the Journey is a whole new way of thinking about and being the church---OK, there I said it, the "C" word . . . actually, we intentionally avoid using the "C" word, because there's too much baggage that goes with it . . . we prefer to think of ourselves simply as followers of Jesus . . . but there's the rub . . . Jesus always calls his followers into community with each other . . . and that community is usually called (you guessed it), the church---So, here we are trying to think about following Jesus in a whole new way and we discover that it's really a very ancient way of thinking and being---it's the way of Jesus and his earliest followers

the Journey is a network of communities learning and practicing the way of Jesus

whether you are . . .

      a pilgrim on a spiritual quest

            a wanderer in a religious wasteland

                  a refugee from judgmental religious systems

you are safe with us

• to explore
  
• to learn (and unlearn)
  
• to doubt and question
  
• to stumble
  
• to be yourself
  
  

our name:

"The way of Jesus is a journey, not a destination." (Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis)

the name "Journey" or "Way" has ancient roots in both Judaism and Christianity . . . (in its simplest, earliest form it means a way of being and doing, not a way of thinking or believing) . . . we're trying to reclaim that ancient meaning . . . [too many people think they've already arrived!] . . . we understand that faith is a process of becoming---that's why we talk about learning and practicing . . . it's an adventure . . . and we welcome all fellow-travelers on the path

our mission:

  inviting people on the Journey . . .

     with and toward God . . .

          together in community . . .

               following the "way of Jesus"

what is the way of Jesus? (5 "greats" of Jesus' teaching)

• the great example
  "(in Jesus) all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us." (John 1:14)
• the great invitation
  "follow me." (Mark 8:34)
• the great commandment (#1)
  "Love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength." (Matthew 22:37)
• the great commandment (#2)
  "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39)
• the great commission
  "Go make disciples." (Matthew 28:19)

our vision: to develop a network of related communities that are learning and practicing the way of Jesus

• we'll develop a network through the seeding and planting of new ministries, communities, and home churches, as well as partnering with existing ministries and churches
• we'll be independent, but related communities who gather together periodically for worship, ministry, service, and fellowship
• we'll unite around the common purpose of learning and practicing the way of Jesus

our core values (DNA): these five pairs of words and five metaphors help us capture what is close to the heart of the Journey

• acceptance / diversity (earth)
  Following the example of Jesus, we want to model unconditional acceptance . . . to be a safe place for people, whatever their background . . . that means not doing what most people tend to do (stay in a comfort zone with look-alikes), so we'll intentionally pursue diversity . . . every person brings a unique contribution to the mosaic of our community which enriches us all . . . the earth reminds us---all of us---that we are connected to one another
  
  
  
  
  
• community / unity (water)
  Community is at the heart of who we are . . . it's how we learn and practice the way of Jesus---together . . . serving and being served, challenging and being challenged, giving and receiving forgiveness, teaching and being taught . . . but we don't think we're right and everyone else is wrong, so we seek unity with the whole body of Christ (whether they think and act like us or not) . . . the body of Christ is like water---flowing, dynamic, and alive . . . trickles becoming streams becoming rivers becoming seas
  
  
  
  
  
• spirituality / mystery (wind)
  Faith cannot be reduced to easy, packaged formulas . . . it's too profound and complex . . . we value and practice a wide variety of spiritual disciplines---feasting, fasting, creating, journaling, singing, dancing, silence . . . we seek to celebrate and enjoy and experience the goodness of God, even though it is far beyond our understanding . . . we embrace awe and wonder and mystery, because they represent the best of God we can know . . . as the wind blows wherever it wills, so God's spirit is wild . . . and free . . . and unrestrained
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• simple / organic (wood)
  Doing church should never get in the way of being the church . . . we try to keep our structures simple . . . no complicated organizational charts, no capital fund-raiser campaigns, no 10-year strategic plans . . . just being and doing what Jesus' followers are supposed to be and do . . . we call it simple church . . . but simple doesn't mean simplistic . . . a church is also organic, a complex organism . . . like a deep wood, constantly changing and growing and reproducing
  
  
  
  
  
• compassion / action (fire)
  We are compelled by God's love to be people of compassion . . . no mere sentimentality, but real compassion, demonstrated through action . . . so we care for the poor and the helpless . . . we show mercy . . . we oppose injustice . . . our calling is to be a blessing into people's lives, to actually love our neighbors . . . it is the fire that burns within us---to live in the way of Jesus
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

our credo (how we live):

Lots of churches have a creed . . . not the first followers of Jesus---they had a credo . . . a creed is just stuff you believe to be true . . . a credo guides the way you live (big difference!) . . . we don't want the stuff we believe to stand in the way of any fellow-traveler . . . so, we reject the notion of a creed . . . and we seek to live by this simple but profound credo:

"Jesus is Lord"
Philippians 2:11