly held within us are narratives that we subconsciously affirm and perpetuate. When we have new experiences, what stands out to us are the pieces that endorse already-held beliefs. We follow a script that is hard to change, and it is bewildering when we encounter someone that doesn’t follow a script very similar to our own. Necessary in dialogue is humility. Specifically needed is a willingness to change, question our own biases, and to take a step back and wonder what else might be at play when we are tempted to make the world simpler by blithely dismissing others’ convictions.

  • Gauge Readiness! There is such a thing as someone who has been talked into a dialogue, attends, and is not ready. For instance, I often say if someone “needs to win,” they are not ready for the dialogue and would do better to wait to attend until a different season of life. There is also such a thing as a dialoguer being well-meaning and not ready for certain topics within a particular dialogue. A dialogue’s success depends in part on the honesty and vulnerability of its participants. We validate and invite, which allows for participation at the level each participant is prepared for.

  • Watch for Undercutting! When someone asserts something about their own convictions, feelings or reasons for actions, and another dialoguer contradicts that person's lived experiences, the dialogue is dismantled. If one person is permitted to undercut someone’s feelings or convictions, then we lose the vital dialogical commitment of seeking to understand before being understood. Here, we must pause, back up, and work toward collectively to re-committing to the legitimacy of each dialoguer’s experiences.

  • Self-Awareness is a Work in Progress! Sometimes we may encounter a feeling or response to something someone shares that we simply didn’t expect, or that we do not understand. This is an opportunity to grow, to reflect beyond the dialogue, and perhaps to seek pastoral care or the care of your worshipping community. We expect difficult moments when we risk vulnerability around sensitive topics! We ask for grace and compassion for ourselves and others when caught off guard.

We at TCL invite you to employ some of these considerations as you engage in any number of settings with others who are different from you. If you are curious to engage in TCL’s dialogue community or have any questions about successful dialogue strategies, please visit our contact page!

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