What does true community mean? Does it mean developing the character of Christ in each individual that lives in community?

How do we discern true community from community?

Hey, I also perfer team leadership, but team leadership (in my thinking) doesn't equal true community. Team leadership can be proactive, reactive, passive, good or bad depending on the character and filters each leader brings to the team. Currently, many faith communities are lead by baby boomers...who often wear modernism's filters. And one of the faliures of modern ministry is the neglect (or possibly a misapplication) of discipleship. For too long we have assumed that a new convert will develop kingdom character—Pray with them, baptize them and they will automatically live by kingdom principles (which are countercultural). God saves him/her...they become part of the (true?) faith community...give them a regular dose of linear, rational preaching & teaching and "presto" they have developed the mind of Christ. We know better. People don't overcome the old life that easy (which by the way is much more natural and easier to live). We have to provide a forum that helps people learn to seek reconcillation instead of legal assistance; to walk the extra mile and to turn the other cheek.

From my experience (—and I am painting with a broad brush here) we still don't do this well. Maybe some communities do…if so I'd love to hear their stories. Modernism created some monsters that will not roll over and die each time we point them out...I see the above paragraph as "one of those monsters."

I guess what I 'm attempting to say is that we're all traveling along this continuum of time and, for me, it's often difficult to see clearly (maybe) because we don't fully understand or see what lies ahead. But as we travel through this POMO tunnel (headed to something else called another era) we all encounter the remnants of modernism. All transitions must put up with remnant of the past (especially early on---the further into the tunnel we travel the fewer leftovers). Remember the Jews who wanted to carry circumcisions into a new era?

So my point: maybe we talk "emerging and new era" but (unknowingly) continue to practice much of our ministry in a modern context. What say you?