Should I move away from Deep Church?
11 Jan 2010
Back on the 4th January in my review of last year I suggested I might move my blogging away from here at Deep Church and back into www.jasonclark.ws.
Firstly with facebook, twitter and the larger online life I have, having everything under the one site www.jasonclark.ws might be easier for me and make more sense.
Also with the publication of Deep Church, by Jim Belcher (which I think is a great book BTW, it’s mapping of a third way between traditional and emerging church, is where I find myself for sure), I’ve been asking myself what my focus is here?
And that leads me to think that I need to move out more broadly into areas other than theological musings on ecclesiology.
I’ve wanted for some time to write out of the 13 years experience of church planting, about the concrete experience of church planting, warts and all. I want to write more about the dynamic of mental health and healing in the Christian life. I also want to write more out my research about the possibilities for the renewal of Evangelicalism. I also want to write about the nature of pastoral ministry, of life as a full time pastor, what that has been like and what I have been learning.
So I’m still left wondering if that would work better under www.jasonclark.ws or here at Deep Church?
Tagged: Personal
15 comments
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Comment by davidwj
4.31 pm on 11 Jan 2010
I dont personally think it makes much difference but the question might be how does each web site construct conversations you have with yourself and others. More importantly what does that mean in terms of action making and providing something of a map in these bewildering times.
Mental Health is my passion, I think the whole healing and mental health agenda has been so left by the ‘church’ as a whole both inherited church and some of it new forms, your one o the few people I know who shares a little bit of there own struggle and welcomes others to share some of that pain and sheer joy.
We live in a very damaged version of paradise and the community of christ followers should be pointing to something more — healing the church is another question and a recent passion of mine.
david
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Comment by Jason Clark
5.01 pm on 11 Jan 2010
It’s encouraging to see this conference coming up in London, with expectations of 1,000 christians in attendance from around the UK, on mental health.
http://www.mindandsoul.info/conference.aspx
Thanks David, Jason
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Comment by James Henley
7.19 pm on 11 Jan 2010
Like David, I don’t think that the URL makes that much difference. What’s more important is that you have the forum to share what you think will be most valuable for you and for us readers.
Personally, I’d love to hear more of your stories from church planting and more about leading and providing vision for your church community. But where I read that from doesn’t matter so much, at least to me personally.
Although having one URL probably makes it easier to market in terms of SEO and everything, and is less confusing for people you want to point towards your presence online.
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Comment by caleb
12.11 am on 12 Jan 2010
i think you should go for jasonclark.ws. much clearer…just don’t put a photoshopped picture of your face on prominent display like you want to sell something. decommodify and survive!
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Comment by Jason Clark
8.33 am on 12 Jan 2010
Tnx Caleb. De-commodify? There was me hoping to build my brand
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Comment by Ben DeVries
8.33 am on 12 Jan 2010
Jason, I also agree that one site is a good idea. Why not, however, move your material all to Deep Church? It’s a great ethos which encapsulates all you’re working toward currently, and might perhaps express your journey to this point well also. I also think it might give the appearance of welcoming a broader community discussion and contribution a bit better than one person’s name, though you certainly have done that on both your blogs, which I for one am ‘deeply’ grateful for. best wishes – Ben
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Comment by steven hamilton
12.17 pm on 12 Jan 2010
i guess my question to you would go with ben’s comment:
does “deep church” only mean eccelsiology to you, or is it broader (deeper?) than that so as to inmclude mnetal health and healing and church-planting experience and the other personal topics that you’d like to blog about more?
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Comment by Jason Clark
5.48 pm on 12 Jan 2010
Excuse the pun but I’m wanting to go ‘deeper’, and explore the other areas of church life I am involved with that are an outflow of the ecclesiology and theology.
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Comment by Jason Clark
5.49 pm on 12 Jan 2010
Hi Ben, that was my hope here, but with the other Deep Church site and with the focus on broader issues, I was thinking a move back to my name. Being under my name means I can shift focus without having to change domain title, but moves the feel away from others writing?
Jase
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Comment by Ben DeVries
7.52 pm on 12 Jan 2010
I think I understand better now, Jason. But as your other commenter said, I do think the ‘deep church’ idea can encapsulate a lot more than one book project, while at the same time drawing some of those folks to your own discussions. I think you might be able to make it work, but I see your dilemma – Ben
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Comment by Paul Fromont
7.42 pm on 13 Jan 2010
Hi Jase. I’ll be following a long no matter which direction you go in – moving to “Jason Clark” doesn’t of course mean that you can’t comment on ecclessiological issues – it just means you have a broader scope to write and reflect on what interests you, your experiences etc.
Happy New Year.
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Comment by Jason Clark
6.31 pm on 14 Jan 2010
Tnx mate
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Comment by Mel
9.14 pm on 16 Jan 2010
dear jason, i love the fact that you and your wife Bev have dedicated your lives to Jesus and His teachings. In the past i have enjoyed speaking with you and your mates on both your sites. When i first found your jasonclark site it helped me thru some tough times grief wise dealing with loss of a loved one. i will always appreciate you and your friends being there for me and the simple and kind and warm emails and prayers back to me i appreciated.
I work in the mental health / substance abuse field and find that trials people go thru are daily struggles of the anxiety and fear, etc, which complicate their lives, and they need Christ. The simple gospel can help lives we come in contact with. The victory in Jesus is the need, today, salvation.
The world needs Jesus so badly; God is Love.
Every day is a new day, and when you are helping in the studied theologians realm of the kingdom or in the layman average person position, we all need to hear how to keep going and press on even though our hearts are facing average or desperate needs, we all need compassion and care and concern. i will pray that you have strength to decide the best route.
We all need to be changed by our perfect God.
Go into all the world……preach His words repent and be baptized…let the gospel of peace be on our feet.
As i know that you and your heart combined with the Father,Son and Spirit will care for the parts you are best related to, and that in the journey we all go thru, may you use your talents, best whereever you and your family and helping others that God would have you best suited. I hope and pray that God will lead you forth in His grace **through* faith.
In Him, Mel (usa)
Praise Jesus as Lord
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Comment by Jason Clark
4.35 pm on 17 Jan 2010
Tnx
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5.07 pm on 5 Feb 2010
[...] in mid january I mooted the idea of moving my blogging from here back to http://www.jasonclark.ws. Thanks for all your comments [...]
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