He’s a leader in the New Monasticism movement – and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove has plenty to say about the blessings of building the church by building up a community.
Ten years ago Jonathan and a handful of others started Rutba House, as an intentional monastic community set in a poor area in Durham, North Carolina. The goal is to sculpt a way of life that listens to the Spirit and encourages members to get involved in what God is doing.
Jonathan is an author and speaker whose wisdom on finding God in the abandoned places of the empire encourages and challenges.
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Synopsis
Rutba House is a 14 member intentional Christian community living in 2 houses in the Walltown area of Durham, NC. It’s a new kind of monastery dedicated to mission. Here are my notes from the interview:
Re-Thinking Stability
It may be God’s most significant attribute: always being there. In a culture that moves house every 5-7 years, Jonathan and Rutba House see staying put as an important theological practice. How quick are we to move on instead of staying with it?
Finding a Rhythm of Life
Jonathan says the monastic life is basically about praying and eating – doing both intentionally and purposefully. Their rhythm calls them together 2-3 times a day, what about ours?
Giving Your Whole Life Away
Few ways of being Christian allow a whole-hearted devotion like being a part of a monastic community. Sure, it’s not for everyone, concedes Jonathan, but the idea is: how might we give our whole lives to Christ?
About Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove is an author, New Monastic, and sought-after speaker. A native of North Carolina, he is a graduate of Eastern University and Duke Divinity School. His recent books include God’s Economy, The Wisdom of Stability, and Common Prayer. Jonathan lives with his family and other friends at the Rutba House community in Durham, NC.
Books Jonathan Recommends
Gandhi and the Unspeakable – James Douglas
How God Became King – N.T. Wright
Living Into Community – Christine Pohl
Help George Win a Van
One of Rutba’s residence is in need of a handicap van. Click here to enter a contest to help! Watch the video – it’s a great story.
Sponsors I Mentioned
Are you headed to the Wild Goose festival? Thousands of campers are headed to the beautiful hills of North Carolina June 21-24. Wild Goose is a festival at the intersection of justice, spirituality, and art. Some of this year’s guests are Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, and Shane Claiborne. ChurchNext is a proud sponsor – find out more at wildgoosefestival.org
Also, check out The Hyphenateds, which asks: Can emergence Christianity help established denominations understand that radical transformation means more than a new worship service? Hear Phyllis Tickle, Doug Pagit, Elaine Heath, Phil Snider, and many more important voices, chime in about how mainline congregations are taken the lessons of emergent Christianity to heart. Check out this book, and more at chalicepress.com
