There is nothing like a good story.  Stories shape how we see ourselves and how we understand our world.  Our sense of identify and belonging are shaped by the stories we tell and by those that are told about us.  Stories have great power – they can encourage or hurt, bless or curse, build up or tear down.  They not only give form to our present realities, but can also expand (or constrain) our imagination of what is possible. 

From a pandemic, to protests, to politics, and polarization it feels as if we have lost the thread of a common story that binds us to one another for the common good.  This need for a unifying narrative is good soil for the preacher and any Christian leader or teacher to step into with words of hope and healing.

Because God’s love is for the whole world.  God’s promises are still valid today.  And our shared Christian faith has something to say about wholeness, belonging, death, and resurrection. 

One major challenge for the Church is how to tell a unifying story when congregations are often just as siloed as our broader community, when the practice of ecumenism is often bounded within streams of colleagues who share common denominational, ideological, and theological frameworks.  As essential as these relationships are, the body – and its witness – remain incomplete.    

Madison Learning Community (MLC), an initiative of Dubuque Theological Seminary, is being launched in January 2023 from the belief that every stream of Christianity has distinctive characteristics that are a blessing to the body as a whole, and that the Church is a better witness to God’s promise of unity when we learn and work together.  Their plan is to offer seminary-level courses to Madison-area pastors, church leaders, and others eager to deepen ministry skills in a diverse Christian community committed to the local Church, deliberately building community among students that strengthens the unity and witness of Christ's church.

“Proclaiming the Word of God” is a preaching class and the first offering from the Madison Learning Community.  It will be co-taught by two local Madison pastors:  Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen, Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church and President of the African American Council of Churches and Rev. Dr. Jessica Patchett, Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church and Assistant Editor of Journal for Preachers.  Participants may take the course as enrichment/continuing education or for seminary credit. 

Lief Erickson, MLC Catalyst for Theological Education, reports that the first ten students to commit to the course represent nine different denominations/traditions. Interest in the course has come from a strong cross section of the cultural backgrounds and racial diversity that represents the Church in Dane County, and the growing student cohort will represent people across different stages of life and vocation.  This broad and rich diversity of teachers and participants is exactly the hoped-for vision for this learning community. 

What might happen when these cultural and theological streams are crossed in such a learning community?

I am reminded of the original 1984 film Ghostbusters which introduced fans to four men (played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson) who band together to create a ghost-catching business in New York City.  The movie features several memorable moments, such as the climactic battle against the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Earlier in the film, Egon (Ramis) warned the others not to cross the streams of their proton packs, or they would trigger an explosive, world-shattering incident. However, when the fight against the Stay Puft Man grows too dire, the Ghostbusters agree to risk it all and cross the streams. Needless to say, the devastating result Egon worried about never comes to pass, and they end up saving the day.

Our communities are not threatened by a giant marshmallow, but the collective trauma from the last few years of pandemic, protests, politics, and polarization has leaders both inside and outside the church desperately searching for a unifying story that can restore a sense of common good.  Is it time to trust Jesus’ prayer for unity and risk crossing the steams? 

MLC is hosting an informational meeting (with dessert!) on Thursday, December 1 from 7-8pm at the Collaboration Project’s Ministry Coworking Space (6506 Schroeder Rd, Madison). This is an opportunity to learn more about the Madison Learning Community, the preaching course, and upcoming offerings. Those interested can RSVP here to let Lief know you will be attending the meeting.