Communitas

Almost two years ago, I was introduced to 27 other leaders from around the world who were to be in my online cohort at Fuller Seminary. Together we have learned, laughed, cried, argued, critiqued and shared life with one another. We have made the journey through nine classes together. Our remaining nine classes are electives that we now take on our own, which means that today, we said goodbye to one another and closed this formal chapter of our cohort experience. Before saying goodbye, our professor and two academic advisors came around and blessed each one of us by washing our feet and praying for us. It was profoundly humbling and powerful.

As we leave southern California, our cohort will disperse to Paris, Turkey, Switzerland, Cambodia, Vancouver, Jerusalem, Amsterdam, and various parts of the United States. We are from many denominations, we speak many different languages, but our hearts share the same love for God and for serving his Kingdom.

My heart is too full and words are not adequate to express the love I have for these friends. In his book, Exiles, Michael Frost talks about the difference between community and communitas. We often try to "build community" by creating a "safe place" that is encouraging to one another. The result is often an inward focus that rarely leads to mission. Communitas, on the other hand, is experienced through liminality where individuals come together outside of normal society and focus on a shared mission. The result is that the mission is accomplished and communitas happens - "an intimacy, a connection, that is more than the warm, inner glow experienced by many groups within our society today. It is hardened by battle, softened by true and genuine partnership, and forged by a shared vision for a better world" (Frost 120).

Little did we know two years ago that this Pangaean 8 cohort would find ourselves thrown together from all over the world only to discover a richer, deeper, more powerful sense of togetherness than many of us have experienced in a long time. We will continue to network, to support each other, to share resources, and to practice hospitality with one another. I carry the face and the story of each one in my heart. And I am deeply grateful.