TransFORM
I’m excited about the formation of a new network for missional communities TransFORM. The purpose of TransFORM is to bring together men and women who are on the verge of starting new communities (i.e., community catalysts) or are already cultivating new communities and to give them the encouragement and resources they need to get started and be sustainable. This would happen by providing training in missional community development, practical start-up issues, and theological engagement, by connecting community catalysts with potential support structures, by helping community catalysts negotiate complicated and challenging support structure relationships and hurdles, and by linking community catalysts with mentors/spiritual directors.
This video highlights some of why the network formed.
TransFORM: Missional Community Formation from TransFORM on Vimeo.
If you are interested in finding out more, join the TransFORM network or plan to attend the upcoming gathering. They are gathering missional practitioners on the East Coast to learn from each other and to mobilize others for forming new missional communities. Whether you’re a pastor, prospective “church planter,” or simply interested in finding out more about transformational missional communities of practice, this gathering is designed to inspire and equip you to go and do likewise! Speakers include Brian McLaren, Kathy Escobar, Pete Rollins, and Anthony Smith.
Time: April 30, 2010 at 8am to May 2, 2010 at 1pm
Location: Wesley Theological Seminary
City/Town: Washington, D.C.
julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
Thanks for posting this, Julie! Nice job in the video, BTW
That sounds interesting and useful, though the terminology seems a bit overblown. Pity it’s so far away!
sounds very cool- how does this differ from Emergent Village – is it more practitioner based?
While in many ways Emergent Village is about resourcing and connect people – sparking conversations, doing theology, helping people connect – I see TrandFORM as focusing mostly on resourcing communities of faith. EV has tried to stay away from faith community thing out of fear of being labeled a denomination, but it is a great host for the conversation. TransFORM I think will work alongside EV and be there to help communities of faith.
Thanks for this, Julie. I’m trying to get my congregation to move this direction, but I am not yet convinced it’s authentic to them to try. 100 years of mainline history is a huge weight and may yet have something beautiful to offer. We’ll see!
Peace.