Communities Sharing the Sojourn

In Burlington, Vermont, the organizer of our most recent "Let Justice Roll" event said it clearly: "The committee we've gathered to make these arrangements has become my primary community. We do not have to wonder about our basic assumptions; we are together on the journey." A pastor in Pasadena, California, contacts us often to report on his community of church activists and their efforts for justice. Wherever we go these days, the same longing is expressed in a variety of ways: "Community is what we want; it's no longer possible to go it alone; we want to share the sojourn."

This need to share the journey at every level is consistent with our faith, which holds up the model of Jesus' gathering of his disciples to share his mission. Today the complexity of life, the multiplicity of issues, and the difficulties we face demand that we join together on the pilgrimage.

Recently in Canton, Ohio, more than 60 justice and peace organizers gathered in a coalition of faith to invite our "Let Justice Roll" tour into the area. They came from different denominations, had wide representation of people of color, and spoke for human rights issues in Canton and beyond. One spokesperson made the telling observation, "We can gather locally around justice issues; Sojourners has to link us nationally."

For these reasons--the yearning to share the sojourn and the variety of motivations for doing so--we offer here some thoughts about community. In addition, we want to tell you about the resources Sojourners is planning, to assist and link communities already formed and those just beginning.

COMMUNITIES come in as many shapes and sizes as the groups that gather to form them. There is, for example, intentional community such as ours in Washington, D.C. There are prayer communities--people who gather regularly for shared time in God's presence--and communities united in service or ministry. There are Bible study communities and others that meet to discuss current issues or plan actions of advocacy and resistance in the light of God's Word. Some are connected to national organizations, while others are independent.

So many of these groups function within and alongside local parishes and congregations, combining attention to the inner life, mutual support, and outreach in ministry. Very often they provide much-needed energy and creativity, offering models of prayer and action, serving as leaven in wider church bodies.

There are many persons around the United States and in other countries who have not yet found community. We meet many of them in our travels, and they inevitably ask us to put them in touch with others to share the sojourn. For these as well as the ones already enjoying the fruits of Christian community, we plan to offer a number of resources. In doing this, it is not at all our intention to replicate Sojourners in Washington, D.C., but to assist other communities of faith in coming together and to encourage their unique development.

SOJOURNERS MAGAZINE CONTAINS much that communities may find valuable. The wide variety of articles in each issue has always lent itself to discussion sessions among communities of faith. Our new lectionary series should prove useful for groups who base their sharing of the sojourn on God's Word. In the future, Sojourners will aim particularly at helping communities connect their faith and their actions.

We want to provide a way for communities to make themselves known to each other. If you send us your name, we will put you in touch with others in your area who are looking to connect. Also, the whereabouts of your group or community can be communicated through our "Connections" section in future issues of the magazine. In this way, together we'll set up a network of friends on the journey.

In addition, our staff is planning to create a packet of materials from Sojourners and other sources to serve in forming and sustaining community. Many people have questions about the task of gathering like-minded folks to walk the pilgrimage. We expect that our packet will respond to the questions about this gospel activity and facilitate its implementation.

We are also exploring the possibility of an electronic bulletin board or a newsletter in the future, to keep communities current about each other's activities and to facilitate communication between them. For the moment, however, the important thing is to begin our sharing of the sojourn. Let's see who we are and where we are located.

We find the prospect of this family of communities enormously exciting. Recalling the battles we have joined over the years; facing the serious yet thrilling challenges that lie ahead; and bringing to mind the wonderful, faith-filled people with whom we sojourn - the words of the apostle Paul fill our thoughts: "I give thanks to God every time I think of you--which is constantly, in every prayer I utter.... I am sure of this much: that the one who has begun the good work in you will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians l:3,4,6).

Joe Nangle, OFM, was outreach director of Sojourners when this article appeared.