{"id":54253,"date":"2018-11-09T21:09:22","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T21:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/ccv\/?p=54253"},"modified":"2023-12-12T16:55:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T16:55:48","slug":"accompaniment-being-the-church-beyond-the-walls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/ccv\/2018\/11\/09\/accompaniment-being-the-church-beyond-the-walls\/","title":{"rendered":"Accompaniment \u2014 Being The Church Beyond The Walls"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jeremy Myers, PhD<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Public Church Framework<\/a> begins in accompaniment. This sounds and looks great on paper, but we have found many leaders and congregations struggle with this artform. They struggle with putting it into practice. They even struggle with the word. So, it is important to explain what accompaniment is, what it is not, why it is important, and how it might be practiced.<\/p>\n

What is it?<\/h2>\n

\"icon_threeAccompaniment is the word we use to describe the first artform, or movement, of the Public Church Framework. It is used to describe a faith community\u2019s movement out into its neighborhood or context. It assumes a desire to know the neighbor, and their story, in their own words. It assumes our neighbor is not just \u201ceveryone in God\u2019s creation\u201d, but is also those who live right next-door \u2014 people, institutions, systems, watersheds, grove of trees, herds of cattle, and other creatures around us. <\/span><\/p>\n

Accompaniment takes seriously the location in which our faith communities are planted and challenges us to do the intentional work of getting to know these places and those who call these places home. We do this become we believe God is already at work bringing about redemption in these places. Accompaniment is a way for us to uncover the work God is already doing in our neighborhoods. <\/span>Accompaniment happens as our faith communities engage their neighborhoods and neighbors in order to (1) hear how they are already experiencing wholeness, healing, redemption, reconciliation and (2) how the faith community might come alongside their neighbors as they seek these things. If our faith communities want to proclaim good news into people’s\u2019 lives, then we first have to do the hard work of listening to our neighbors\u2019 stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is it NOT?<\/h2>\n

Accompaniment is often misunderstood in some particular ways. Therefore, it is helpful to be explicit about what accompaniment <\/span>is not<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Accompaniment is NOT searching for a problem to solve. It is not a way in which we look for something to fix. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Accompaniment is NOT market research. We are not conducting a survey in order to discover what type of church our neighbors wish to join. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Accompaniment is NOT agenda-driven. It is not a process of listening to others in order to find ways they might fit into the work you are planning. Accompaniment prioritizes the neighbor and their story.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Why is it important?<\/h2>\n

    The artform of accompaniment is important for several reasons. Some theological<\/em> and some practical<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    It is important theologically because we confess faith in a God who accompanies creation. The God of scripture creates a world of accompaniment where humans, other creatures, vegetation, climate, etc. accompany and provide for one another \u2014 for better or worse. God\u2019s creative word that brings about this creation becomes incarnate in Jesus Christ who is God\u2019s word accompanying (dwelling with) us. God\u2019s spirit continues to free us and empower us to be in accompaniment with one another. Therefore, accompaniment becomes the way in which we live out God\u2019s mission in our world and specifically in our neighborhoods. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Accompaniment is also important for practical reasons. The reality is that fewer people are seeking to be involved in faith communities. If we wish to play a meaningful role in people’s\u2019 lives, then we will need to seek them out and engage them in the places where they live their lives rather than expecting them to show up in our places. Lastly, if faith communities want their members to learn to live into God\u2019s mission in their daily lives, then faith communities will need to practice this together. Our faith, and Christ\u2019s love, compels us to accompany our neighbors. <\/span><\/p>\n

    How is it practiced?<\/h2>\n

    There are endless ways to practice accompaniment and the Public Church Framework resists prescribing best practices. It is the work of God\u2019s people to learn how to put accompaniment into practice in ways that match their context, their neighbors\u2019 needs, and their own assets. That said, here are a few ways to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n