Why “Harbor” Online Community?
“What’s in a name?” asked Shakespeare’s Juliet, and there is surely wisdom in the question. We name things all the time, and the words we use don’t change the things we’re naming—but they do change our perceptions of them. Words hold a lot of power in the ways we feel, communicate, and remember.
Since names are sort of important after all: why did we name our community Harbor? It wasn’t our first idea. We were kicking around words like Haven and Refuge—even Rivendell made an appearance! This cluster of words all represented safety and protection. Our community is largely made up of people who have fled or been expelled from conservative evangelical spaces. Many people who flee find themselves with no spiritual community. They still desire to belong and to nurture their faith, but where will they do it? Is there a faith community that is safe?
Unfortunately, in many areas, towns, and even cities, the answer is no. So many churches proclaim, “Everyone’s welcome!” But soon enough you find out that everyone means straight, white cisgender people.
Sure, there might be a congregation or two, usually from a mainline denomination, that champions female leadership or LGBTQ inclusion. But those contexts might include clerical robes, incense, pipe organs, white supremacy, fewer than ten people, an average age of 65+, a leaky roof, and 99 other problems big and small. In other words, for many Christian or spiritual pilgrims, there is no readily available safe space to belong to community and follow Jesus.
So why not Haven, or Refuge? These are great words, and they capture the idea of security, but they sort of also signal a retreat or a hiding. We’re not a community that is cloistered away somewhere singing kumbaya or bemoaning the state of the church and world. To be clear, there’s a lot to bemoan—including our own participation in unjust systems of patriarchy, racism, and religious control—but we don’t talk about this stuff to fill an echo chamber. We do it in order to encourage, empower, and propel each other to work for God’s justice and peace in our neighborhoods and networks.
And so, Harbor. A harbor is both a safe haven and a place of connection and travel. It’s where ships come and go, resting from their voyage or preparing to start a new adventure. If your own journey includes a desire to connect with people, follow Jesus, and work for love and justice, we invite you to our Harbor.
Click here to drop your anchor (sorry).
