paul fife

the pastor at the port in philadelphia

church site:  theport  

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1. we ask this of everyone, but how do you define the postmodern movement?

I am probably not too good with the big labels or their definitions either.  I would say we are definitely in the autumn years of the post-W.W.II generation.  I suppose the modern era is fairly definable, but I would have to cut it into at least two parts when we speak of intellectual cultural shifts: the pre-freudian/darwinian part and the (obvious isn’t it?)post-freudian/darwinian part.

Actually, we are just beginning a little class on theology and I could find no one better than James Boyce (1877) to begin with, largely because he speaks from the heart of the modern era and yet prior to the implications of the freudian/darwinian influences.  I don’t bring this up just to ramble, though I am a rambler by nature.  Boyce speaks from the age when theology was still considered, “the queen of sciences.”  It was a science analogous to biology, zoology, Ornithology, etc.,.  I find great value in Boyce, because he applied equally the heart of a follower with the heart of a student (a scientist), and pursued the notions of God with both.

If postmodernism is a reaction against modernity and a disillusion with the claims and notions of science, scientific method, reason, and a movement which tends towards subjectivism, then it is a movement that should be first met with tears. Tears because the ground of meaning has been cut from underneath our cultures in the West.  Western culture is still deeply teleological in its orientation, that is, by and large, we still operate under the assumption that all of this is going somewhere.  As the scriptures say, hope delayed makes the soul weary (sick). So, we live in a time when our leaders have led us down one more wrong path.  The hope remains but, delay, uncertainty, and lack of fulfillment wearies the people and the soul of cultures.  It makes them sick.

Tears and anguish of heart for a people trapped in relativistic thinking, a fractured society, and the prison of self would have to be my first response.  There have been voices within the Church, which have addressed this for sometime.  Widely read, yet largely unheeded, are the words of such people as Elton Trueblood, who nailed this era in the 1950’s.  Francis Shaeffer who nailed it in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  There was also, Henri Nouwen.

Henri J. M. Nouwen, in his book The Wounded Healer, wrote: "The leader of the future must be the articulator of inner events."  He based this notion, (written in 1972), upon the realization that contemporary people do not believe that there is a God "up there" that can be identified and known, nor do they believe that there is a God "out there" which can make a difference in human lives.  So, his conclusion was that the people of our times would be a people trapped within themselves.  As leaders, he called all of us to brave the journey into the trapped human interior world, so that we might proclaim Jesus to the captives, trapped within self, lost within relativistic thinking, and unaware of the God who is.

In his song, A Hard Rains Gonna Fall, Bob Dylan sang, "I wanna know my song well before I start playing."  In just one short line Dylan captured the idea of knowing the message (song) and proclaiming the message (playing) publicly.  This basically sums up the guts of Nouwen's book.  In order for us to enter into the interior world of others and communicate the gospel, we too must know Christ in our interior worlds.

But, Nouwen did not say that we must simply experience Christ within. He said, we must become, "...articulators of inner events."  In other words, we have a great challenge to put into words the experience that happens when our worlds are impacted by the message of "Jesus Christ is Lord."  A message that falls like a seed into our ears, our minds, our hearts and our mouths.  A message, which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe (ref. Romans 1). It is a message that bears the fruit of life... Eternal life at that.

Now, this age is not exactly as Nouwen predicted.  People are more interested in spirituality than ever before.  But, I still think Nouwen hammered down the dilemma.  We have a culture that is looking for “spirituality” without a trust in the “up there” or the “over there” and they are left with only the “in here” world of the subjective.

I would say, above all, this is an era which we should meet with the same heart the Apostle Paul had when he met the era of the Jewish rejection of Christ and the Gentile inclusion: Romans 9:1-5 “I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh....”

I also think this is a time when we are armed solely with the gospel. One large factor is the cultural context in which we speak this message of faith.  It is something we must learn to articulate from the world of our inner events with the gospel into the inner world of those around us.

I would say in closing, that in the West, we are still largely dealing with the fallout of W.W.II (and some pre-W.W.II cultural shapers such as The Great Depression and the Pandemic of 1918, etc.).  As we have seen, the culture follows the children of the War Generation, and largely I believe this will continue to be true.    

2.  how does southport differ from the other churches in the area?

First of all, we changed our name to “the Port.”  Why?  We learned over time that many people in Philly associated “South Philly” with being a dangerous place.  It’s not true, but the perception was too strong to argue against.

Let me say, we are like most of the churches in our area in the reality that we are slugging it out for existence.  While our sidewalk surveys and studies show us, consistently I might add, that over 50% of the people surveyed are highly interested in spirituality and even church, the percentage of people not going, showing up, or even pretending to be a part, is staggering.

Our greatest difference probably is our gospel centric vision and the structure that is forming around that vision.

Our vision is to know and to make known a simple message: “God loves us, God sent His Son, His Son is Lord.”  We do so in hope that we would be worshipers, followers, voices, servants and leaders in this generation entrusted to us by God.

This vision is based upon the simple notion that, faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the message of Christ (the Word of God).  This is why we call ourselves a Port.  Like a port, we seek to receive the message of God’s love into our lives.  Like a port, we seek to export love towards God.  Like a port we seek to get our goods, the love of God, to the marketplace of our real worlds and the real world relationships that surround each of us.  We see this being worked out in the “being” statements of our vision.  As we “be” worshipers, followers, voices, servants, and leaders we know the message for ourselves and communicate it as well.  Our hope is to be holistic and I kinda get into that later in question 4.

As far as what a church meeting looks like, we have kept things simple.  Simple music composed mostly of guitar (electric and acoustic), acoustic percussion, and a mix of hymns both ancient and modern. We are blessed to have Jesse Eubanks leading the musical helm.  He is a pioneer in the use of drone-influenced music for worship.  The flavor of drone, gospel, hymns, songs, all mixes into the flow of textual readings, prayers, and a message.

We meet in an old community center, so dressing it up each week is a special project all its own.  But, in a way, it has become a part of the experience to help set up the look for the week.  Instead of a prescribed set up, we simply lay out the elements of our decor -- candles, incense, a cross, the bible, an old persian rug, and other assorted goodies.  Then people place them in creative new designs each week.  The vibe is always the same, but the look changes regularly.

We are adding elements of worship slowly over time. The latest has been the use of the common lectionary for texts.  Years ago I had been witnessing to a man who became a good friend.  He invited me to his Russian Orthodox Church and I was smitten and enthralled with the anachronisms of their worship.  I felt much like Franky Shaeffer V did when he said, “I am tired of make it up as you go Christianity.”  I wrestled with this for sometime, but also came to realization that I am an American.  America is the home of Jazz, Rock and Roll, and improv is culturally important to us.  So, our worship service reflects an odd mix of the ancient, the modern era, and American Improv. 

Finally, we probably differ in the mix of personalities.  Though our church is open to all, we are predominately anglo.  That means we do not come from a strongly monolithic culture as some other groupings do. It means that diversity is a necessity as a value.  So, you see us with my southern whiteboyness, my wife’s midwesterness, our worship leaders music-person-isms, a young punker here, an old punker there, a student, and the diversity rolls on.

Actually, God is showing us that there is no sign outside the church that says, “If you are this high, (or old, color, or type,) you cannot ride this ride.”  We held an outdoor concert with The Violet Burning last week and were amazed by the senior citizens who showed up from the neighborhood and enjoyed the show.  One was moved to tears.  That experience was the culmination of a great deal of prayer and leadership from the Father.  It is as if God has been saying to us, “Get off your generational high horse, and work with the seeds falling into good soil.”  That soil, although we shouldn’t be surprised, is among the old and the young.  The effect of the concert was simply proof to us, that we could still be ourselves and reach out to the old and the young, the diapered and toothless crowd on either end of the spectrum.  The good news is for all.

3.  what major differences do you see between a church in the suburbs and a church in an urban setting?

Health, Wealth, and Prosperity!  Just kidding.  But that is one of the mindsets that often entangle the urban church.  People read the word “urban” and associate it with a host of the nation’s ills.  Certainly, there is more of this and more of that in the urban context, because there are more people. Maybe there isn’t more, possibly it is only more concentrated, I am only going on empiricism here, and we know the limits of that. 

Philadelphia is a residential city.  What that means is, there is no gutted out, center city hollow. Instead, there are people living in most every part of the city.  This is our home.  Philadelphia is called, “the city of neighborhoods.”  The differences between my street and the next one over are huge.  For example, the two old ladies that live across from me leave their door open all through the night.  One block over there are drive by shootings.  I can sit on my steps at 3 am in relative safety, while I couldn’t walk a block to my West and be safe.  However, another block over to the West and I would be safe again.  This is the patchwork nature of the city.  Just take the ‘burbs and remove all the space in-between the houses and the neighborhoods and you’ll get it.

As huge as the invisible walls that separate one block from the next are the invisible walls of tradition in this city.  The Catholic church (no dig on the RCC) has the city cut up into parishes. So, when a person is born in a parish, they consider themselves a part of a church parish.  Ethnicity plays into this as well.  Here’s an example.  I know for a fact that 10 years from now you could meet a dyed in the wool member of the Port, a firm believer in God and saved by faith in Christ.  If you were to ask that person, “What are you?”  They would say, “I am an Irish Catholic,” or “I am a Polish,” or “I am Italian,” or “I am an African American Baptist.”  The city of brotherly love is very tribal in some ways.

In the ‘burbs, some of those distinctions hold less and less power.  In the urban context, they exist and have a power and reality all their own.

That is another reason we call ourselves the Port.  Just as the immigrants came and settled the hoods, we hope to grow to the place where we can support, sustain, and even plant the many different types of churches needed for the diverse world of Philly.  I haven’t even mentioned the cultural subgroups, such as the goths, the punkers, the anarchists, the students, etc.  Some of these groups need a ministry, and yet they will never have the size or number to support a full-fledged church.  Our hope is to be a catalyst for the birth of new ministries and an umbrella for those who would never grow more than the size of their block or esoteric subgroup would allow.  That is why we list the word, “leadership” in our vision statement. Not many churches have a ministry of leadership.  An urban church in Philly almost demands it.

I think it is Christians who have the hardest time thinking in new ways about ministry in the urban context.  Many have literally moved here to be a part of social change and to work among the needy.  That is good, there is much to do here. There was probably much to do where they came from too, but I am not their master or judge, just stating the obvious.  However, when we encounter Christians, they often have the hardest time thinking of the Church as a holistic local church.  They want to know if we are running a shelter, or feeding the poor, or any number of “urban” ministries.  The notion of a healthy well balanced local congregation that is about the gospel and discipleship and evangelism and serving others and leadership seems foreign and difficult for people to consider as the role of an “urban” congregation. 

Aren’t we supposed to be poor? In need? And Struggling?  Oops, I got back to that health, wealth and prosperity thing again.  Only, this time it is not a joke.  Thinking holistically, to me, is important for the church in any context.

4.  given that christianity is a faith or relationships, how does the port build relationships with those around?

As a church, we are still a seedling.  But, the shape is coming. For a few examples of how this looks let me begin with our meeting place.  We meet in an old community center.  Why?  Mostly, because that is one of the places where I do my personal ministry of servanthood in my community.  It is not a christian community center, but rather, just a community center with GED classes, senior events, and lots of stuff for the kids.  I move tables, mop floors, clean, paint, and volunteer as needed.  The building is no gem, and not the nicest on the block.  But, it is so important for us to have this element built into our DNA.  We are the church going out into the community and not just the church getting the community to come to us.

In a city like Philly, there are 1000’s of groups, orgs, etc., who are just dying for help.  They are doing some great and needed works.  Our goal is not to begin a redundant ministry, but to sow ourselves into things we feel passionate about and while we are there, worship God, follow Christ, give voice to the gospel, give hands and feet to servanthood and earn the right to be leaders.

We have several people who are beginning their own interesting projects.  We have a Linux computer person who has a computer lab worth of computers.  We are presently working to set up an excellent computer lab in a center that works with kids.  We also have a hair stylist, and we are looking at connecting with a woman’s shelter so that we can stop by and give facials, hair styling, and some of the stuff people forget that a woman might want and need.  We have a musician, and we are discussing a seminar on “spiritual music” and some authentic venues for this seminar.  You know, places where seminars are done on a regular basis by wiccans, yoga instructors, health food instructors, and the like.

This is why we have the words, “worshipers, followers, voices, servants, and leaders...” in our vision statement.  As we do these things, in real time, in a real world, we open the door for countless ways for small groups and individuals to impact their circle of relationships.  Much of our vision is built around W. Oscar Thompson’s book, “Concentric Circles of Concern.”  I recommend it to all.

5.  how does the port use tech?

Well, not very well.  We are pretty low tech in worship and that way on purpose.  I would say that this age has afforded us a great opportunity.  When everything is cool what is cool?  Basically, I mean that we no longer have to think we can compete with the entertainment industry.  We cannot afford it, and besides we have something better to offer in the long haul.  Even if we had the bucks, I don’t think it comes off very real, or human to do up the church all techno.  Now, that’s a question of context.  If a church was in a techno culture or club scene and wanted to be authentic to that community, then have at it, booth up the DJ, set up the sound, turn on the lights.

Of course our sound system is SOA.  We even bought huge speakers so that our music would sound great.  People kept saying, “you’ll hate lugging these things around!”  They were right, we hate it.  But, the music is so much better than two little screaming speakers on poles.  One too many, too loud worship services, and we thought high fidelity was better than volume.  Now we can be loud and clean with the sounds and not ear popping.

As far as the net goes, we’re all about that.  Every message, and text is online each week. Like I said, we are a seedling, but the net gives us the ability to allow searchers to check us out from way afar.  Some do, and we see the little lurkers watching, reading, surfing in and out on a regular basis.  It is a big deal to walk through the doors of a church for the 1st time.  Anyone who does that should be applauded.  Boundaries and their crossings are always rites of passage material and for most humans a tough step or two.  The internet gives us a chance to let people interact slowly over time.

My new theology class will be online and an interactive discussion list as well. Message boards and online chat rooms are being developed as well.  We are always in alpha and beta mode with the net.  It has the potential to be a great way of getting the word out.  However, e-mail inboxes are for friends and not spammers.  So, friend to friend communication is the key.  Many church planters and pastors asking if I knew how to make use of a web site to reach the lost or draw a crowd have approached me.  I always tell them, “There is no magic bullet... If you want to do the hard work there is a pay off.”  They don’t usually call me back.  Under question

7 I will discuss one of the ways we are using the net to reach out to new people. I am a continual student of this vehicle.  It has many uses as a compliment to ministry and like anything; it is no substitute for face-to-face, human-to-human interaction.

6.  what difficulties do you think an urban church will face in the future?

I must say, the greatest difficulty will be if we are unprepared.  I am no futurist.  But, the evidence seems to support the notion that within

10 years the young adults and the younger viable seniors will be moving into our urban centers in great numbers.  If what I said about the boomers in question 1 is true, that our culture always follows them.  Then a great deal of chic church work will be urban.

If all our urban centers have to offer is the big and rich church on the corner, that is empty... or the poor little city church, that is empty... or whatever, and doesn’t have some healthy reproducing and reproducible churches in the urban context then we will have missed a great opportunity.

Like I said, I am no futurist, and we should all note that one good bomb, war, famine, or world event could change the whole equation for the urban context and the whole notion of what people perceive to be the postmodern era as well.

Still, I like to say that we are on the cutting edge of future missions and the hind end of forgotten missions of the past.  The city holds one thing of great importance to God: people.

7.  what is "philadelphia all stars?"

Imagine handing out 24 disposable cameras to 24 people in the city. Taking 12 of their pictures with captions written by them and making a web site/page with an interview of that person.  That pretty much is what the Philadelphia all-stars is about.

It is showing love, individually to 24 people.

It is an artistic/creative look into their lives.

It is a way of drawing them and their friends to the web presence of the Port.

It also makes our pages more searchable.  Two of our most common searched words actually come from one person’s page of pics.  It is an attempt to communicate with others through friend-to-friend communication.

The implications are that 24 people will draw at least 10 people to their page and possibly as many as 100.  Their pages will draw more local search engine searchers to our pages.  We currently have one page up and it has drawn about 200 people.  If that holds true, we could see 4800 locals find out that we are here.  It is just one of the ways we are using the net to reach out.  However, the most important work is done with the individual as we make their page and spent time showing them love.

I will repeat, in my opinion there is no substitute for face-to-face, human-to-human interaction.