conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

conversion of life

These are the vows one takes when one becomes a resident of Richmond Hill. I am wondring how this would translate into church life. Certainly it should not be hard, and yet I wonder if this easier to do in more "monastic" situations? Can a congregation do this without holding tight the rollbook? Willow Creek does this. Other congregational traditions play in this depending upon the congregation. I know of some Baptist churches that ask members to sign contracts. It is a more modern version taking vows.

More "creedal" traditions take stabs at this in their baptismal liturgies. Think about the baptismal vows of the ECUSA. That has a similar feel. But these vows from Richmond Hill are interesting to me. I'll admit to some sentimentality. Nevertheless, somehow they strike me as different in intention from the other liturgical vows or "confessions of faith" or contracts. Interesting. It probably has everything to do with the fact that a monastic community is residential. It is not just communal, but it is shared life...meals, prayer, work. It is more intense/intentional than church. Does this intentionality make it easier or more difficult to live out these vows? Should it make any difference at all?

Would my Protestant readers willingly take these vows below? I think of them more as descriptive of Christian life than prescriptive. I dunno. My utopian fantasies take over sometimes. Do we even need vows? Hmm...sigh.

Conversion of life: a commitment to live one's life as if it were a conversation with God, attempting to take responsibility for one's own inner transformation through a regular personal discipline of life.

Stability: Committing oneself to the community of Richmond Hill and to the community of metropolitan Richmond as if it were a place of permanent residence, where one must live one's life fully and attempt to be a full part of the community's transformation.

Obedience: Living a life of service where the question is which is asked is, "What does God want of my life?" rather than simply, "What do I want of my life?" The community's decisions are made by prayerful discernment and consensus.

Hospitality: Community members commit themselves to the ministry of hospitality, healing, and racial reconciliation which are the vocation of the Richmond Hill community.

Prayer: A commitment to the community's daily offices of prayer at 7:00am, 12:00 noon, and 6:00pm of the community, which include prayers for all the people and institutions of metropolitan Richmond, and to a life of personal prayer.

Posted by tripp at March 25, 2004 07:44 PM | TrackBack