Greetings from
Wild Fig Network!

November 2024

Dear Subscriber First Name

Thank you for signing up for news and updates from Wild Fig.

Almost a year ago, a group of pastoral colleagues started a conversation about what a relational organizing structure for ministers and ministries (AKA denomination) could look like if we reimagined things from the ground up. What if we could offer credentialing, care, and practical support not only for traditional church ministers but also for the diverse and evolving forms of ministry in today’s complex world? What if we could design a system with less hierarchy and bureaucracy and instead focus on mutuality, flexibility, and trust-based relationships?

Today, the work of systemic change feels more urgent than ever. The Church is in the throes of a profound crisis of character and identity, and the problems run deep and wide. There are no quick fixes. However, one thing we can do is plant seeds of change by embodying new patterns of wholeness and mutual flourishing for all. Many of us want to bring forth a more loving, just, and inclusive expression of Christianity—but we cannot do it alone. We need each other. That’s why we’re here.

This is uncharted territory for many of us. There is no roadmap or blueprint for what we are building, only the collective wisdom we find in one another. That’s why we hope you’ll consider joining us on this journey to learn and co-create something new and transformative—something that can help bring healing to ourselves and to our world.

Please stay tuned, and help spread the word by forwarding this update to a friend or two. We have some Interest Meetings coming up (see below) and look forward to welcoming more people into this conversation in the months ahead!

With hope and gratitude,

Eugene, on behalf of the Wild Fig Network team

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

Buckminster Fuller

UPDATES & MORE…

Join us for an Interest Meeting!

We’re beginning to host Interest Meetings, both in-person and online, where you can learn more, ask questions, and connect with others.

Saturday, November 23rd, in Cambridge, MA

Thursday, December 5th, ONLINE (On Zoom)

Thursday, December 12th, in Chicago, IL

Interested? Please email info@wildfig.org with your full name, preferred email, and which of the above upcoming gatherings you would like to join so we can send you an invitation. Stay tuned for more in-person and online gatherings to come!

What do we mean by a decentralized network?

A network is simply a system composed of many interconnecting parts. Networks are everywhere: in nature, business, social relationships, and the Church! All denominations, associations, and the like are just different kinds of networks that can vary widely in how they function.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the characteristics of centralized vs. decentralized networks. Each model has strengths and weaknesses, and many networks incorporate elements of both. We’re envisioning a primarily decentralized network designed for connection, cooperation, and collaboration.

In our design principles, we seek to draw from the wisdom of organic ecosystems rather than the patterns of empire, industry, and capitalism that have shaped much of our current ecclesial structures. Some call this practice of learning from nature biomimicry, or, as Janine Benyus describes it, “the conscious emulation of life’s genius.” When we look at the birds of the air and lilies of the field or consider the heavens and work of God’s fingers, we might ask: What if God has already embedded the wisdom we need to create sustainable systems within the very patterns of creation itself?

For more about network systems, this article from David Ehrlichman offers a good summary of his book Impact Networks.

A case for rethinking denominations

Sue Phillips wrote a compelling piece on the need for new systems that are better adapted to a rapidly changing world. She compares the form and function of traditional denominational structures to infrastructure—like utilities, highways, telecommunication standards, etc. However, much of our existing religious infrastructure is aging and, in some cases, breaking down. She writes:

“While religious communities still need help, as they always have, the solutions being delivered are increasingly unhelpful. At best, there are mismatches between form and function. At worst, the assumptions around which denominational services were built are now mostly out of date.”

Read: The Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future

Stay in touch!

If you haven’t already, the best way to stay in touch is to sign up for news and updates on our website. If you have a specific question or would like to connect with someone on our team, you can email info@wildfig.org. Thank you in advance for being patient with our response times!