In my previous posts I have presented an introductory account of the “why” of our website (to explore the connection and mutual transformation of “Jesus” and “shalom” in all spheres of life) and the “what” of our website (to reflect, within our Jesus-shalom framework, on contemporary challenges of identity, spirituality, and ecology—among other things).

Near the end of the last post I also began touching on some of the “how,” how we are going to go about this.

The most immediate answer to “how” we will have our conversation is evident on this page and this site—through a podcast and blog, for folks to listen to and read, and then comment on. To speak of “comment” and “conversation,” however, focuses in on the kind of ethos we wish to inhabit. As the footer on the site says: “We welcome all questions and comments that come from—or are willing to enter into—a shared shalom ethos, one that is both curious and capacious, yet critical and courageous.”

Jesus-Shalom is a direct descendant of Workshop, a program of applied theology for everyday folks (follow the link for more). When I’ve talked with some of the more-than-5000 people who participated in the Workshop programme, many of commented that it was a life-giving–even faith-saving– place for both curiosity and connection, critique and confirmation, reflection and conversation. No interests or curiosities were off limits; all questions and concerns where welcomed, given a charitable yet critical engagement. That included the three themes mentioned in the last post–identity, spirituality, and ecology (and much more).

Here, I want to underscore this commitment–to be a welcoming space for difficult conversations about some of the most important and challenging elements of modern faith and life. As noted in the previous post, we, as hosts of the site, confess our explicit posture, one that is generally positive toward contemporary cultural developments around identity, spirituality, and ecology.

But that doesn’t mean you have to share our starting point in order to engage in conversation with us. You might be more cautious and skeptical about modern cultural developments. Or perhaps you feel relatively at home in traditional Christian understandings of Jesus, justice, and judgment. Or perhaps you find yourself on the outside of this whole Christian thing altogether. Whatever your starting point, if you are intrigued by the Jesus-shalom connection, curious about what it might mean for contemporary life and thought, spirituality and action, then you have a place at the table.

And at that table our conversational etiquette is simple: to be personally and authentically engaged, to be charitable and respectful toward the different perspectives of others, to be open and courageous in engaging new and different ideas–to be a collaborator with us, in this ongoing Jesus-Shalom conversation.

That is the “how” we will strive to embody (even if online!)–authentic relational connection and engaged respectful conversation.

Where will this conversation happen. For those who simply visit the site, one side of that conversation can be heard and read in the podcast and blog, respectively. If you go on to register for the site (at no cost), you can then also leave comments on either the podcast or blog. But we’ve also created a Community space for those who become Members of our community (only 1£ a month!), and in that space community members can initiate conversations of their own, sharing their own observations and questions for us, the site’s hosts, and the other community members to engage.

So please connect with us in one of these ways and let the conversation begin!